Advance Wars

Games: Advance Wars

Release Date: September 11, 2001
Genre: Strategy
Style: 2D Turn-Based Strategy
Similar Games: Game Boy Wars Turbo (Game Boy), Heroes of Might and Magic (Game Boy Color)

Game Description

Turn-based war game strategy comes to the portable screens of the Game Boy Advance with this release of Intelligent Systems' Advance Wars from Nintendo. Players have a conventional top-down perspective on the battlefield, though the screen cuts to a more detailed side-on split-screen view of the action as units and companies face off for attack.

Though the basic "move" or "shoot" command options are meant to be easy to understand and learn, a wide range of unit types, several weapon variations, and differences in terrain can combine for complex consequences that call for well-considered strategies from even seasoned war gamers. The game features a training mode for new players and a map editor for veterans. Up to four human Advance Wars players can go to battle with one another through a link cable connection.

~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

There's a common misconception that handheld titles are incapable of providing anything more than shallow platform and arcade-like action. Advance Wars proves that with a little time and effort, it's possible to create an engrossing, deep strategy title on the system. Ingeniously designed, Advance Wars manages to be both in-depth, and instantly accessible, simply because it presents the game in easily manageable chunks. At first, matching up the strengths and weaknesses of various units is more than adequate to achieve victory, but as you progress you'll learn about the advantages that terrain, CO powers, and other facets of the title, bring to the battlefield.

The basic premise sees up to four warring factions competing for resources (in the form of buildings) and ultimately, control of a single area or "map." Battles take place in a turn-based manner, allowing players to issue movement, attack, and deployment commands as they see fit. The various soldiers and vehicles at your command, which include land, sea, and air units, are all unique with respect to movement distance and attack power, among a host of other characteristics. What makes the title so engrossing however, and where a good deal of the strategy lays is in the effectiveness of each unit against specific enemy units. Bombers for example, are capable of inflicting heavy damage on ground and naval units, but are helpless against air-based threats. By the same token, Mobile Artillery is great for launching ranged attacks on an enemy, but are incapable of firing upon anything nearby.

It's the application and the mastering of these strengths and weaknesses that makes Advance Wars such a joy to play. Of course, these are just a handful of the considerations that need to be made in the heat of battle. Terrain type, elevation, and movement cost must all be factored into your strategy, in addition to less pressing considerations, such as a unit's fuel reserves (air units will instantly crash when the run out of fuel), its ammo supply, and its vision range. The latter becomes very important when the Fog of War -- a black veil of "fog" that hides enemy movement, but that is cleared when friendly units are nearby -- is present, as only units within visual range can be fired upon. Populating maps are buildings such as factories, airports, and seaports that allow players to deploy more units into battle. Money to purchase these units is acquired at the beginning of each turn, and the amount received is based upon the number of army and civilian buildings you have already captured.

The last significant factor in each battle is the commanding officer (CO). Throughout the battle a small bar will continually replenish. When full it allows the CO to perform a unique move that benefits his or her own army for a single turn, or detrimentally affects only enemy units. These effects include increased attack and vision range or impediment of enemy movement. Battles are over when all enemy units are destroyed or the enemy's HQ is captured.

The Campaign mode sees players joining forces with the Orange Star Army, working in tandem with a group of up to three COs (whom you can choose from prior to a mission) as they face a bevy of enemy COs from other warring nations. The plotline is rather basic, but the various CO interactions and conversations are interesting enough, and the campaign culminates in a final mission that is truly satisfying. At the completion of each mission, players will be awarded a ranking based upon their effectiveness in various categories. Coins will also be awarded which can be used to purchase new multiplayer battle maps and to hire new COs. A War Room mode allows players to compete for high scores and rankings in single battles.

While the AI is more than competent enough to provide a challenge, competing against human players is where Advance Wars truly shines. Up to four players can compete using a single system (the system is passed around "hot potato style" after each turn) or four systems, each with their own copy of the title. Using only a single copy, four players can also compete on scaled down maps with reduced battle options, however, because players are unable to do anything while waiting for others to finish their turn, the "hot potato" method comes recommended. If players find themselves tiring of the plethora of included maps, the title also provides the ability for players to design their own maps.

Though colorful, battle maps and units are simple, lacking basic animation and detail. Strange as it may sound, this style is actually rather befitting of the title, as it lends itself well to a tabletop, chess-like theme, with units that are shunted around the battlefield with only the most modest of movement animations. When two units square off in battle, a wonderfully animated cut-scene shows the units firing upon one another, with the requisite side (based on the various factors mentioned earlier) taking heavy casualties. These scenes, while wonderful to watch, greatly prolong the already lengthy missions, and once players have witnessed the various animations for each unit, chances are these will be turned off, to allow one to concentrate on the battle at hand.

Sound effects are, for lack of a better word, "meaty." Missiles and gunfire effects have real substance to them, while relevant units all emit the sounds one would expect of say a tank or fighter plane. The main war theme presented throughout the title is excellent and easily on par with the sound effects, but the fact that it loops over and over can, and usually will, grate on one's nerves.

Advance Wars is a handheld title almost without peer. It features a plethora of gaming options, hidden secrets to unlock, tons of replay value, and is simply put, a whole lot of fun. Regardless of your predilection for this particular genre, Advance Wars comes highly recommended. Its whimsical appeal should charm even the most jaded of handheld players.