Advance Wars
Score: 100% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Intelligent Systems Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
Graphics & Sound: If I were a complete recluse, and had never heard about Japan's best handheld strategy game - Advance Wars, I would still be able to easily deduce where it had come from by taking one look at the graphics. Starting with the opening movie sequence, and continuing all the way through to the end, Advance Wars uses the distinctive big head and eyes/no nose formula made popular in America by the Pokémon series. While you may be assuming that because the graphics lean towards the cutesy side, the entire game would tend to lean the same way. On the contrary, Advance Wars offers a deep strategy experience that almost any avid gamer can get into. The graphics of Advance Wars are refreshingly simple, with only two types of screens during gameplay. The first one presented to the player is the battle map, which is used to move units and capture bases. This map is very simple, yet colorful with cute little symbols for the different types of troops. Once the cute little troops attack each other, you come to the second screen to duke it out in a battle to defend your territory. The battle sequence features a split screen with both of the opposing factions on either side. The skirmish takes place with nice animation and sound effects that will make you shout a victorious blam! blam! noise if you aren't careful. Saving Private Ryan wasn't a silent film, and there's a good reason. A war is nothing without sound, and Advance Wars does the job right. Everything from the catchy character-specific music to the screaming rockets fits in the place it should. If Advance Wars is what developers were planning to offer for the Game Boy Advance sound and graphic wise, players shouldn't be disappointed with their investment.
Gameplay: Here in America, strategy games are a dying breed (if they were even born here in the first place). Most Americans may be confused - 'Well aren't Resident Evil and Tomb Raider strategy games?' Not really. Those can be considered action-puzzle games because they rely on pushing blocks and finding keys. True strategy games include Final Fantasy Tactics, Saiyuki Journey West and Ogre Battle 64. Strategy games are centered on turn-based battles that usually involve movement of troops, and that's just what Advance Wars offers. Strategy games tend to be very involving and usually aren't for those with short attention spans. Advance Wars will definitely please the hardcore gamer. Advance Wars is one of those games that will consume you to the point of sacrificing food, general hygiene and remote control batteries for months on end. Although being a first generation title, Advance Wars offers an incredible amount of gameplay and replay value for only 30 U.S. dollars. Four or one system multiplayer, Campaign, Field Training, Map Editor, and more than 100 pre-made maps are included for endless handheld battles. The one player mode begins with a Field Training tutorial that teaches the player all of the game basics like troop movement, terrain defense, and weapon types. Also other things factor in like weather conditions, base capturing, weapon types, special CO Powers, firing and movement ranges, supplying, and more. The point is that this game is DEEP. After Field Training is completed, Campaign mode and a store to spend war funds become available. The bulk of the game lies in the Campaign mode, which follows the story of four warring nations. Battles run on a turn-based system. The way it works is the player has an unlimited amount of time to move their troops. When done, you forfeit your turn and the enemy has a chance to try to off you. Multiplayer games run the same way with up to four players using one system or four systems with link cables. Also helping to up the already endless replay value are the easy to use map editor and random map generator features.
Difficulty: For looking like such a child's game, Advance Wars is quite difficult. Actually, difficult might not be the right word, so much as challenging. At times it seemed like I was down and out - seriously outnumbered with inadequate troops. But through careful re-supplying and strategic use of the CO Power, I was able to bounce back. Advance Wars isn't a challenge because of lack of controls or glitches, but because of the thought level required. I will now write this next line in hopes of being quoted in an Advance Wars advertisement. 'The thinking man's game that fundamentally challenges the strategy genre in the hopes of revolutionizing the way we look at handhelds.' I digress. Simply put, Advance Wars will only be impossible if you don't put yourself into it and think. Once again... think.
Game Mechanics: How mechanical could a handheld be? Well, if that handheld happens to be a strategy game, namely Advance Wars, you might think that you would need to take the PCDI home correspondence course in engineering. Luckily for you (but not for the infomercials), Advance Wars features an intuitive system for tracking character stats, movement ranges and ammo and fuel and ammo supplies. Simply two button pushes will get you all of the information you need. Being on a cartridge helps with load times - there are none. Also the button scheme is very simple and makes good use of the Game Boy Advance's triggers. Fortunately, they opted out of a password for recalling games and used the superior method of saving on the cartridge. The saving menu is brought up after every battle, which is nice and it only takes a second to complete the save. Also I was delighted to never come across a single glitch in the entire game. If only that's the way they all were... What Guys thinks: WOW! I never knew that strategy could be this good. I've played Final Fantasy Tactics quite a bit and Advance Wars is every bit as good - only easier to get into. Anyone can play this game, and the best part is that you can play it forever with the map editor and generator.
-Joe Guys, GameVortex Communications AKA Joe Labani
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