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Advance Wars is one of those series that we – American gamers – haven’t really been familiar with, partially because until 2001, the series was Japanese-exclusive. Nintendo was nice enough to finally bring the series over, and – as anyone who’s had the privilege to play any of these games would tell you – the game rocked hardcore, and we couldn’t help but want more, much more. And "more" is precisely what Nintendo and Intelligent Systems are aiming to achieve with Advance Wars: Dual Strike, the latest dual-screen strategy follow-up to the Game Boy Advance titles.

With two games set to be released this year, the Wars series is getting a lot of attention, and Dual Strike is already proving that the highly accessible – and highly rewarding – GBA formula still works brilliantly. Dual Strike also proves that, despite looking a lot like the previous games, the addition of the dual screen battles are as fun as you expect them to be.

Facts and Features:

Use the top screen for quick-reference battle intel, or take control in battles that rage across both screens. Command a fleet of fighters high in the skies while troops clash with the enemy on the ground far below.

New COs, new Tag-Team battles: Choose from new Commanding Officers, and combine their powers for incredible attacks that can turn the tide of battles.

Real-time Combat mode: For a battle with a twist, players lead soldiers into a fast-paced, action-oriented battle against a storm of enemies.

Easy-to-use map editor: Just grab a stylus and draw maps right on the touch screen, then send the maps to friends wirelessly.


Campaign:
Advance Wars veterans will immediately feel right at home with the game, even though they will have to spend time learning the rules of the game in the first missions all over again. Newcomers, however, will enjoy these missions because they serve as a tutorial of sorts which explains how to attack, supply, move, examine terrain, check on your troops, capture buildings, and everything they need to know in order to survive against the Black Hole Army. Dual Strike has one of the most balanced difficulty levels in a videogame; it starts off easy and then quickly ramps up to harder tasks. Gamers shouldn’t worry, though, because by the time they get to the concluding missions, they will be as experienced as any Advance Wars professional.

In Dual Strike, you take the role of Jake, an internet-geek, badass-wannabe who will help the Allied Nations return peace to the land by defeating the Black Hole Army. Surprisingly, this army has risen from the ashes, recovered their power and are ready to take over the world. I know, simple military story, but it is interesting enough to keep you wondering all the way to the end. Intelligent Systems fans shouldn’t expect the complicated, serious-toned, text-heavy storylines that the Fire Emblem series is known for, but instead they will witness a good, old-fashioned – and most importantly – unique, sci-fi plot.


The presentation is fantastic.


Advance Wars fans will instantly notice that Dual Strike isn’t much different from the prequels, which isn’t a bad thing, since the formula works so well. You still have to take turns with your enemy in order to finish a tactical map – starting with attacks, and then continuing with capturing buildings, supplying your troops and ending the map by seizing enemy headquarters. You can utilize every type of military unit you can think of, including helicopters, submarines, battleships, jets, tanks, and even the newest additions like the awesome “Megatank”; they are all here for you to enjoy. As overwhelming as the Megatank sounds, however, there is still a chance that it can be destroyed, just as every single piece of military unit available. But don’t worry, it is a good thing since it forces you to actually think carefully and strategize your every move, helping you protect every single element of your army – even those that seem unstoppable. Another thing that differentiates Dual Strike from previous games is exactly that: the “Dual Strike” element, which allows the player to engage in battles that take place in the dual screen realm, where they can fight on the ground as well as in the air - all at the same time.

You don’t really control the characters on the second screen, but you have to assign the troops that are sent to that other screen. Because of this, Advance Wars: Dual Strike gives you a sense of realism, and develops the game further because you are actually seeing everything as if it was seen through the eyes of a commander who is waiting for the results. You are constantly checking up on allies, and controlling every move, all while still fighting the enemy troops. Strategy also plays a huge part in the character assignments, especially because you have to choose carefully what commander is going to fight alongside with you (on the second screen), to see positive results.

By the way, you’ll also have quite a number of COs (commanding officers) at your command (no pun intended), and each of them has different skills, which – combined with the already lofty number of different military units available – gives the game a healthy dose of replay value.


Explosions are plenty.

The new battle modes are fantastic as well. You can now use two COs in the battlefield, which will make you organize more, think every single move, figure out how to approach every situation, and overall, add a new layer of difficulty; a welcome addition to the game. Oh, and I know what you are thinking, and the answer is: yes, you can unleash multiple power moves when both COs charge their meters. It is very awesome stuff, or at least it is so until you realize that your enemies can do the same to you. Oh dear.