A while ago I was talking with Ren, when she suddenly burst into tears. 
"No one is posting on the review board anymore!", she sobbed, all the while groping me. "Don't worry, Ren," I said, heroically, "I'll post a review!" But, alas, without the money to purchase a game, I was confounded...ENTER THE FRIEND WITH THE EARLY EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!
The "Wars" series has been around in Japan for years, making appearances on the GB, the NES, the SNES, the GBC and the GBA. Only recently, with the success of the GBA, has the "Wars" series come to the US as "Advance Wars." Due to the success of both the GBA and the first AW in the US, we were blessed with a sequel, and what a sequel.
To start, the AW2 isn't all that different from AW1. The most obvious difference from the get go is the point system used instead of a coin system. This is, however, cosmetic, as it all works in the same way. Points are earned depending on ones speed, technique and power in battle. These points can then be used to buy new maps and optional color schemes for the CO's.
The CO's, or Commanding Officer's, are the characters you'll be playing. Each CO has a special power that, when charged fully, can be unleashed. These powers can and will affect the battle's flow in any number of ways. New to AW2 is the super power, which is available after charging has been doubled. It's nothing absurdly spectacular, they simply took the special power and made it slightly stronger; still, it makes the battles slightly more dynamic.
There isn't a huge amount one can say about the story; it's there and it's serviceable. A big dark army is sweeping across the lands and you and your fellow CO's need to stop it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, it does what it needs to effectively. It's a vehicle to initiate the battles, which are the real meat of the game.
The battles in AW and AW2 are turn based and rely largely on management of vehicles, troops and captured properties. Vehicles range from land, sea and air, with varying levels of attack, defense and mobility. Certain weapons will be able to attack air units only, while not attack ground or sea, and vice versa. Infantry is used to capture cities, barracks, airfields and docks, which in turn provide money and units to your army. In addition to the aforementioned bonuses captured properties bring, damaged units may recuperate while on them. Properties and other natural cover provide varying levels of defense that make attacking or being attacked at the right time essential to victory.
The music in Advance Wars 2 is nothing spectacular, but its good in its own right. It can change depending on the situation, if a power or something is used, but beyond that its almost the same as it was in the first game. Again, this isnt bad; its just not anything spectacular.
The characters and vehicles are all clean, beautiful sprites. The attacks are well animated and they all look great. The maps as well, are all clean and beautifully laid out. The menus are easy to flip through, and allow one to dive right into the action.
Overall, AW2 is a fantastic game. Not a whole lot has changed since the original, but that isnt a bad thing considering how spectacular Advance Wars was in its own right. Go buy it.
not allowed
"No one is posting on the review board anymore!", she sobbed, all the while groping me. "Don't worry, Ren," I said, heroically, "I'll post a review!" But, alas, without the money to purchase a game, I was confounded...ENTER THE FRIEND WITH THE EARLY EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!The "Wars" series has been around in Japan for years, making appearances on the GB, the NES, the SNES, the GBC and the GBA. Only recently, with the success of the GBA, has the "Wars" series come to the US as "Advance Wars." Due to the success of both the GBA and the first AW in the US, we were blessed with a sequel, and what a sequel.
To start, the AW2 isn't all that different from AW1. The most obvious difference from the get go is the point system used instead of a coin system. This is, however, cosmetic, as it all works in the same way. Points are earned depending on ones speed, technique and power in battle. These points can then be used to buy new maps and optional color schemes for the CO's.
The CO's, or Commanding Officer's, are the characters you'll be playing. Each CO has a special power that, when charged fully, can be unleashed. These powers can and will affect the battle's flow in any number of ways. New to AW2 is the super power, which is available after charging has been doubled. It's nothing absurdly spectacular, they simply took the special power and made it slightly stronger; still, it makes the battles slightly more dynamic.
There isn't a huge amount one can say about the story; it's there and it's serviceable. A big dark army is sweeping across the lands and you and your fellow CO's need to stop it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, it does what it needs to effectively. It's a vehicle to initiate the battles, which are the real meat of the game.
The battles in AW and AW2 are turn based and rely largely on management of vehicles, troops and captured properties. Vehicles range from land, sea and air, with varying levels of attack, defense and mobility. Certain weapons will be able to attack air units only, while not attack ground or sea, and vice versa. Infantry is used to capture cities, barracks, airfields and docks, which in turn provide money and units to your army. In addition to the aforementioned bonuses captured properties bring, damaged units may recuperate while on them. Properties and other natural cover provide varying levels of defense that make attacking or being attacked at the right time essential to victory.
The music in Advance Wars 2 is nothing spectacular, but its good in its own right. It can change depending on the situation, if a power or something is used, but beyond that its almost the same as it was in the first game. Again, this isnt bad; its just not anything spectacular.
The characters and vehicles are all clean, beautiful sprites. The attacks are well animated and they all look great. The maps as well, are all clean and beautifully laid out. The menus are easy to flip through, and allow one to dive right into the action.
Overall, AW2 is a fantastic game. Not a whole lot has changed since the original, but that isnt a bad thing considering how spectacular Advance Wars was in its own right. Go buy it.
not allowed
