ShareThis
4) Advance Wars
Last Title: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (Nintendo DS, 2008)
Fire Emblem has been getting all the love lately, but Nintendo’s other strategy series shouldn’t be condemned to slumming it in the used games section. Advance Wars first appeared on people’s radars way back on the Game Boy Advance, and its last installment was the gritty Advance Wars: Days of Ruin on Nintendo DS. Advance Wars is similar to Fire Emblem, but also different in many key ways. The setting is modern, revolving around the military exploits of the Allied Nations against the evil Black Hole army. A turn-based strategy game, the player commands multiple units during battle, claiming territory and using resources to build up their army with new tanks, troops, and more. The series also features popular CO powers, moves unique to the leader of each battalion of the Allied Nations that enhances different attributes during gameplay. Advance Wars is also beloved for its quirky, cartoony visuals and whacky characters.
The chance to see Advance Wars go to the next level with a new sequel is irresistible. Days of Ruin introduced a solid online multiplayer experience, so there’s no reason not to carry that component over and expand on it, perhaps with the inclusion of DLC missions. A return to the cartoony aesthetics of the first three games would be welcome, as the grim tone and realistic look of Days of Ruin didn’t mesh with the traditional vibe of the series. Pushing production values up and adding more features to the single-player campaign would also make the game more alluring than ever. Advance Wars might benefit from the inclusion of more customization, too, perhaps in the form of selecting squads of COs or developing new units between missions for deployment during battles. Advance Wars is easily as fun as Fire Emblem and deserves a shot to shine again!
