22/04/2023
ADVANCED WARS 1+2 REBOOT (NINTENDO SWITCH) REVIEW:
My memories of the GBA have been revived with this modern reboot of 2 classics. AWR is very similar to Fire Emblem, but more like military chess for those delving into the turn-based strategy genre for the first time, without being overwhelming. Even though with its simplicity, it’s still quite involved and gets you thinking on a deep level.
GREAT PRESENTATION:
The presentation is excellent and the cuts scenes will please anime fans. The battlefields are presented in a board game fashion that’s quite endearing indeed. The frustration from losing a battle is still there, but with patient strategies you’re sure to win. Even if you’re a veteran, getting those S class rankings is quite the challenge.
A LOT OF PERSONALITY:
The charm of the game is in the Commanding Officers (COs) extravagant personalities and flamboyancy of the units. There’s helicopters, gunships, bombers, super tanks, missile launchers and more to master. The way all the units work together is amazing, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, especially when the tide of battle turns for the better or worse. I would often let my weaker units get sacrificed while the stronger ones control the battlefield - that is until they get battered and then the weaker ones become instrumental in victory. The dynamics of change are intriguing.
A HARDCORE EXPERIENCE:
Don’t let the colourful graphics and simplicity fool you, this is a hardcore experience that keeps throwing surprises at you when you least expect it. The fog of war and climatic changes really add a lot of punch to the formula. With subtle looks, be prepared to experience the pain. It’s a fun sort of pain, so don’t worry. Once you get that S rank, you get a real sense of achievement and reward.
GAME MODES GALORE:
There’s plenty of game modes - local, online and offline. Getting some friends together is a laugh, although I hope they patch in playing with strangers and not just your friends. That’s a bit of a lazy move, especially in today’s online world.
SHOP WITH GAME CREDITS:
I liked the interesting shop mode in the main menu that allows you to purchase extra maps, artwork and music for ingame points. It’s such a cool idea. Of course the main feature is being able to create your own maps. The tools are intuitive and the whole idea is lots of fun. I was expecting greedy microtransactions, but thankfully this has been avoided with honour.
GRAPHICAL INCOMPETENCE:
Some people complained about the graphics being too modernised or nothing special. Although not amazing like Fire Emblem Engage, they’re still good and more than serve their intended purpose. I would have liked a lot more love to be poured into the units and possibly a retro pixel art option, as well as 60fps gameplay. However, it wasn’t remastered by Intelligent Systems, so unfortunately unnecessary compromises were made. With the game’s launch delay, they had plenty of time to rectify this, obviously they don’t care.
AUDIO SCORE:
The game presents you with remasters of the classic audio scores that us old skool gamers are accustomed to. It’s certainly fitting for the atmosphere and is highly memorable. The sound FX are still as good as we remember them, especially when coupled with the excellent use of HD Rumble. As the screen splits during attacks, we’re treated to a unique haptic experience in each hand for each side - the attacker and the victim. Feeling the missiles go off in one hand, while landing and destroying with explosions in the other is something to be awed by.
A BARGAIN PACKAGE:
This is a great package with 2 classics bundled into one, while offering some of the best HD Rumble yet. There’s plenty of gaming hours and strategic fun to be had here. Retro fans will certainly be pleased to feel the nostalgia come back after over two decades from the original GBA experiences. You might feel it’s a tad overpriced, but once the game in your hands, you soon realise that this is a full package and a lot more. It’s great value offering tons of fun. I’m so happy to have this in one cartridge and have hopes for Nintendo to release the DS games, as well as continue the franchise with new AW experiences. A point was dropped because some quality of life enhancements weren’t made, but overall, I’m ending this review with a smile on my face, full of contentment and excitement.
SCORE: 4/5
