Advance Wars: Dual Strike
2005
- simulator
- strategy
- turn-based strategy (tbs)
- tactical
- science fiction
- warfare
- single player
- multiplayer
The story
Advance Wars: Dual Strike is the third installment in the Advance Wars series (first on DS media). Advance Wars is the international title of the Wars video game series, which dates back to the Family Computer game Famicom Wars in 1988. The storyline is a continuation of the previous series and is set in the new location of Omega Land. Black Hole has returned under the leadership of a new commander who seeks to give himself eternal life by draining the energy of Omega Land. The Allied Nations struggle to overcome this threat and are eventually joined by several former Black Hole commanding officers in an effort to save the land.
What it’s like
Bright, chunky pixel sprites on a grid of cheerful terrain: green meadows, sandy shorelines, rust-brown mountains and pale blue seas, all rendered in the flat, saturated palette of a handheld. The DS's two screens let the battle map sit on one side while the unit roster and commander portraits sit on the other, so the whole experience feels like shuffling miniature armies across a tabletop with a stylus. Music is bouncy, marching synth and brass loops that recede into the background once you settle into a turn. Pacing is unhurried and deliberate, with each turn a small puzzle of positioning, supply and timing, punctuated by brief, cartoonish cutscenes and quick flashes of tank fire and explosions. Its tone is light and wry rather than grim: a warm, low-stakes calm built on tactical problem-solving, with a steady arc of rival commanders reluctantly teaming up. Violence is abstract, shown as blocky sprites and small puffs of smoke with no blood or gore. It suits a rainy Sunday, a long train ride, or a relaxed evening with a cup of tea. It is for players who enjoy methodical strategy, careful planning and gentle, good-humoured military fantasy.
More games like Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Advance Wars: Dual Strikeand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
