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Advance Wars Dual Strike Review: Is It Worth Buying?

advance wars trident map

Advance Wars Dual Strike Review: Is It Worth Buying?

Advance Wars: Dual Strike is a turn-based strategy game. Released in 2005 by Nintendo for Nintendo DS. This is the third entry in the Advance Wars series based on the previous two games but set in a new location of Omega land. A new commander has taken leadership of Black Hole who seeks eternal life by draining the energy of Omega Land. The goal of the game is to overcome this threat and save Omega land. Read on to find out if this game is worth investing in.

Advance Wars Dual Strike Objective

Advance Wars Screenshot
Save Omega land from new commander of Black Hole.

The object of the game is to overwhelm the opponent by whatever means necessary to win the war. Troops, planes and ships will all be at players’ control. Through a series of moves players will want to position themselves so that they can overtake the enemy. It’s like an animated version of checkers but with more depth. It’s not a very complex game to learn but the strategy can get complex depending on the opponent and ability to adapt and counter.

Additions in Gameplay

advance wars screenshot
Enjoy gameplay with new commanding officers by your side.

Another new addition is the inclusion of two commanding officers. Players can switch them in between turns to access different special abilities. It gives them more flexibility and is more reactive than proactive since they’ll probably use it to counter one of your opponent’s brilliant moves. Players may have heard about the inclusion of a real-time battle mode and while it does exist, it’s not nearly as much fun as you might be led to believe. It’s slow and cumbersome. The controls are sluggish, and the distances are too far apart to generate any sense of immediacy. It’s a novelty that players won’t get much replay value from.

Strategy and Commands in Advance Wars Dual

The actual turn-based strategy gameplay is fast enough to satisfy action junkies. Commands are streamlined and easy to access regardless of whether players use the stylus or the D-pad. The top of the dual screen displays the various stats while the bottom half lets players issue the commands. Sometimes the animation and maps will spill into both screens. Using the stylus to create maps is perhaps the single most useful function.

The single player missions have been increased to provide not only weeks of entertainment but education as well. Gamers won’t do well playing in the 8-person multiplayer games without the knowledge they’ll acquire with a completed single player mode under their belt. Success literally hinges on a few key decisions and only those who have dedicated a good chunk of their gaming lives to everything Advance Wars: Dual Strike will recognize when those opportunities arise.

Notable Features of Advance Wars: Dual Strike

screenshot of omega land
Omega land needs your help.

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.

Final Thoughts

With some graphical upgrades and the above-mentioned additions. Advance Wars: Dual Strike is recommended for those that already have the DS and want to experience a game that tests their gray matter instead of their trigger fingers.  Advance Wars: Dual Strike will awaken areas of your brain that have either remained dormant for years or simply haven’t been developed yet. Your DS and your cerebral cortex is in dire need of Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

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