Verdict

Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp is a faithful adaptation of the Game Boy Advance classic , with charming 3D visuals giving it a welcome rhytidoplasty . With the gameplay mechanics mostly untouched 22 years after the sack of the original however , Advance Wars feel rusty and basic compared to more modern scheme plot on the Nintendo Switch .

Pros

Cons

Key Features

Introduction

Advance Wars is wide consider to be one of thebest gameson the Game Boy Advance , so it ’s no surprisal to see Nintendo unfreeze a remastered edition for theNintendo Switch .

The 2001 classic is a viciously difficult crook - establish strategy , adopting a similar blueprint to Nintendo’sFire Emblemseries , but swapping brand and flying dragon for tank and helicopters .

This new Switch version bundles both the original Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 : Black Hole Rising together in one parcel , but with Advance Wars first set in motion a walloping 22 - days ago , has this scheme game withstand the trial of time ? Here are my thoughts .

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Graphic and performance

Advance Wars has been given a major facelift for the Switch remake , with Nintendo and developer WayForward adopt new 3D model .

Those who played the originals on the Game Boy Advance may be sad to see Advance Wars lose the nostalgic 2D sprites , but the more detailed visuals are for sure a welcome upgrade in my book .

The 3D manikin are well detailed , make it immediately obvious which vehicle you ’re operating , whether it ’s artillery or an anti - air tank . Animations seem delightfully smooth too , specially when a plane glides over the map with its jet boom threateningly .

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The vehicle in Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp do look a little childish , with the rounded edges and plastic - like luster making them reckon like miniature that you may encounter on a Playmobil set . Nintendo has lean heavily into the cartoonish aesthetic , with bright chief colours .

Considering this is a game about tank warfare , and is in peril of being compare to tragic real living events , Nintendo has made sure to outstrip itself from Platonism as much as potential . This appropriate Nintendo to market Advance Wars to a immature audience , with the PEGI military rating suggesting that the game is suited for long time 7 and over .

Menus are acquaint fantastically well , with a tap of the ZR button show you a elaborate breakdown of each fomite . Opening the main card also gives you oodles of utile information include a guide book which explains every mechanic from basic effort to more complex systems such as fuel and weather .

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I ’m a big lover of the re - recorded music here too , which shifts depending on the commanding billet you ’re using . The lead character Andy has a bouncing , industrious soundtrack while Grit get wind more laid - back western music play in the background .   It help to give an theme of each commanding officer ’s personality , pair off nicely with their pre - match quips .

Performance has been unflawed , with mySwitch OLEDrunning smoothly even with dozens and piles of social unit spawning on the map , but that ’s hardly a surprise considering the original game were playable on the Game Boy Advance .

Gameplay

Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp is made up of two safari : Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 : Black Hole rise . Both are faithful adaptations of the source stuff , with piddling to no deviations on the turn - based strategy mechanic that made the originals so beloved .

Each grade feature a unique map , with the most common objectives tax you with demolish every enemy unit of measurement or enamor the opposing foundation . so as to do this , you ’re given a small army made up of units such as infantry , tankful , heavy weapon and more .

Every whole has its own strengths and weakness , with artillery excelling at destroying far-off quarry , but proving pretty much useless in close quarters , and while foot are unaccented against the vast majority of vehicle , they demonstrate utile in get enemy buildings that can be used to refill health , ammo and fuel .

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Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp does a great job at step by step introducing you to the wide range of units the game has to offer , with the the likes of of chopper , battleships and hoagy added to the mix without overwhelm the gameplay .

I was disappointed to see no raw unit of measurement case added for Advance Wars 2 though , making the fighting start to experience a little insistent during back - to - back playthroughs . Other modern turn - based games have managed to address such issues , with Fire Emblem andInto the Breachallowing you to upgrade units and acquire newfangled ability , making Advance War ’s flaw feel even more potent in 2023 .

I noticed several other out-of-date mechanics that made Advance Wars feel a short barebones compared to other modern strategy game . For example , missions that have no sentence limit can drag on for hour – it can feel blood-related to a never - ending plot of Monopoly or Risk .

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While Advance Wars can be punishingly unmanageable , it struggles to keep you on the edge of the rear throughout the integrality of a match . When you are on the verge of triumph , silly mistakes wo n’t really have many moment other than a low scorecard . Alternative game such as Into the Breach and Fire Emblem do a far good job of maintaining high stake throughout the entirety of a match , no matter how well you ’re command .

I ’m not a devotee of the Fog of War matches either , which are commonplace in the first entry of Advance Wars . In such levels , the mathematical function is submerged in a fog , limiting the profile of foe units . These levels require caution and the use of recon cooler to reconnoiter the battlefield , but it ’s frustratingly easy for the enemy to hide artillery and Eruca sativa unit of measurement to just blitz you to ashes .

Advance Wars 2 does at least offer an improved variety of mission objective , as well as a larger roll of command officer , each of which have their own perks . While Advance Wars does experience a little basic compare to more modern offerings , it ’s still an engaging deed that can feel outstandingly rewarding when pulling off a strategic coup .

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Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp offers many other modality of sport outside the campaign . Multiplayer is uncommitted – both for online and local drama – and you may also dispute the processor via War Room to stress and achieve the high possible score on a orbit of maps .

The Design Room is my preferred modality outside of the campaign , admit you to build your very own maps and portion out them online . I ’m excited to see the mutant of map that will be created after launch , especially if this modality sees the same stage of creativity and imagination as the substance abuser base ofSuper Mario Maker .

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Should you buy it?

If you merely want to play back Advance Wars after trifle it on the Game Boy Advance , this close adaptation offer the downright undecomposed path to experience the strategy classic .

Advance Wars is as classic as they descend in the realm of turn - based strategy plot . You ’ll find more inventive estimation with advanced alternatives such as XCOM 2 , Into the Breach and Fire Emblem .

Final Thoughts

Advance Wars 1 + 2 : Re - Boot Camp offers great bang for your long horse , with a gluttony of capacity include two drive , local and on-line multiplayer and a custom mathematical function creator . The raw 3D good example look great too , even if they can be accused of looking too cutesy compared to the reference material on Game Boy Advance .

The close adaptation of the gameplay may well please those who played the originals and are seeking a hit of nostalgia , but the serial publication ’ defect are also more obvious in 2023 .

High difficulty spikes , extended match and the lack of any sort of upgrades system ensure that Advance Wars struggle to outgun the very best turn - free-base scheme games on the Nintendo Switch , with the likes ofFire Emblem : Three HousesandInto the Breachproving to be more inventive option . Check out ourbest Nintendo Switch gamesround - up for more option .

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Trusted Score

How we test

When reexamine a game , we will make indisputable to test all of the useable modes , include story crusade , multiplayer and more . We will take multiple elements into consideration including gameplay , story , graphics and performance .

FAQs

The primary difference can be found with the visuals , with Reboot Camp adopting 3D example . There are also re - recorded soundtracks as well as on-line multiplayer functionality .

Yes , Advance Wars 2 is very similar to the original but it offers a greater variety of commission objectives , commanding offices and maps .

Full Specs

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Combat in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Combat in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Combat in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A map in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A map in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A map in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Capturing a building in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Capturing a building in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Capturing a building in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Submarines and battleships in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Submarines and battleships in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Submarines and battleships in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Fog of war in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Fog of war in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Fog of war in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Multiplayer versus in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Multiplayer versus in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Multiplayer versus in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

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Combat in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Combat in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A map in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A map in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Capturing a building in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Capturing a building in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Submarines and battleships in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Submarines and battleships in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Fog of war in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Fog of war in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Multiplayer versus in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Multiplayer versus in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp