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Classic Games

Advance Wars

Turn-based tactics perfected

Advance Wars distilled turn-based strategy into accessible perfection, with commanding officers adding personality and asymmetric powers to military tactics.

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Overview

War made charming. Advance Wars took the complexity of military strategy and made it inviting through bright visuals, clear mechanics, and a tutorial campaign that taught without condescension. Commanding Officers added character and asymmetric abilities. The map editor extended longevity infinitely. Intelligent Systems created the definitive portable strategy game.

Fast facts

  • Developer: Intelligent Systems.
  • Year: 2001.
  • Platform: Game Boy Advance.
  • Series: Famicom Wars (localised).

Unit types

Category Examples
Infantry Foot soldiers, mechs
Vehicles Tanks, APCs
Air Fighters, bombers
Naval Battleships, subs

CO system

Commander Power
Andy Balanced, repairs
Max Strong direct combat
Sami Infantry specialist
Grit Indirect range bonus

Combat mechanics

Factor Effect
Terrain Defence bonuses
Unit health Damage scaling
CO Powers Charged abilities
Fog of War Limited visibility

Map editor

Feature Value
Custom maps Infinite content
Sharing Link cable transfer
Competitive Tournament potential

See also