Format: Advance
Genre: Turn-based Strategy
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo

Advance Wars has fairly utilitarian graphics that place more emphasis on aesthetics than technical splendor. The sprites for the various units are only moderately detailed, and animation is sparse. Where the game's graphics improve is in the presentation of the menus, and the battle animations, which are not as spartan as the rest of the game's visuals. The character portraits are also well done, with their anime-esque style. I will award points here for effort, but not the A grade.

The sound track all around is good. The overall sound is light-hearted and merry, but with a definite hint of attitude, especially in the opening theme. Alarmingly, there is only one song played depending on your character, so if you play with the same person all the time (which is likely), you might get a tad tired of the tune. The sound effects are very high quality, all of them digital. I think however that the music and sound effects could have been a little more accomodating to atmosphere- that is, the music especially really isn't atmospheric at all, it's a little too happy-go-lucky.

The gameplay is exceptionally deep by any standards. Then when you realize this is a handheld strategy title we're talking about... wow! The game is fantastically balanced, with each unit having its own foil, and the cost of producing each unit is perfect. Each level is superbly designed, and when combined with the fog of war option, adds an incredible amount of depth. To add even further to the gameplay complexities, there are a multitude of payable characters, and each one has a special ability which can be used every so often. Not only that, but each character has a series of positive and negative influences on the various units to reflect the style of the commander. Advance Wars is one of the deepest, most balanced turn-based strategy games I've ever played- it's like a modernied game of chess!

Advance Wars is a title with solid graphics, decent sound, and simply fantastic gameplay. Generally, I hate strategy games, it's easily my least favorite genre, and even I played and enjoyed the Campaign (story) mode all the way through. Not only is Advance Wars a great single-player game, but it's a great multi-player one as well, supporting single-system, turn-taking multiplayer, and link cable play as well. There is also a map editor function, which could add a ton of replay value if a group of friends got into it and exchanged maps regularily. Advance Wars is one of the best all-around games on the Gameboy Advance, and even to a non-strategy fan, it's well worth a try.