Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is, mostly, a great new take on the first two Advance Wars games. It has some strange choices – like the primarily 3D presentation from a studio that excels at 2D visuals – but the strong gameplay and music make this a grand collection of two underappreciated games.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Developer: Nintendo and WayForward
Price: $60
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
Intelligent Systems really was the king of the ring when it came to tactics-based RPGs. Between Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, they had a good thing going. While Fire Emblem has certainly continued to grow exponentially, the Wars series hasn’t been seen in some 15 years. After an unfortunate delay, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp has finally arrived to give a new generation a taste of Fire Emblem’s sister series, and for the most part, it succeeds.
Both games are worth checking out, though I recommend playing through Advance Wars before Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising. The sequel has some changes that make it harder to go backwards than forward, but the first one is still worth playing. If you choose to start with the original, you’ll have to complete it to unlock the second game anyway, so I recommend going from the top to reap maximum enjoyment from the remastered collection.
Gameplay takes place on a grid-adorned board that looks like a natural setting. You take turns with an opponent moving various combat units across the map while destroying each others units. Some units are advantageous when battling others – a tank platoon will naturally decimate a group of simple soldiers – so you can’t just throw any unit at any other unit and expect to win.
It can be thrilling to blast through stages while planning each turn out – especially on stages with bases that allow you to make more units of your choosing, allowing you to customize your strategy a bit. I was absorbed into certain missions across both games as I commanded units and decimated foes with swarms of units and the varied CO Powers that can turn the tide by giving you extra stat boosts and effects.
Maps have different objects, ranging from routing your foe to surviving a set number of turns. The campaigns never get stale, as they mix up the objectives and COs frequently enough. You can also make your own maps and play against friends online, should you wish to beef with people you know. The lack of a matchmaking option is strange and limits the collection’s online lifespan, which is a shame.
“The COs don’t lose any of the charm from their original appearances, and if anything, end up gaining further appeal thanks to the way they’re animated and their excellent voice acting.“
You’re not necessarily here for the story since Advance Wars plays it fast and loose with narrative when compared to Fire Emblem, but it gets the job done. You’re in a wacky War World where giant conflicts rock and all the aesthetically pleasing Commanding Officers love to throw their forces at one another. There’s a basic story about battling a secretive evil, but you’re primarily here for the gameplay. The characters are fun to follow, at least, as they each have their own quirks that make them appealing.
One thing that does confuse me is Nintendo or WayForward’s decision for the latter to use 3D models for the units in gameplay. Only the CO characters and the game’s few cutscenes are illustrated, which is an odd choice. WayForward is known primarily for their excellent animation, so I wish the tanks and other such units were illustrated instead of being basic 3D models.
That being said, the 2D art is expectedly sharp. The COs don’t lose any of the charm from their original appearances, and if anything, end up gaining further appeal thanks to the way they’re animated and their excellent voice acting. The little animations that play when COs use their Powers are expressive and exciting too, which adds a bit of extra energy to using the power-up.
Speaking of voice acting, I was quite pleased with the voice work in Re-Boot Camp. Veronica Taylor perfectly embodies Andy’s naive but enthusiastic demeanor, and the rest of the cast is great at giving the over-the-top cast the lively energy and goofiness they deserve. The music receives similar treatment, being imbued with additional energy without losing any of its style. Whether you prefer it to the original Game Boy Advance music will come down to what style you prefer – I’m a Game Boy guy myself – but you can’t go wrong either way.
The Final Word
Though Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp makes a couple odd calls, it’s primarily an enjoyable way to revisit some of the Game Boy Advance’s best tactics games. The 2D art is slick and the gameplay can devour your attention, though the lack of online matchmaking is a bummer. Regardless, if you’re itching for some tactical action with a fun setting, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a strong choice.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
