Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

---Every time you want to save with a different map setup in the "war room", you will need to erase your previous game.

Although, you can save in the 'versus', save in the 'war room' and in the 'story' independently of each other.

--You can end up in a stale mate situation while playing against the computer.

I know this because for the last 3 hours I have been playing on a map where there are two islands and a neck of land connecting them. On this neck, my battleships have been bombarding any expensive computer units crazy enough to drive on it, and all of my units that I've tried to advance on the neck were wiped out by the computers rocket artillery. Meaning myself and the computer are both smart enough not to advance our artillery into harms way [because I tried it once, and the computer's rocket artillery wiped out one of my battleships], while we're too cautious to do anything disasterous, and we are trying painstakingly to advace our units on the neck--which doesn't do either of us much good.

Translation: stalemates like you never believed were possible can happen in this game. Like I've said, I only played one map, but that one map proves that stale mates can happen in this game and that they take a long time to solve.

If you don't like stalemate situations, then this game may not be for you. However, I only played one map so far, and this game gives a strong sense of WW2 type of strategy and a WW2 feel to it, even though helicopters are in the game. I thought the Typhoon Power would help the computer, and my Repair Power would help me, but we're still both stuck in a dead lock. So I just ended the game out of boredom. Also, you can only attack in 4 directions in a melee, not in 8.

I'm pretty sure that the Virtual Kasporov game that I've ordered will be a lot better than this, since atleast in chess you wont get into a never-ending tie.

But I've only played one map so far so I can't speak of its total virtues just yet. One good part about the game, is that you can learn the playing controls fairly easily. It was easy to just jump into the game and start playing, and I never did play the first Advanced Wars before.

Another good thing about this game, is that if you have time to spend waiting, this is the game to play to allow that time to go by fast.

I've decided to revise this post because I've played several other scenarios of AW2, and I've come to think of it as an excellent game to play. In fact, I like it better than my Virtual Kasparov, although I don't consider VK a bad game.

---The main reason AW2 is so good is because I've recently discovered that you can play (in the versus mode) against more than one computer player, and you can set up allies for the computer or for yourself, creating a whole series of different map variations.

I just want to add that playing with only one cartridge during a linkup makes for a very sad style of gameplay. There are basically no graphics in this type of two player configuration. And although you might get bored of the fighting graphics after a while, withought them the game play is just terrible.


BEST PARTY GAME!   May 17, 2004
 1 out of 4 found this review helpful

I hated Advanced Wars 1. But I bought 2 and was Amazed. They took all the original flaws and fixed them. You now have a second CO Power called Super Power, which is Your normal power x2. Another Addition is New Weapons, including Nukes, and Neo Tanks(They look like piggy banks) A new team,(black hole) and a ton of new characters. Also, you can now change characters outfits. I loved to make olaf look like santa.

I will admit, they didnt make the campaign any better. it still sucks. Also, to unlock other maps, CO's, you have to beat areas on campaign mode, and then you have to go out and buy them. This sucks.

Where this game rawks, is the multyplayer. This is the best Party game ever. No links requiered. you and up to 4 freinds pass around the GBA. But whats really awesome is if you play it on the GBA player for the GC with a wave bird contronlor. Its ten times kewler and you just pass around the wavebird, and u can watch wat ur oponents do as they do it, where as if u were on GBA, you would have to crowd around and squint, and you would really only see what happened when ur turn starts.

All and All. Advanced wars is awesome, and one of the best multyplayer titles on the gba.
I give it a 5 out of 5.


Tactics for Machinery   May 10, 2004
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Advance Wars 2 simply sticks out among other tactical games. Instead of fighting in a fantasy type world with magic and swords, you battle against tanks, troops, aircrafts, and submarines.
Options:
In Advance Wars 2, there are many options available at the menu screen. These options include, Story Mode, Versus Mode, and an area where you can create your own maps to play against the computer player with. You can link up your GBA and play against your friends as well.
Gameplay:
The gameplay seems quite complex at first, but it really is quite simple. You win a round by either eliminating all the enemies or capturing all of their buildings. During each turn, you can move any one of your allies once. You move them in the allotted space given to you. During your turn, you can attack and enemy, attempt to capture a building, approach and enemy, or simply run away. How you move your army around is pure tactics, but when you are complete, the enemy gets their turn against you.

Graphics:
The graphics in Advance Wars 2 are colorful and even detailed. When looking at the full map with the entire battalions lay out, it is full of color, but not too much detail. However, much like Fire Emblem, when there is a 1 on 1 combat between forces, they zoom into the battle for a much detailed and animated look.
Sound:
Also well done here. The music played though out is consistent and has more of a rock, (electric guitar) type music. It still fit the feel of this game quite well.

This game is highly addictive and a great addition to any GameBoy Advance collection.

If this game is of interest, check out these titles on the GBA as well:
Fire Emblem
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Advance Wars


GREAT GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   May 5, 2004
 0 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is the best out of the 15 games that I have. I like the action in the battle scenes. All the charactors are just awsome!! Tanks,aircraft,infintry,bazookamen, missle launchers and boats. Plus a wide veriaty of those. The soundFX are good and the graphics and gameplay are great!! Believe me,this is an awsome game. It is better than any other RPG game out there for the GBA. If you're looking for a great and addicting game get Advance Wars II!!


One of the very best games ever for GBA   April 8, 2004
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Advance Wars 1 was a massive sleeper hit. You wouldn't think that the Gameboy Advance would be condusive to making a strategy game, but Advance Wars 1 & 2 proves that wrong.

Of all the games I own, this and WarioWare are the only two that still get near daily or weekly play well over a year after their release. Advance Wars contains an insane amount of replay value. After beating the single player campaign you can unlock the Hard campaign. In some cases the Hard campaign is just the same maps from the regular game with more enemy units, in other cases it's a completely new map.

If that's not enough, as you play you gain coins you can use to buy battle maps. You can play a battle map against a specific foe, tuned to that map, or load up a Vs. map and play against anyone you'd like on any map. Over 150 maps you can unlock. And you can even create your own maps!

This game has great multiplayer too. You can play with just one cartridge and two gameboys with a link cable, although you're limited to small maps. If everyone has Advance Wars you can play any map with the cable that you've unlocked. However that wasn't enough for these guys, and they made a single gameboy multiplayer mode too! So you and a buddy can play (easiest to set it to fog of war, but you have control over all aspects of the game rules) and just pass the gameboy back and forth.

The simple fact is that this is one of the best games ever made for the gameboy. There's so many maps to play, the two main campaigns, and each game is different based on which CO you have commanding your forces. The fact I'm still playing this long after its release, is a testament to it's value.

A must have for any GBA owner!