Tactical, stylized and brilliant turn based strategy for your DS.

User Rating: 8.9 | Advance Wars: Dual Strike DS
As soon as you fire up Advance Wars for the DS the bright menu, hypnotic music and wealth of options let's you know you're going to get your money's worth playing this game. There's so much value in here: a scenario editor, a huge cast of unlockable generals, earning all your medals, a real time strategy mode and a lengthly campaign only scratches the surface.

Gameplay is balanced, tactical and incredibly fun. The battles are kept interesting thanks to variables like covering the map in a fog or controlling up to four generals battling on two fronts (dual strike). The campaign has a good story and excellent dialogue with a stylized, anime feel. The battles themselves though are all war, deep and lengthly scenarios against very competent A.I.

The graphical presentation of Advance Wards DS, unfortunately, simply isn't up to the standard of it's finely tuned gameplay. For all the fast paced style thrown at you, this game is ugly. It looks like a GBA game, frankly. While the experience to be sure is no less fun because of it, a truly updated look and Wi-Fi compatibility would have really made Advance Wars DS stand out as something special. As it stands, it's just an incremental improvement over it's already excellent predecessors. Hopefully these few remaining problems will be addressed in the inevitable sequel.

Easily recommended. Probably the best Advance Wars yet, good for newcomers and veterans alike. Always a guaranteed time waster, the series takes another step towards portable perfection on the DS.