Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Reviews

• Outstanding War Strategy

  
  By A37UL4H79PRIMU on 2008-01-24
  Days of Ruin is the second Advance Wars title released for the DS, the first being the now hard-to-find Advance Wars: Dual Strike. With over 120 hours logged on the first game, Dual Strike provided excellent entertainment for under 25 cents per hour. Based on my first 5 hours on this new release, I'm sure I'll get the same value out of Days of Ruin. One can easily spend over 100 hours completing every map, mission, and rank in the game.
  
  Days of Ruin is functionally similar to the original, keeping most everything that made the original so addictive. Still, Days of Ruin departs from previous Advance Wars titles in enough ways to keep the new game fresh. As previously, a campaign mode provides a story-line series of increasingly difficult maps for the one-player gamer. Multi-player modes are also available including a Nintendo Wi-Fi mode that allows you to challenge players around the globe. The artificial intelligence of the computer players is enough to challenge anyone, but the ready availability of human players makes the replay value of this title nearly infinite.
  
  Bottom line:
  Outstanding value.
  Outstanding fun.
  Outstanding replay value.
  
  

• The Best Just Got... Not Quite as Good

  
  By ARNEUO7BF3J55 on 2008-02-11
  In an earlier review I declared the Advanced Wars the best games ever for the GBA and Dual Strike met or exceeded everything the previous two achieved. So Days of Ruin had a lot to live up to and.... didn't.
  
  Let me start with what I didn't like. After three iterations of Advanced Wars I grew rather fond of the cast of Commanding Officers but DoR ashcans them all replacing them with a whole new cast of characters. It reminds me of when Capcom decided to swap out almost all the Street Fighter characters in SFIII. It just doesn't feel right. There is also a much smaller selection of CO's compared to Dual Strike and you don't even get to choose your CO during the main campaign. There are no more dual commanders, commander advancements and even the shop is gone. Another thing I have to take an issue with is the music. It's a blaring beat on a short loop that grows maddening after a while like Chinese water torture. At some point I had to completely turn the sound off on my DS or go crazy. Finally, this is the most verbose Advanced Wars ever and it can get tedious. I just want to fight not read a novel.
  
  On the plus side there are some great new units including motorcycles to get troops to cities faster and flares to temporarily get rid of fog of war for a section of the map. My worry is that the more units they add the more complicated the game gets and the whole allure of Advanced Wars is in its simplicity. The Duster, for example, is a new aircraft that can attack both air and ground units. Isn't that what the helicopter is for? There are also additional training missions during the main campaign that can be a lot of fun. Actually the training missions are sort of a replacement for the purchasable missions. In this case you have to earn them rather than buy them. The CO powers have been toned down and made more difficult to use. Whether this is an improvement or not is debatable but I think the CO powers had become more annoying than useful. The single best improvement is the addition of unit advancements. As a unit destroys enemy units it can advance up to veteran level with slight increases in power.
  
  Days of Ruin takes a departure from the previous three games with few improvements. The world differs, the commanders are new, and even the style of art has changed dramatically. What remains the same is the gameplay which continues to be excellent. My feeling is that games in a series should always improve and unfortunately, in almost every way, Dual Strike was superior to Days of Ruin. Because of this I cannot in good conscience give DoR anything higher than four stars.
  
  

• Spectacular

  
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-01-28
  Proving that change can be quite good, Nintendo's long running portable turn-based strategy series Advance Wars gets a fresh coat of paint with Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. Taking a more mature themed storyline, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin still features pretty much the same tried and true gameplay that fans of the series will come to expect and will be quite easy for them to pick up and play. Besides a more mature themed storyline, Days of Ruin also features a more comic-style artistic design scheme and a less cartoony feel to it as well, making it a pleasure to look at as well as play. Sadly, the Shop that was in previous installments of the series has been done away with, but what we get instead is some spectacular multiplayer and Wi-Fi options that only up the replay value even more so than ever before. The single player mode, which has been shortened when compared to Dual Strike, is still great as well, but the multiplayer options are where the most fun is to be had. While there's really nothing new in terms of the overall gameplay mechanics of Advance Wars, Days of Ruin remains a spectacular strategy game that delivers on all fronts. All in all, fans of the Advance Wars series will should cry with joy once they pop in Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, which is undoubtedly one of the best installments in the series, and one of the best strategy games and multiplayer experiences you'll have on your DS.
  
  

• The latest and greatest Advance Wars

  
  By A15DRHO7CRVZYM on 2008-01-24
  Being a veteran of the 3 prior games (Advance Wars 1 & 2 for the GBA and Dual Strike for the DS), my expectations are very high for the latest title in this fantastic strategy franchise. I'm happy to report that this Advance Wars satisfies most of those expectations. The addition of several new units adds even more depth to an already deep gaming experience. Surprisingly, a few units were taken out as well to keep things pure and simple, and I applaud the developer's brave decision which ultimately is for the best.
  
  A new take on war gives this game a fresh feeling, although feeling familiar at the same time. It sheds it's cutesy, almost comical approach to war, for a more serious and rugged post-apocalyptic setting.
  
  The addition of the CO system adds an exciting new layer to the already deep gameplay. This time around you can actually have a CO out in the field in the fray with your army. The dynamics of boosting your CO bar in order to use your CO power have been modified dramatically.
  
  The online portion is also fleshed out: you can battle with others online, and you can upload and download maps from Nintendo WiFi Connection to keep the gameplay experience fresh through the addition of new maps. Voice chat through VOIP is also present, but you can only do this with people in your friends list, so don't expect Halo-like trash talk fests. :)
  
  The only drawback is the lack of unlockables (which to me was icing on the Advance Wars cake). Overall this is a worthy addition to a very high Advance Wars pedigree, and a title that's worth adding to your videogame library. 5 stars.
  
  
  ---
  
  
  *Addendum*: So far I have clocked in 51 hours into this game, and I see no end in sight. I am completely hooked, even more so than the three previous games combined. I find myself downloading recommended maps every day and creating new ones every few days while whistling Gage's and Brenner's BGM. This is truly the best Advance Wars yet.
  
  

• Best tactical strategy game on the DS, but just shy of perfection

  
  By A23314SLHPAHAM on 2008-02-15
  I like tactical strategy games in general (e.g. Panzer General, Final Fantasy Tactics, Heroes of Might & Magic series), and I adored Advanced Wars: Dual Strike. I play exclusively 1P games, I don't use the multiplayer functions of this game at all, so I write my review from this perspective.
  
  Clearly, AW:DoR is the best, most refined AW game to date, and so far, it's the best strategy game I've ever found for the DS. It definitely deserves a full 5 stars, as I've been glued to it non-stop for about a month. If you enjoy strategy games at all, pick up this title, you definitely won't be disappointed.
  
  And yet I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed. The two major improvements were to the touch screen control system and to the online capabilities, both taking greater advantage of the DS platform. Unfortunately, I'm just not that interested in either advancement. I do not use the touch screen for this game at all, I definitely prefer the direction pad and buttons (though I have to admit, the touch screen option is very well done and fun to use). I also don't use the wireless options of any DS game. It's not that the wireless options are bad, just that I prefer single-player games in general as there's no need to coordinate schedules, no delays at all. The DS in particular is an excellent system to fill dead time during bus or air travel, neither of which work well with other players. The multiplayer options of this title are actually very tempting (not only can you compete against your buddy in another location, but you can voice chat while doing so!), but multiplayer gaming just doesn't fit well into my busy life these days.
  
  As a 1P game, AW:DoR is the best 1P strategy game that I have yet found for the DS. But it's just not better *in every possible way* than the previous title, Dual Strike. This is disappointing, and I considered rating the product 4 stars. But given how well designed it is, and that I've enjoyed 100 hours of gameplay already and look forward to more, I feel it deserves the full 5 stars.
  
  The rest of my review is a detailed wish list of ways the 1P experience could be improved, along with some praise for noteworthy improvements over Advanced Wars: Dual Strike. If you're not interested in those details, my bottom line is that I highly recommend this as the best strategy game available for the DS today.
  
  Wishlist for improvements:
  
  The campaign is linear, with no optional side quests to explore. I miss the little secret labs, and the ability to unlock special unit types for later in the campaign! I wish there were more optional goals, side quests, and perhaps some strategic choice about how the campaign proceeds.
  
  The game no longer keeps track of your score for the extra "free play" maps, nor do you get medals for solving them, nor do you win points for solving them, nor do you have to win access to unlock them. In short, the designers basically gutted all the reinforcers that made playing the extra maps fun! This is my single biggest complaint about the new game.
  
  I wish free play maps came pre-configured for different default scenarios (e.g. this one has fog of war, this one has snow, this one uses these COs, etc.). It's great that the game allows you to tweak all settings for every free play map, but provide interesting and unique defaults for each map so you can more readily compare your experience with others. (Note that this also undercuts the fun of trying to complete a "checklist" of beating all "free play" maps, because now every map has identical defaults unless you expressly choose otherwise.)
  
  Like other reviewers, I miss the Shop. Basically, the previous game required you to rack up points by playing the game, which could be spent to unlock various things (maps, CO uniforms, etc.). Human nature being what it is, having to win these little things is more fun than being given them up front. In this title, all the free play maps and CO outfits are available immediately, which is slightly disappointing.
  
  The one multiplayer / community aspect I'd love is some sort of scoreboard, or score comparisons with your friends. This would allow me to play at my own pace w/o having to coordinate schedules with others, while still competing on the big board.
  
  But even given the above limitations, the 1P game is still better than AW:Dual Strike. I love the new CO system, whereby the CO is attached to a specific unit. I prefer having a single CO over having tag team pairs like before. I like the fact that the units have been streamlined (stealth units weren't that interesting), though I would like the occasional oddball unit in the campaign mode. I love the fact that units can gain experience -- an excellent gameplay mechanic. I love the new tutorial screens, as well as the strategic advice screen. All in all, this game is extremely well done.
  
  
• Takes the best of Advance Wars and improves it, the worst of Advance Wars and trashes it.
  By A1GHFCAM1KBK35 on 2008-02-03
  If you enjoyed the first three Advance Wars, there's no doubt you'll like this one too. While I did enjoy the games, I was not fanatical about it and I would eventually stop playing it after a few weeks or so.
  
  I swapped out Dual Strike for Days of Ruin and I must say this is the most addicting Advance Wars to date. They basically took everything that I felt were flaws or problems with the series, and fixed it up and improved upon what was already good.
  
  Some things to know:
  
  * No more cheap AI during Fog of War! That's right! Now the computer is actually AFFECTED by the fog just like you are! This makes the game more realistic and the computer doesn't have a cheap edge like they used to!
  
  * A better CO system. If you liked the insane CO powers, you may not be happy with it but I personally felt it was too overpowering. The powers are still there, but innovated in a way that is more realistic and requires you to rely more on strategy rather than Meteor Strike or Power of Money.
  
  * A much better storyline. The days of "What's a tank?" and "Come on you Black Hole monkey faces!" are gone with more realistic dialouge and a much better story as a result. This game goes for a much more realistic feeling all the way, and it's great to finally have an Advance Wars game where the storyline and dialouge doesn't suck.
  
  * A better unit balance. New additions and removal of units such as the Neotank and Megatank make everything more fair, and less reliant on building hundreds of the most expensive units. I have not seen better balance since the first Advance Wars, in fact I would say it's much better. Some new additions like the bike and anti-tank are great and come with pros and cons that even them out.
  
  * Design maps mode is better than ever! You can now store up to 50 custom made maps and even adjust the size of the maps (from 5x5 to 30x30)! There is also an addition of a new paint tool that allows you to fill whole regions of tiles that are the same with one go making the design process far less tedious.
  
  * The music is great too. It's mostly a mix of rock and techno and while the soundtrack isn't perfect, there are some really neat songs. My personal favorite is Waylon's theme.
  
  Wonderful graphics, music, gameplay, storyline, and BALANCE. It's definitely worth the $30, and I would grab a copy before it starts becoming hard to find. I have yet to play the multiplayer so I cannot comment on that, but I can tell you with confidence this is the best Advance Wars to date! Just beware that you may be in for some long sleepless nights once you get hooked. ;)
  
  
• Solid game that tries new things, but falls short of expectations
  By A3LXAIHZZ1YFYV on 2008-04-09
  ~~~THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS, DO NOT READ THIS IF THAT IS A CONCERN FOR YOU~~~
  
  
  Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm a big advance wars fan, and I was really looking forward to this game. I give the game's developers credit for trying new things in DoR and trying to take the game in a new direction. Some things that are great additions to the series include:
  -Wifi! Its great to be able to play and share maps.
  -Actually, thats about it.
  
  The single-player campaign is passable, but to be honest, I did not enjoy it as much as previous installments. This game was advertised as being "darker" and "more mature." Really? Given the E rating, I wasn't expecting blood and guts everywhere, but did they have to add TWO 10-year-old-squeakier-than-ever Lashs' to the enemy team? (for those of you who do not remember Lash, she was the one who thought war was a game, and soldiers were toys.) Prepare for a lot of: "*SQUEE!* TANK GO BOOM BOOM NOW!! BoOOM!" At least previous installments were honest and straightforward about being a bit childish, this one attempts to hide its juvenile story behind more sophisticated drawings. I cannot take a game that contains any of the following seriously:
  -A virus that make you *gasp* grow flowers
  -Characters that have and randomly lose stereotypical accents
  -"WHERE THERES LIFE, THERES HOPE!" (expect to hear that, oh, 60-70 times....per cutscene)
  -EVIL, bloodthirsty villains...who decide to play(teehee.) nice and join you. (Mr.Bear said he didn't want to die!)
  -Characters so flat that you can see right through them! (I'm serious. if you can't predict the story from the moment you put the game in...)
  -Story lacked spirit. Really, there was nothing interesting about it.
  
  Now, you may be thinking "Thats ok, Advance Wars was never really about the story. Its all in the awesome strategy!! I can skip the cutscenes if I want and go straight to the action!" Alright, I'll agree with you here. I could forgive the story that some developer let his 5th grader write it ,if there were a noticeable improvement in the strategic gameplay to make up for it. Sadly, I do not feel as though DoR succeeded on this count either. It is mediocre, hence the 3 stars, but nothing fantastic. Lets do a run down of in-play issues and disappointments:
  
  -I was looking forward to gaining access to new units, but all of those added (carrier, anti-tank, flares ect) did not add much depth to the already existing gameplay.
  -Lack of choice. In previous games, you had the ability to select your CO(s) when going into combat. It allowed you to tailor your team and your abilities to the challenges ahead. Upon failing a mission, you could go back, rethink your approach, and try something new. Heck, if you were completely stuck on one level, you could try a different one (typically, 3 or so were unlocked to you at a time) and take a crack at the problematic level later. It did not effect the story, but it allowed you to take a break from a frustrating level. In DoR, this is not the case, only one level at a time can advance the story. (Yes, there are side "training" levels, but they are even more aggravating and uninspired than the regular gameplay and have nothing to do with the story) This customization is sacrificed in the name of a piss-poor story that forces you to use one pre-designated CO per map.I would have loved more user customization, not less.
  -The game designers advertised that CO powers and abilities were being reduced placing more emphasis on strategy. This is true for your units, not so for the enemy units. I am not complaining of difficulty here, its not that it is ridiculously hard, just irritating. You scratch an enemy unit, and then they turn around and one-shot yours. Prepare for a lot of "huh? why is my unit dead?"... For the record, simply making all of the enemy units stronger is not a satisfying way to create difficulty, try again.
  - One more note on COs and CO powers: they feel more like an afterthought in this game, and may as well not be there. You don't even get them til well into the game! The COs do not lend themselves particularly well to any of the maps that you are forced to play on. Don't expect fancy flight-action when you get to play as an air-specialist! Mostly its a lot of generic play with Wil. Previously, more interesting COs allowed for more creative level design that would allow them to shine. Choosing the correct CO for a level was an important part of play!
  - Difficulty could have been implemented through creative level design, this is also not the case. I felt like level design produced dull, repetitive, uninspired, slam-your-head-into-the-enemy-til-he-falls-over-50-turns-later style play with only a few interesting exceptions. I wish there had been more of the interesting ones.
  -Lack of hard mode and other unlockables. Part of the fun of the previous games, for me, was unlocking all the nifty stuff in the war room, and trying my luck at the hard mode campaign. This had very little to do outside the single player. Like I did point out, wifi is great, so if you have lots of friends with AW, this may not be such a big problem.
  
  
  SHORT VERSION FOR THE LAZY:
  Days of Ruin had a lot going for it, its still an OK game. You'll probably chug on through it and enjoy it just fine. I suppose I just had very high expectations for this game, and it fell far short. I can only hope that things improve in the future. Shinier graphics and "cooler" (see: stereotyped and boring) characters do not redeem a completely ridiculous storyline, mediocre single player game, and lack of unlockables.
  
  
  
• No Hard Campaign / No War room
  By A2BJJG9YO548VS on 2008-03-09
  This latest addition to the advance wars game series falls far from the expected hype. If you have played 100's of hours on any of the former advance wars games you will find this game way to short with very little replay value. Overall the game was decent and probably would have been a great addition in the series so far, but the lack of a hard campaign makes campaign mode way to short. I beat the whole campaign in less than 50 hours with all S ranks and now there is not much of a reason to play any boards over. Combine that with no war room and where is any replay value ? How hard would it have been to add a hard campaign, or to score the free play boards and keep a record of them ? As for the story line be prepared to sit though page after page of silly dialogue screens. The end report, and good game for the 64 campaign boards or if you want to play against a human player. But the game has very little to offer after you beat the campaign.
  
  
• More hours I have to find to waste!
  By A30VX6KH8RZS4R on 2008-02-02
  I'm a big Advance Wars fan, having played all of the titles so far. I've been waiting for this for a while. It's supposed to be "darker", which I always thought was weird given the land is not PINK instead of green.
  
  That's right. PINK. As in, I hope you like PINK, because you'll be seeing a lot of it. The future is full of ruined lands, and those ruined lands are PINK (e.g.: light red).
  
  Great game though, as per usual. If you've never played advance wars, you can get any of the games and have a blast. For those who've played them, here are the differences:
  
  -You can play ANY past mission you like after you've defeated it. I LOVE this feature.
  -No more battlemaps store! :(
  -Online play. Haven't used it enough to comment on it.
  -No dual commanders (like the last title)
  -Cannot choose COs.
  -You may put COs in a unit and take them to the field. They have an effect radius, and gain CO power from enemy defeats within the radius. Then you may use a global CO power.
  -Unit can get experience, 4 levels. I haven't noticed a practical difference.
  
  Fun little game, I'd highly recommend!
  
  
  
  
• Initial disappointment, but I got over it
  By A1GW690RCZE0WL on 2008-06-04
  At first, I hated this game completely. But after a while, I grew to like it. First, I'll explain the bad parts.
  
  They got rid of ALL the old COs and powers of the previous game. There is now only one generic CO power (still varies from CO to CO); no Super Power. Powers can now only be obtained through the use of a CO-occupied unit. If you don't have a CO in a unit, you don't get your CO power. Simple as that. The COs also don't have distinguishing differences between them (like stronger close range units, etc.) They are all basically the same except for their power and CO presence.
  
  They also got rid of the ability to use 2 COs at the same time (which means no more Tag power), the CO skills, and Hachi's shop. You now have to UNLOCK everything, which is really stupid. But oh well. Maybe some of you like it better that way.
  
  They get rid of a LOT of units from the previous game, Dual Strike. A complete list of what they termed follows:
  - Neotank
  - Megatank
  - Black Bomb
  - Stealth Fighter
  - Black Boat
  - Piperunner (and pipes!)
  - Oozium
  
  However, they DID add units as well.
  + Bikes (basically an infantry that can move farther)
  + Antitank (basically an artillery that can hit units that attack it directly)
  + Duster (basically a sucky fighter)
  + Gunboat (actually really cool; carries one infantry and has a good attack against other naval units)
  + Sea plane (basically a fighter and a bomber combined, but not quite as powerful as either)
  + Wartank (basically a less powerful and costly version of the Megatank)
  + Flare (nothing special; just shoots flares that reveal fog of war; worthless in maps without fog of war)
  
  They also changed a few of the units. Infantry cost 500 more, while mechs cost 500 less. Medium tanks now cost 12000, but are less powerful. Missiles' range is increased by one. Cruisers and Landers each cost 2000 less. Carriers can no longer shoot anti-air missiles, but can now produce Sea Planes. They also cost 2000 less. Battleships can now move AND shoot in the same turn. Anti-aircraft now cost 1000 less. APCs are now called Rigs. They can build temporary airports and seaports. These ports can repair and resupply their respective units, but can't build anything.
  
  Maybe I'm just weird, but I liked how infantry would "hop" on buildings to capture them. Anyone else like that? Well, they don't do it anymore. Probably part of the whole "more serious" thing.
  
  They also got rid of a lot of the other assorted things like the War Room and Battle Mode and whatnot, but I really didn't care for those much anyway.
  
  Now for the good.
  
  The campaign is probably the highlight of the game for me. The initial plot may be overused, but it's pretty engrossing after that. I love all the interpersonal relationships that Dual Strike lacked. I'm a sucker for anime romance, which IS present in the campaign. The thing with the flower virus was pretty cheesy, but it's WHAT THE VIRUS DOES that matters. It also gets a little lengthy, but it's awesome. Other reviewers complain about one of the characters that slightly resembles Lash from Dual Strike, but she really doesn't. There's really nothing similar about them at all, except for the fact that they both think war is a game and soldiers are the playing pieces.
  
  The graphics in Days of Ruin are WAY better than those in Dual Strike. The battles are much more entertaining to watch (as if they weren't already). It's surprising how good they are. Everything from the terrain to the explosions to the animations looks a lot better.
  
  Ships can now go on/through/under bridges.
  
  I'm not sure whether this is good or bad, but they added a building called Radar. It just reveals an area of fog of war. Like the Flare unit, this is worthless if there is no fog of war. At least it gives you money.
  
  I like how they made the units look much more serious and realistic. Some people don't, but I think it's a good change of pace.
  
  I like the ability to put your CO in a unit to make it more powerful. The unit with the CO also will have a "sphere of influence" that makes everything nearby more powerful as well. I also like how units can gain experience: First Level I, then II, then Veteran - getting more powerful each time they kill a unit.
  
  I also like the new "Ruin" terrain type. It also has some new terrain objects: Pillars of flame, ruins, wastelands, roughs, mists, meteors, and electrical fields. They changed the name of shoals to beaches, but whatever.
  
  In map making, you can change the size of the map, but it's limited to 30x30. This may sound small, but it appears larger since it's more zoomed in than Dual Strike. You also have the option of saving up to FIFTY maps! Personally, with Dual Strike, I'd always be trying to decide which 3 maps I wanted to keep and which to delete. This gives map-maker junkies a lot more freedom. Now you know where all the memory from lack of COs, skills, and other things went.
  
  It also has Wi-Fi capability, but I haven't used that yet either.
  
  All in all, it's actually a mixed bag.
  
  Hardcore Dual Strike fans: Prepare to be disappointed. This game gets rid of all the COs, CO powers, units, and other things that Dual Strike was made famous for. If you decide you MUST get this game, keep Dual Strike just in case. I'm glad I did, so you have the option of playing either.
  
  If you're new to Advance Wars: Go for it. Days of Ruin is a great strategy game with almost infinite replay value - especially when you have 3 other friends to play with. It will push your strategic mind to its limits. This game is definitely worth the money.
  
  
• Change of Pace
  By A1YEPFLLH42OU1 on 2008-07-11
  Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is the latest entry in the Advance Wars franchise. However, unlike the previous three titles (Advance Wars [GBA], AW: Black Hole Rising [GBA], and AW: Dual Strike [DS]) this game is set in a totally different universe. It's a change of pace to be sure; the question is whether this is for the better or worse.
  
  Those familiar with the previous AW titles shouldn't have much trouble getting used to this one. The general play is quite similar: turn-based, capture cities for funds, capture production facilities to make units, commanders with powers, etc. There are, however, many changes to familiar units, plus some units that are entirely new. For example, battleships can move AND attack in this game, and APCs (called 'Rigs' here) can build temporary airports or naval bases that can repair but not produce units. You'll also see a first in the anti-tank unit, an indirect attacker that can actually shoot back if directly attacked. Combat tactics are somewhat different as a result, but nothing that will take a veteran too long to get accustomed to. Additionally, you can zoom the map in, though I haven't found much use for this feature since it's quite easy to see all the icons in regular view mode.
  
  The units, COs, and animations have a more realistic look to them, and the general theme and plot of the game is more grimly realistic than playful. Most of the music is some form of rock/metal type track that sounds like it belongs in Command & Conquer, and the post-apocalyptic setting brings back memories of Mad Max and the likes. Themes are generally more mature, with not-so-funny plot twists and some profanity. In general, it won't take you long to realize that this is no Omega Land, and likely never was.
  
  Probably the most interesting new features in Days of Ruin are the veterancy system and the reworked commanding officers (COs). Units that destroy other units get promoted up to two ranks, and become more powerful as a result (merging units grants the higher veterancy). It's not overpowering, but enough that if you have mostly veteran forces you'll have a substantial advantage. Additionally, COs no longer just hang around the HQ- they can actually take to the field in any unit, deployable one at a time from the HQ or any production facility. The chosen unit is granted immediate maximum veterancy. Additionally, instead of granting their bonuses to all of their units, as in the previous AW games, COs only affect a 'radius' of units around them. For example, Brenner provides a global defense boost to any kind of unit. However, for units to enjoy this boost they must be within 3 tiles of his unit. Additionally, the CO powers do not charge at all if you don't have your CO deployed and in combat, and the power meter will drain to zero if the CO unit is destroyed (you can deploy them again at no penalty if this happens). To top it all, there is no 'super' CO power, no 'tag' as in Dual Strike, and most of the regular CO powers are nowhere near as strong as those enjoyed in previous titles. In short, COs don't play nearly as major a role as they did in the past games. Is this good or bad? That really depends on how much you enjoyed the varied CO abilities and powers in the previous games. If you're one of the folks that preferred tactical play to marshaling stars for a super attack, or thought that some COs were overpowered (bit hard to deny this, even though I loved them), then this is obviously a good change. If your whole reason for playing AW was the COs, then obviously you're not going to like this. Personally, I think I'd be happiest with something in the middle: maybe keep the CO zone idea, but make them all bigger, for example. It's quite difficult and often undesirable to keep your units clumped up inside such a small area.
  
  The campaign is quite linear, with no bonus objectives or branches. You can play bonus tactical challenge maps, but these don't present any reward, so unless you're just bored there's not much point. Playing the campaign from start to finish unlocks everything. Yup, you heard that right- there's no Battle Maps or grinning Hachi looking for your credits in exchange for spiffy CO color arrangements. You can still change CO colors, but this and all playable battle mode maps are automatically available. There is also a music room and wireless play, which is probably the only reason to do free battle mode at all.
  
  In terms of customization, Days of Ruin has a ton of space for you to make your own maps. 50 maps, as a matter of fact- probably more than anyone will ever need. You can use these in online mode, and in general this is a good improvement over Dual Strike. In addition to wireless play, you can play using Nintendo WFC- a first for Advance Wars. Maps can be traded online, if you choose to do so.
  
  Dual Strike added a lot of interesting new features, such as the dual front battle, tag, CO experience, plus some new units (most of which aren't in Days of Ruin). Days of Ruin adds some more- particularly the Internet play- but also takes out many of the best new things in Dual Strike. In particular, Days of Ruin relies very heavily on its multiplayer for replay value. The campaign and versus mode offer nothing in the way of rewards for the offline player, and the COs aren't especially fun to experiment with.
  
  In conclusion, Days of Ruin is definitely a change of pace for Advance Wars. It's similar enough to its predecessors that fans of the originals will probably like it. How MUCH you like it depends heavily on what your favorite aspects of the past games were. If you were addicted to unlocking things, really liked the old COs and their powers, and mainly play offline, then Days of Ruin will probably be less attractive. If you were in it for the tactical play, want to see what happens when a battleship can move AND fire, and mainly play online matches instead of versus mode, then this game will be more fun. Personally, I don't think Days of Ruin is much better or worse than the previous games- it's simply different. I'm not big on multiplayer, so I found Dual Strike to be more fun. However, it also introduces some interesting new game aspects that I hope will be integrated with the best features of the others, and I can't wait to see what Intelligent Systems has lined up for the future of this awesome series.
  
  
• If You Liked Fire Emblem...
  By AEFPXXTX4YZTD on 2008-04-05
  I was a huge fan of Fire Emblem and this game is very similar but has changes that make it more difficult.
  
  
• Days of Ruin = Days of Fun
  By A1A89LQ8C1AYV1 on 2008-02-11
  This is my first Advance Wars game. That being said I must confess I had no idea what Advance Wars was really about or how to play the games. However, I kept hearing all this hype about how great they were and how addictive they were. I decided to take a leap of faith and try this out. Boy am I glad I did. Days of Ruin is by far one of the most fun handheld games I've played. It's very easy to pick up and learn. I didn't even look at the instruction booklet. I just popped it in and let the on screen tutorial introduce me to the game play. I've only made it through the first 4 missions, but I know I'll be playing for many hours to come.
  
  
• A change of direction for advance wars
  By A13J77NFG3JIAW on 2008-02-13
  Buy this game it's a lot of fun with very high replay ability. If you are new to Advance Wars this is a good place to start because of the completely new story and characters. Fans of the series will fall in love with this new edition. The new story is in depth and adds to the addictiveness of the game. The units and structures are similar to the old ones but with a few twists. The new maps and controls are a nice improvement. My only disappointment was that there wasn't as many CO's in comparison to Dual Strike, so it's a good idea to get that one too or keep it if you already have it . The long awaited wifi capabilities are awesome too.
  
  
• Solid Game Carrying On a Good Tradition
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2008-02-16
  A departure from the standard Advance Wars games, "Days of Ruin" is a more serious-toned game than its cartoonish predecessors.
  
  Days of Ruin takes place after a cataclysmic meteor strike that devastated the entire planet. Covered by soot and dust, the survivors of the impact must stay alive amidst the warring factions that seek control of the chaos. To sum it up: imagine if "Advance Wars" met "Mad Max". That's this game. The game follows Will, a survivor of the Rubinelle armed forces, as he teams up with other survivors from his army to protect the citizens against bandits and hostile forces.
  
  The basic rules of Advance Wars still apply, and all the units from previous games (minus some of the setting-specific units like the Neotank) are present. There are a couple things that have been changed, gameplay-wise. New units have been added; these include the light recon Bike, the fog-of-war-destroying Flare launcher, the specifically designed Anti-Tank Cannon, the missile-launching Gunboat, the carrier-built Seaplane, and the anti-air/anti-ground plane, the Duster. The most distinct new unit is the Rig, which can build certain temporary structures like makeshift airfields, ports, and radar stations. Also, more conventional units from previous games are available - tanks, infantry, artillery, and so on. Another change is the scarcity of supplies. In previous games, there were counters for fuel and ammunition that would deplete after use (moving depletes fuel, shooting depletes ammunition). In AW:DR, these empty much more quickly to indicate the status of the destroyed world. There is also the added bonus of veterancy for units, granting bonuses in attack and defense for each kill the unit gives. This doesn't carry over between missions, but it goes up fairly quickly. Finally, the use of Commanding Officers (or COs) has changed - to confer their unique bonus on their units, they must be leading them. A unit can have a CO attached to it to make a zone of effect around it where the CO's bonus applies. Defeating enemies with units in the CO zone fills the CO's power bar and allows them to use a special technique that can change the tide of a battle. If the unit is defeated, the CO simply returns to headquarters.
  
  Online gameplay is now available as well. The pre-made maps can be used, or design maps can be traded. There is also an option to add friends and make a friends list. The system is simple, but it works pretty well.
  
  The graphics have been changed to reflect the more serious nature of the game. The cartoonish, bright, mis-proportioned characters of the previous games have been replaced with a more washed-out, somber color tone and realistic character proportions. As a whole, they are pretty good, though the use of colors like red, blue, and yellow for the uniforms is still sort of disorienting. The sound is pretty good, having been changed to an overall more rock-based sound than previous AW games.
  
  As a whole, this is a pretty neat turn for the Advance Wars series to take. I like that it's more serious, though it seems kind of odd to jump straight to "post-apocalyptic scenario" with the new graphics instead of doing a regular wargame first. Either way, "Days of Ruin" is a solid game that carries on a good tradition.
  
  9/10.
  
  
• A fun, but short, entry in the series
  By AJDCA837IJW1A on 2008-02-18
  Overall a Fun new advance wars, however the campaign mode is fairly short and you do not get to use the new CO system until the game is more than half over. There are a large number of free play and trial maps at least, but the game is obviously set up to be more focused on Wifi play this time around with story mode essentially acting as a tutorial.
  
  The story line is fun and there are quite a few cutscenes in the game (semi-hidden in the info menu)that add to the character development.
  
  
• A great addition to the series!
  By A3NWI18O3M9BXF on 2008-02-19
  Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is an excellent game for anyone who enjoys turn based strategy or war games. The plot is a much darker than in previous titles and the characters have alot more personality to them. A few units from previous installments have been removed or drastically changed, but this is for the better as it brings about a much more diverse and balanced gameplay. The COs are no longer horribly overpowered, except for the last one you unlock who I won't name due to spoilers. The art isn't necessarily better or worse, but different and it suits the darker story and setting.
  
  If you ever liked any Advance Wars game and own a DS you simply have to pick this one up. This is a must buy!
  
  
• Advance Wars Days of Ruin Review
  By A1HC2C70548BWV on 2008-02-22
  Very fun and challenging. It plays like the other ones in the series and yet has a quality to it that makes it different. A definite must have.
  
  
• Advance Wars put to the ultimate test
  By A3KQNW60X7UXEH on 2008-03-11
  If you thought that Days of Ruin was going to be an easy game, guess what... you are WRONG! Days of Ruin completely changes the game completely and gives it more of a challenge. For one thing, new units are introduced such as the Bike, Flare and Anti-Tank. A completely new story and new COs make the game much darker in tone but it still provides the unique Advance Wars gameplay that you come and love. What's different is that online play is available and with online play you can play with someone else from around the world and that provides some unique replay value. Other than that, you have a lot of work cut out for you because this game will put your skills to the test... the ultimate test. This game will definitely be your money's worth and besides... you won't be disappointed.
  
  
• Great game
  By A2QIXNT86K5OAW on 2008-03-15
  I've only had the opportunity to play some of the original Advance Wars on GBA and as far as I can tell Days of Ruin sticks to the well-working formula. Like the other game (and from what I hear of the others in the series) this game gets HARD. Definitely good for those looking for some strategic challenge. The graphics and sound quality are great for the DS and the story has a nice dark overtone to it that doesn't take away from the game. Recommended for any SRPG fan.
  
  
• 100 Hours In, I'm Still Addicted
  By A36QOKGQK2DG8V on 2008-04-04
  I have played all the AW games, usually 300 hours per game. I do miss the War Room. I do miss the Hard Campaign. I do miss the old CO Powers. But this is still a five-star game for me. If you've never tried this video game, but like chess, or other strategy games, give Advance Wars a chance to hook you.
  
  
• Ds Game
  By A3Q6MWUWJDRWJR on 2008-04-06
  Great game came in no less then one day and might I add a fun game.
  
  
• Best GameBoy game I have played so far.
  By A1SMWW4OATF5KC on 2008-04-11
  I have always enjoyed wargames from hex maps to computer based. This game is clearly the best of this genre that I have played on any version of the GameBoy. I am even considering buying a second DS just so my son and I can play head to head.
  
  The fog of war is very well done. The amount of chance involved in battles does a good job of requiring good strategy but keeping outcomes from being completely deterministic. The relative strengths of the units keep the game well balanced and make good use of mixed forces a powerful advantage.
  
  In short, this game has cost me too much sleep already and I love it!
  
  
• A step back from Dual Strike, but still excellent
  By A3KFH54NGGQ5JF on 2008-04-29
  This review is geared more toward people who have played previous incarnations of the Nintendo/Advance Wars series. If you haven't played any of the previous games, then start now! Even if you only have a middling interest in strategy games, you'll probably enjoy this game (as well as its predecessor: Advance Wars: Dual Strike). The Advance Wars series provides some of the most lasting games in the Nintendo portable library.
  
  If you've played Advance Wars: Dual Strike, you'll feel like you're stepping back in time. Many of the features of the previous game are missing, but the core is still chock full of delicious turn-based strategy goodness.
  
  Regarding COs: COs play a much more limited role in the game (and aren't even available until the second half of the single-player campaign), dual strikes are gone, CO selection is much more limited, and the CO powers themselves are not as balanced as in Dual Strike. That said, the new CO mechanic does add an interesting twist to the core gameplay. You can load a CO onto a unit at half of the unit's base price, which allows the CO to exert bonuses to selected units within a sphere of influence (it's a 2D grid game so the "sphere" is technically diamond-shaped, but whatever). The area of the CO's influence increases when units inside the sphere do damage. When the CO meter is full, you can use the CO's special power, which reduces the sphere of influence back to its base state. The loss of CO zone, combined with the fact that using the CO power wastes the CO unit's turn, often limits the utility of the CO power.
  
  Regarding single-player replayability: There is no "hard campaign" option after beating the game. However, the plethora of trial maps, as well as the ability to download custom maps online, more than makes up for this shortcoming.
  
  Regarding multi-player: Let's face it, I would probably buy this game even if it was single-player only. The Advance Wars game mechanics are just so addictive that I would continue buying map packs forever. However, the addition of Nintendo WFC multiplayer is what really makes this game shine. The ability to play with friends (or random people) online turns this game from maybe 30 hours of gameplay to 100+ hours of gameplay. Nintendo WFC is still a bit flaky, and disconnects are still somewhat common, but it's an acceptable price for playing with others across the world.
  
  
  
  
• The best to date
  By A3EKJAM8US8W28 on 2008-04-29
  In my opinion this is the best Advance Wars to date. They changed how CO's work and their powers to add more balance to the game. This is also the first Advance Wars with a story that keeps you entertained. Definatly buy this if you enjoyed any of the past games or if you are interested in the series.
  
  
• The best to date
  By A3EKJAM8US8W28 on 2008-04-29
  In my opinion this is the best Advance Wars to date. They changed how CO's work and their powers to add more balance to the game. This is also the first Advance Wars with a story that keeps you entertained. Definatly buy this if you enjoyed any of the past games or if you are interested in the series.
  
  
• Great strategy game
  By AP5YP8I1X2K82 on 2008-05-08
  I had the original Advance Wars game on the GBA. This game is very similar. There are areas where you can use your stylus, but I've use to use the feature, as I prefer doing everything with the buttons. Honestly, the dual screens aren't utilized very well in this game, but it was never a problem to begin with in the original GBA game, so I can't complain.
  The battles are well-thought out, offering differing ways to complete the same mission. There are a TON of units, each offering their strengths and weaknesses.
  The storyline is fine, but it's forgetful... it's neat that there are now different branches to the game, offering more replay value.
  Gameplay is simple, but complicated, in that it's easy to move units and fire, but a strategy is required to do this efficiently.
  The tutorial is well-done, but anyone familiar with a previous Advance Wars will have no problem jumping in.
  
  
• Entertaining!
  By A1L2QANSCBV0F7 on 2008-05-27
  This game is fun to play... the story is interesting... easy to play and learn, my learning curve is very steep... However... it is going to be harder & harder when you proceed thru the games... (which is good, right?)
  
  
• Great addition
  By A3UZO6NP1QWUNB on 2008-05-27
  I've been a fan of Advance Wars for a bit now, and thought Dual Strike was a fantastic game. Days of Ruin is better. Having integrated story and training missions is a fantastic addition, and makes the single player mode feel really deep.
  
  I also find the story and characters more compelling. It still gets a bit cheezy on occasion, but if anything that's a nice reminder that this is still, just a war GAME.
  
  Excellent game for anyone who enjoys tactical warfare game. The head to head multiplayer is also a welcome addition.
  
  
• Advance Wars: Love is a Battle-Field
  By A14NOEWJMSMNUG on 2008-05-28
  I've been spending my time with three amazing titles: GTAIV, Portal and Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. The latter has proven more challenging than previous versions in the series. The mood is darker, the A.I. more cunning and the new units more diverse. If you like strategy in bite-sized doses, then I highly recommend this title.
  
  

• Professor Layton and the Curious Village
• The World Ends With You
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2
• Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings