"Advance wars quite simply oblterates the competition."

The advanced wars series has had a long and sometimes illustrious history. This latest instalment is without doubt one of the best yet. Set in a post apocalyptic world where survivors vie for the few remaining supplies it's your job to command an army and help out anyone who needs it.

Graphics 7/10
The graphics are the biggest let down in the game. The colourful advanced wars of old have been replaced with greys and browns. This is of course in line with the game but it's disappointing to see none the less. They could have used the characters in the game to add some much needed colour but even they are drab and dull. The animation is simple but that's a good thing. It allows you to see clearly both your and the enemy's troops and instantly understand what strategic decisions you need to take next. Battle animation is basic and could quite easily have been done away with all together.

Sound 8/10
No real surprises here. It's a DS and has DS level sound. Simple but effective.

Game play 10/10
This is where the game shines. It is utter tactical brilliance. the learning curve can be steep at times but that just makes you raise your game. Resource management has become more important than ever now they are so limited. You quite often will find yourself unable to produce all the troops you would like to have and must constantly revise your strategy to reflect this. There are new troops available too of particular note are the mobile airports and ports. They are a form of APC but can on command construct an airport or a port for you this takes two turns and looks very similar to capturing a building. There is a new kind of plane too. A cheap easily produced fighter with propellers instead of jets. It lacks power but as part of a group can be an effective tool especially when you are facing superior numbers. That is a good thing because more often than not you are facing far more troops than you have. The enemies troops are as good and in some cases better than yours and he knows how to use them. It's vital to understand each of the enemy units weaknesses and exploit them to your advantage allowing you to seriously disrupt or destroy the enemies troops before they can cause you too much harm. The depth of the game play is unmeasurable. You will find yourself replaying battles over and over again just to see what would have happened if you had tried different things. Like in the previous games the Co's have powers. But unlike the previous advance wars dual strike on the DS they have been seriously reigned in. Gone are the days when all the strategy in the world could not stop a single Co decimating your entire army with a single blow. This applies to your Co's too. You must learn to use the powers as part of the battle not as a tool to help you out of sticky situations. This is a much more challenging but much more satisfying game.

A must have if you own a DS. Even those unused or unwilling to play turn based strategy games will find something for them here. It's a game that feels like it's been stripped right down to the basic system of combat. Dispensing with all the frills of yesteryear. And believe me that is a fantastic thing. They have created a masterpiece. 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/08/08

Game Release: Advance Wars: Dark Conflict (EU, 01/25/08)