It might feel like yesterday, but it was 2001 when Nintendo’s portable Game Boy Advance accompanied me on every trip. When I wasn’t engrossed in A Link to the Past, I spent considerable time playing the strategy game Advance Wars – simple, unique, and surprisingly deep. With its re-release on Nintendo Switch, the question is: does this title offer more than just a nostalgic experience?
Nintendo, much like Bruce Springsteen, is a seasoned artist capable of blending classic hits with new releases – albeit infrequently. In its six years, the Switch hasn’t seen a deluge of original titles, but the quality of releases has been consistently high. Several titles stand out as exceptional, such as Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a compilation of the two iconic Game Boy Advance titles (the original NES release in Japan in 1988 is largely forgotten). This revival on the Nintendo Switch offers a nostalgic journey with a blend of charming visuals, deep gameplay, and an engaging narrative that can make hours disappear.
As expected, the graphics in Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp have been upgraded from the original games. The remake presents a colorful and detailed world with refreshed characters and units, alongside appealing anime-inspired cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. The developers have successfully retained the original’s characteristic style despite the changes and transition to 3D. However, a toggleable pixel mode, similar to Monkey Island: Special Edition, would have been a welcome addition for purists.
The soundtrack, however, is a weaker point. While some retro games feature charming and even impressive scores, Advance Wars offers generic, stress-inducing music. Designed to accelerate the pace in an otherwise leisurely game, it quickly drove us to seek the OFF button in the settings menu.
The core gameplay experience in 2023 remains as compelling as it was originally. In Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, players assume the role of a commander, directing an army towards victory using diverse units and tactics. Each unit has unique strengths and weaknesses, requiring strategic planning and adaptation to the enemy’s maneuvers. The accessible controls and balanced difficulty curve cater to both newcomers and experienced strategy gamers. A significant drawback, however, is the highly scripted nature of the scenarios. Enemy behavior remains virtually identical upon replaying campaign levels, often leading to rote memorization rather than genuine strategic adaptation to a dynamic AI opponent.
The narrative across both games is engaging, featuring a diverse cast of characters encountered throughout the campaigns. Each character possesses a unique personality and role, fostering a sense of connection and providing context to unit movements. Furthermore, the inclusion of local and online multiplayer enables competitive battles, extending the game’s replayability. The ability for four players to participate simultaneously on a single Switch, thanks to the turn-based gameplay, is a significant advantage for social gatherings.
In conclusion, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp on Nintendo Switch is a welcome and enjoyable collection for fans of the strategy genre. However, those who dislike classic, turn-based strategy games will find little to appreciate here. This compilation modernizes two classic strategy titles and adapts them for contemporary audiences with updated graphics and a simplified “casual” mode. The vibrant visuals, surprisingly deep gameplay, and engaging setting make this a worthwhile choice for strategy game enthusiasts and Nintendo Switch owners alike. Whether you’re a veteran seeking to revisit the original GBA games or a newcomer eager to discover the Advance Wars series, this collection should satisfy.
Nintendo provided a review code for this assessment. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial evaluations.
