Advance Wars

The value of a square

Capturing a city is both a tactical move and an investment in later turns. Infantry may lack a tank’s striking power, yet the money and territory it secures can decide the whole map. Terrain and attack ranges make the board readable enough to inspect before committing a unit; fog complicates that confidence without changing the underlying rules. The strongest missions force a choice between protecting an expensive machine and accepting a loss to gain position. Replaying a defeat is useful because the mistake usually has a location you can point to.

Work through the training and check enemy ranges before ending a turn. Keep capturing buildings even when the main battle looks more urgent. The aim of an early attempt can be to understand the map rather than earn the best rank.

The original GBA campaign

Advance Wars reached North America in 2001. Its abstract units and guided lessons make a substantial strategy game practical on a handheld: the player can inspect a position without a running clock and learn one relationship at a time. The later Re-Boot Camp remakes this campaign and its sequel together.