Advance Wars DS

[SMBChick]

This is my first time picking up Advanced Wars, and it's really the first time I've played a turn-based strategy...

I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. The manual doesn't help, and I can't find anything online that gives examples on how to play. I'm thinking about taking it back, but I really want to get into it. Is it the kind of game that I have to sit down and mess with it for a while to understand it? Or is it difficult for those who aren't familiar with the that past games/genre?

[Diff-chan]

This is my first time picking up Advanced Wars, and it's really the first time I've played a turn-based strategy...

I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. The manual doesn't help, and I can't find anything online that gives examples on how to play. I'm thinking about taking it back, but I really want to get into it. Is it the kind of game that I have to sit down and mess with it for a while to understand it? Or is it difficult for those who aren't familiar with the that past games/genre?

Well a lot of TBS games (as those in the know call it) are complex, but AW is not. Turn based strategy games have a few things in common. One is that every unit has a specified number of move points and a specified attack range. I think thats done in AW by lighting up the grid areas the unit can move on but I cant remember. Umm so basically its a matter of defeating your enemy by moving into the right positions and setting traps. Like, for example, putting a missile launcher in the back and a tank in the front and letting the bad guys come to you, and when the bad guy is fighting your frontline tank then shooting missiles at it. Its basically the same as an RTS, just with turns...

[StriderKyo]

This is my first time picking up Advanced Wars, and it's really the first time I've played a turn-based strategy...

I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. The manual doesn't help, and I can't find anything online that gives examples on how to play. I'm thinking about taking it back, but I really want to get into it. Is it the kind of game that I have to sit down and mess with it for a while to understand it? Or is it difficult for those who aren't familiar with the that past games/genre?

Don't be intimidated, it's dead simple. Tap on your guy, tap on the spot where you want him to move - he can move as far as the highlighted area. Once he's there, tap on him again to tell him what you want him to do - fire, wait, etc. Most units can only shoot guys next to them.

There's a bunch more to it, but the game will hold you hand for the first 10 missions or so and explain everything.

[kedawa]

Yeah, don't give up on it.

When I bought the first AW I played halfway through the tutorial and then, overwhelmed by the games apparent complexity, set it aside for months.

When I got around to playing it again, everything just clicked and I played it like a fiend for months.

[avatar]

Do I have to buy a DS now?

I loved the first Advance Wars. Is there DS emulation yet?

DS emulation would probably suck. A mouse doesn't feel like a very good subsitute for a stylus as far as controls go.

[Omni]

There most certainly is DS emulation, I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Advance Wars DS is not available yet, as far as I know.

Currently playing AW on my PC.

[StriderKyo]

There most certainly is DS emulation, I don't know what you guys are talking about.

I'd heard it wasn't in a playable state yet.

[Omni]

Yeah, I could've sworn I read something yesterday about a playable emulator but now I'm only finding working projects. Bah, oh well.

Shouldn't be too long, though.

[Eightbitbreaks]

DS emulation would probably suck. A mouse doesn't feel like a very good subsitute for a stylus as far as controls go.

Haha, if anything, the mouse would be BETTER for AW than the stylus.

Bigger screen + more precise control = better. That's only for AW though.

Playing Meteos or Kirby with a mouse would most definitely suck.

[kedawa]

I'm sure any DS emulator would support other input devices,, like digitizing tablets or touch-screens.