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Basic Setup
1. With the power off, the host loads the game cartridge into their Nintendo DS system.
2. The host powers their system on, then taps on the "Warning" screen and then on the graphic for the game.
3. The host can either watch through the animated introduction or tap the screen (or press the "A" button) to skip it.
4. The host then taps the lower screen to enter then main menu at the "Touch to Start" screen.
Downloading
1. The host will first need to flip to the back of the menu. This can be done by ...
1a. ...tapping the "Turn" icon near the bottom right corner of the lower screen.
1b. ...pressing the "L" button or the "R" button.
1c. ...pressing left or right on the direction pad.
2. Once the menu is flipped around, it'll change from being the Combat Menu to being the System Menu.
3. The host taps on "Wireless" (the third option from the top).
4. The host then taps "Download" (the second to last option).
5. The guest(s) will power on their Nintendo DS system.
6. The guest(s) tap on the "Warning" screen and then on the "DS Download Play" button.
7. When the graphic bar appears saying "Advance Wars: Dual Strike", the guests tap on it.
8. The guests' DS systems will ask "Would you like to download this software? Tap "Yes".
9. While the information is downloading, the host's DS will display the names of current downloading guests.
10. Guests do not all need to start the downloading process at the same time.
11. When each guest has completed their download process, they will be taken to a Combat Menu.
12. Once the last guest has finished downloading, the host presses the "B" button (or taps on the "B" icon in the bottom right corner of the lower screen).
Game/Feature/Options Selection
1. All players should tap on the "Combat" option (on the on-screen menu).
2. ONE of the players (either the host or a guest) taps on "New Game" at the bottom center of the lower screen.
3. After the host (or guest) has tapped "Start New Game", their name will appear on the other players' lower screens.
4. The other players will then tap twice on the "Game #" with the player's name next to it.
5. As each player successfully selects the game to enter, their lower screen will display a list of names of connected players.
6. Options selection begins (and no new players can enter) when the player that started the game presses the "A" button or taps the "A" icon in their lower screen's bottom right corner.
7. The player that started the game selects the map to play on.
7a. Four Maps (1 through 4) are available to select from.
7b. The currently highlighted map will have blinking corners by its "Map #" icon on the lower screen (of all players' systems).
7c. The currently highlighted map will be displayed on the upper screen (of all players' systems).
7d. To change which map is highlighted, the player who started the game presses left or right on their direction pad.
7e. To select a map to play on, the player who started the game will tap on the selected map's "Map #" icon on their lower screen.
8. The main options menu will load next. The options can be seen by all players but selected only by the player that started the game.
9. The first option is Fog:
9a. Fog, a.k.a. Fog Of War, limits each unit's vision to the immediate area surrounding it.
9b. Fog can be set to On or Off by tapping the red arrow above (or the blue arrow below) the "Fog" circle.
10. The second option is Funds:
10a. Funds, a.k.a. War Funds, are used to hire units to fight for you. The default fund amount is 20000.
10b. Selectable amounts include 10000, 15000, 20000, 25000, 30000, 35000, 40000, 45000, 50000, 55000, 60000, 65000, 70000, 75000, 80000, 85000, 90000, and 95000.
10c. Funds can be changed by tapping the red arrow above (or the blue arrow below) the "Fog" circle.
11. The third option is Power:
11a. Power, a.k.a. CO Power, refer to a Commanding Officer's special abilities, which are usable when the CO Power Meter has enough stars.
11b. Each CO (Commanding Officer) has their own special abilities.
11c. Power can be set to On or Off by tapping the red arrow above (or the blue arrow below) the "Fog" circle.
12. The fourth option is Enemy:
12a. Enemy refers to the number of computer-controlled enemy units.
12b. The number of enemies can be set to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
12c. Enemy can be changed by tapping the red arrow above (or the blue arrow below) the "Fog" circle.
13. The fifth option is EnemyAI:
13a. EnemyAI refers to the intelligence level of the computer-controlled units.
13b. The five EnemyAI levels are represented by a face icon and the highlighted EnemyAI is shown in the bottom left corner of the upper screen.
13b1. Weakest is represented by an exstatic-looking face with an open-mouthed smile.
13b2. Weak is represented by a happy looking, smiling face.
13b3. Normal is represented by a neutral looking face with a (practically) flat mouth.
13b4. Strong is represented by an angry looking face.
13b5. Strongest is represented by a black skull on a white background.
13c. EnemyAI can be changed by tapping the red arrow above (or the blue arrow below) the "Fog" circle.
14. When all of the above settings are selected, the player that started the game presses the "A" button or taps on the "A" icon in the bottom right corner of their lower screen.
15. Each player then selects their army by tapping on the colored bar of their choice qand then pressing the "A" button.
15a. For four or less human players, each human player must choose their own team.
15b. When there are more than four human players, there can be up to two humans on the same team.
16. Next, each player will select their Commanding Officer (CO). Available options include...
16b. To select their Commanding Officers, each player presses up and down on the control pad and then presses the "A" button.
17. After all players have selected their CO, each player may now hire their Combat Units.
17a. The screen layout is as follows (what to look for)...
17a1. On the upper screen, all of the previously-selected options are displayed.
17a2. On the lower screen, the remaining funds to hire units (listed as the "Surplus") are shown in the top left corner.
17a3. On the lower screen, unit types and costs are shown below the Surplus.
17a4. On the lower screen, unit descriptions for the currently-highlighted unit type are in the bottom left corner.
17a5. On the lower screen, your CO's name is in the top right corner.
17a6. On the lower screen, your alread-hired units are displayed near the top left corner, below your CO's name.
17b. Each player will now select the units they will hire based on the available funds selected earlier.
17c. Use up and down on the direction pad to highlight the different unit types (and see their descriptions below).
17d. The order that units are selected in doesn't make any difference.
17e. To hire a unit of the currently-highlighted unit type, press the "A" button.
17f. When hired, the unit will be pictured below your CO's name near the top right corner of the lower screen.
17g. To un-hire (delete) the most recently hired unit, press the "B" button.
17h. Not all of the funds/surplus needs to be used.
17i. A maximum of 20 units can be hired.
17j. Any time after at least one unit has been hired, each player can press the Start button to indicate that they're ready for the game to begin.
18. Once all players have pressed their Start button, that game's map will load up.
19. On the upper screen, each player will use up, down, left, and right on the direction pad to highlight the unit they want to begin with.
20. When a player has successfully highlighted the unit they wish to begin with, they press the "A" button to lock in their selection.
21. When all players have locked in their selections, the gameplay begins.
Game Controls / How To Play
1. The goal, defeating your opponent(s), can be achieved by defeating their last unit or capturing their headquarters.
2. Each player will have one unit on the playing field at a time.
3. To move the unit, press up, down, left, or right on the direction pad (units can also move diagonally by holding down more than one).
4. There are two ways to shoot...
4a. You can shoot by pressing the "A" button, but you'll always shoot forward and you can't determine distance.
4b. You can also shoot by tapping on the lower screen where you want to shoot at (any direction, not just ahead). Shoots still have a maximum distance.
5. Other players' units, mountains, and automated gun turrets are valid shooting targets, as are silver joints in the orange barrier pipes.
6. Some shooting targets will take several shots before they are destroyed.
7. Shooting down mountains will randomly provide power-ups.
8. Buildings (neutral and enemy) can be captured be moving one of your units to cover it up, uninterrupted, until the countdown reaches zero.
9. When a unit has been destroyed, that player uses the direction pad to select the next unit, the presses the "A" button to lock in their selection.
10. When a unit has been damaged, that unit csan be returned to any matching building (headquarters or otherwise) to be repaired.
10a. To repair a unit, move it so that it sits in front of the building's base. A heart and a count-up of health point will be shown.
10b. When the count-up stops counting up, the unit is fully healed.
11. Occasionally, by completing certain tasks (or through power-ups), a CO's power meter will have its stars fill up.
11a. When a CO's power meter is full, that CO can perform their special power (which is activated by pressing the "L" button.
11b. When a CO's special power can be activated, an icon of the "L" button will appear in the lower screen's bottom right corner.
11c. Different COs' power meters require different numbers of stars to become full.
What To Look For
1. On the upper screen, each player's units will be displayed.
1a. The currently active unit will be animated to roll/walk in place on the upper screen.
1b. Units waiting to be called upon will be animated to move up and down.
1b. Desroyed units will be crossedout with a white "X" mark.
2. On the upper screen, each player's CO will be pictured below their hired units.
3. On the upper screen, each player's current power meter level will be displayed below their CO's picture.
4. On the lower screen, the playing field is displayed.
Overall Goals
1. Kill all enemy troops.
2. Capture enemy headquarters.
3. Protect your own headquarters.
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