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Setup & Timing
Advance Wars: Dual Strike is very user-friendly for downloading. Different guests can begin their downloading at different times and they
don't have to wait for the last player to be ready to begin their own downloading process. The download takes around 24 to 27 seconds, which is rather
fast considering the depth of the game's Single-Card Download experience.
Menus & Navigation
Advance Wars: Dual Strike's pre-game setup is very menu-driven, with far more menu options than can fit on the screen at any one time. Instead
of a "More" option on bottom of the menu, and instead of setting the menu up as a two-screen, scrollable menu, the designers chose to put the second
half of the menu on the back of the first half. While the decision is creative, and while there are plenty of ways to get to the back of the menu ("L"
or "R" buttons, left or right on the direction pad, or tapping on "TURN" on the lower screen), the "TURN" option is the only one that implies
additional, hidden menu options. In reality, when looking at a menu on a game you're not familiar with, your average new gamer (and your average
non-gamer) wouldn't think that this necessarily indicates more menu.
Ease Of Use / Play Control
The gameplay in Advance Wars: Dual Strike's Single-Card Donwload content is very, very easy to use. In this mode of the game, you only have
one unit in play at a time, so your attention is focused. Basic movement is controlled using the direction pad and attacking (while it CAN be
controlled using the buttons) is easily contolled using the touch screen by tapping where you want the bullet/weapon fire to go. Shooting using the
touch screen may require some getting used to for certain people (especially when combined with having to hold the system at the same time), but is
easy enough to learn and works well.
Content
The game's look includes 3D features on a 2D battle field for the game's Single-Card Download combat mode. Objects are appropriately drawn and
are non pixelated; some objects are animated. Sound is not great, particularly in the music, but it's not bad either - the sound effects are
particularly helpful in making you aware of what's going on just outside your view. The game also features a wide variety of selectable options,
including the Fog Of War (limited visibility), Funds (starting unit restrictions), and the number of game-controlled enemies. Everything works just as
expected and plays well.
Overall Fun
Advance Wars: Dual Strike is a fun game. It's as simple as that. While there is a lot of depth to the game (both in the Single-Card Download
modes and in the non-Single-Card Download modes), there is never so much depth at any one time that the game becomes confusing. Before I first started
playing Advance Wars: Dual Strike, I felt like I might be intimidate by how much information would be thrown at me. Once I started playing, I
discovered that there was nothing to worry about. The original concept and the design are successfully implemented. The controls are easy to use.
The gameplay can keep you entertained endlessly and the programmers even included the ability to play demo-vs-demo, allowing for a great tournament
setup. There is no question that I'll keep coming back to this game to play it over and over again against all skill-levels of opponents.
Rework the menu structure.
Provide additional map choices for the Single-Card Download feature.
Allow for a custom map (depending on size) to be used with the Single-Card Download feature.
Overall Single-Card Download Rating: 94 / 100 (a.k.a. 47/50)
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