Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Developer	Intelligent Systems
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo DS
Release Date	JP June 23, 2005 US August 22, 2005 EU September 30, 2005 AU March 22, 2006
Gallery	GH Gallery
Rating	ESRB: E

Advance Wars: Dual Strike is the third the Advance Wars series and ninth in the Famicom Wars series. It's notable for being the first Advance Wars game on the Nintendo DS and the first Wars game released outside of a compilation inside Japan since Gameboy Wars 3.

Story

Two Orange Star COs, Rachel and Jake are investigating Omega Land and become involved in a large plot by Von Bolt to drain the land for his own selfish purposes. In order to combat the Black Hole Army and their new leader, Orange Star calls on its allies once more and even finds aid from previous enemies, Hawke and Lash.

Gameplay

Dual Strike is a turn-based game, much like the Fire Emblem series. The player takes control of a CO who each have a special influence on the effectiveness of their units. Some units increase the air or naval support of their units, others specialize in direct or indirect units. A crucial strategy is choosing between CO Powers, Super CO Power, and the Tag Team Power.

The game features a wide variety of new features over its predecessor. The most notable is features provided by the touch screen and dual screen function. Touch features allows optional movement of units by using the stylus, though traditional buttons still serve the same purpose. Dual screens also shows, in some battles, the inclusion of two different battle front that both must be won.

Furthering the title of "Dual Strike", two COs can be used in battles for each army. One CO is placed in front and their special traits are applied to the units and will charge their CO meter faster. The one in the back will charge their CO meter slower, but can be switched in at the end of a army's turn. Once switched in, all the units immediately inherit the stats for that character. If both COs charge their meter completely, they can do a Tag Team move that allows them both have a turn on the same day, effectively allowing for a bonus turn.

The game also greatly expanded the cast of COs, added new units, and new terrain features. It also featured Combat Mode, where the player would gain direct control over one unit in an effort to defeat the computer AI's multiple number of units. The Combat Mode plays more like a Real-Time Strategy Game, though only one unit can be deployed at a time.

Sequels

The next game for the DS will be Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. However, Days of Ruin features a new storyline unrelated to the previous Advance Wars games, similar to the earlier Nintendo Wars games and most of the Fire Emblem games.

Trivia

• The name Dual Strike follows a popular trend to use the initials "DS" at the end of a game title on the Nintendo DS.

See Also

• Units in Advance Wars DS