Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp are quite varied. Some reviewers appreciated the light-hearted and charming tone of the narrative, noting its cute and fluffy presentation that adds a dark yet engaging take on war. Critics like AusGamers and Pure Nintendo found the story to be engaging, with interesting characters and a rewarding experience for both veterans and newcomers. The friendly banter between battles and the focus on camaraderie among commanding officers added depth to the narrative, making it an enjoyable aspect of the game. On the other hand, several critics expressed concerns about the lack of depth and narrative meat in the story of Advance Wars. Reviewers such as COGconnected and Impulsegamer mentioned that the narrative was barebones, lacking tension and worldbuilding elements. The story was criticized for being simplistic, with little world-building and baffling elements that may not resonate with all players. RPG Fan highlighted the lackluster plot that only starts to make sense towards the end, while RPG Site noted that the narrative, while engaging, could feel thin and implausible at times. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the story of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp being a mixed bag. While some reviewers appreciated the light-hearted and charming approach to war and the engaging character interactions, others felt that the narrative lacked depth and failed to provide a compelling backdrop for the gameplay. The focus on gameplay over storytelling was a recurring theme, with critics like Worth Playing emphasizing the kid-friendly and Saturday morning cartoon-like presentation of the story. Despite its shortcomings, the narrative managed to keep some reviewers interested, with commanding officers adding personality and stakes to the overall experience, as noted by ZTGD. Ultimately, the story of Advance Wars seems to serve as a functional backdrop to the strategic gameplay, with varying degrees of success in capturing the attention and immersion of players.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp for its engaging and strategic depth. Reviewers like Screen Rant and Digital Spy highlighted the enticing and compelling nature of the gameplay, with unique mechanics such as skill-set abilities and a streamlined approach to turn-based tactics. Additionally, critics such as RPG Site and Gfinity appreciated the faithful adaptation of the original game's gameplay, offering a vintage strategy RPG experience with updated features like CO Powers and varied objectives. The game's balance of units, commanding officers, and strategic options was commended by Digitally Downloaded, emphasizing the ability for players to develop their own tactical approach over time. On the downside, some critics pointed out certain issues with the gameplay of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. ZTGD mentioned that some maps dragged on, leading to repetition setting in quickly. COGconnected highlighted pacing issues and the negative impact on the final score, indicating that while the game allows for experimentation and risks, there are areas where improvement could be made. Impulsegamer also noted that missions involving money could be tiresome due to AI handling issues, suggesting potential areas for refinement in terms of mission design and execution. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. The game is praised for its strategic depth, engaging mechanics, and variety of units and commanding officers. Critics appreciate the blend of traditional tactics elements with modern features, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience for players. With a mix of positive comments from various reviewers like Game Informer and Nintendo Life, it's evident that the gameplay of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp resonated well with critics, solidifying its position as a standout turn-based strategy game on the Nintendo Switch.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp are quite varied. Many critics praise the game's updated visuals, with mentions of improved animations, vibrant colors, and charming character designs. Critics like Cultured Vultures and God is a Geek appreciate the new art style for adding polish and delivering a Saturday morning cartoon feel with excellent character art. The game's transition to 3D models is commended by Gfinity for effectively portraying characters' personalities through animations and cutscenes. Additionally, Gamereactor UK highlights the beautiful, sharp, and distinguishable unit designs that maintain the spirit of the original pixel-art while updating it for modern screens. On the other hand, some critics express concerns or criticisms about the visual changes in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. Digitally Downloaded and Worth Playing are among those who feel that the graphical overhaul falls short of capturing the charm of the original GBA sprites, with Digitally Downloaded specifically mentioning the 3D models as cheap-ish. Pocket-lint notes that the replacement of pixel sprites with cartoony 3D versions may not spark as much joy for fans of the original art style. RPG Fan mentions a lack of detail in character portraits compared to the original games, while Forbes criticizes the character designs for being a bit off and the faux anime approach being jarring. Overall, the consensus among critics seems to lean towards a positive reception of the Graphics and Visual Design of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. While there are criticisms about certain aspects such as the transition to 3D models and potential loss of charm from the original pixel art, the majority of reviewers appreciate the efforts made to modernize the visuals while maintaining the essence of the original games. The game's colorful and charming art style, improved animations, and vibrant character designs seem to have resonated well with many critics, enhancing the overall presentation and personality of the game. Critics like AusGamers and Impulsegamer acknowledge that while the new visuals may take some getting used to, they ultimately contribute to a fresh and engaging experience for players.

In terms of positives, several critics highlighted the music and sound design of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. Critics such as Digital Trends, GGRecon, and RPG Site praised the remastered soundtrack, with GGRecon specifically mentioning the reimagined soundtrack with mixed themes and genres, and RPG Site noting the cheery music and lively arrangements that elevate the overall experience. The addition of unique themes for each Commanding Officer was also appreciated, adding a personalized touch to the gameplay experience. Voice acting was another standout feature, with critics like Pure Nintendo and Nintendo Life commending the voice work for bringing the characters to life and enhancing the immersion of the game. On the downside, some critics pointed out certain negatives regarding the sound design and music of the game. App Trigger's criticism of the music being aggressively loud and short, leading to the reviewer opting to listen to Spotify instead, indicates a lack of appeal in the soundtrack for some players. Impulsegamer mentioned that while the music was catchy, hearing the same themes tied to specific COs constantly could become repetitive. Additionally, the inconsistency in voice acting, as noted by Impulsegamer and Pocket-lint, where some lines were fully voiced while others were not, could detract from the overall cohesion of the audio experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the sound design and music of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp is largely positive. The majority of reviewers appreciated the remastered soundtrack, the addition of unique themes for each Commanding Officer, and the quality of voice acting, which collectively enhanced the gameplay experience. Critics like RPG Site and Digital Trends highlighted the positive impact of the music on the overall presentation of the game. While there were some criticisms regarding repetitiveness in music and inconsistency in voice acting, the general sentiment leans towards the sound design and music contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and immersion, as acknowledged by critics such as Pure Nintendo and Nintendo Life.

The voice acting in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp has received mixed reviews from critics. Many reviewers, such as AusGamers and Digital Trends, appreciated the addition of voice acting, noting that it brought more personality and enhanced the overall experience of the game. Critics like RPG Fan and Pure Nintendo specifically praised the voice work for bringing the characters to life with bright and chipper performances. The inclusion of partial voice acting, as mentioned by RPG Fan, along with animated cinematics during key story moments was seen as a positive addition by several critics, including Cubed3 and Vooks, who highlighted how the voiced characters added depth to the storytelling. On the other hand, some critics expressed concerns about the voice acting in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. Digital Spy found the saccharine voice acting to be a little jarring, while Switch Player criticized the weak voice acting, particularly the 'quips' and one-liners, which they considered to be the weakest aspect of the game's artillery. Pocket-lint even mentioned leaning on the skip button due to the addition of saccharine voice acting. Additionally, GAMES.CH noted that the voice acting was limited, with only individual sentences or fragments being voiced, which may have impacted the overall immersion for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp leans towards the positive side, with many appreciating the effort to add more depth and personality to the characters through voice performances. While there were criticisms about the implementation and quality of the voice acting, such as the spottiness mentioned by Inverse and the limited nature highlighted by IGN France, the general sentiment is that the addition of voice acting was a welcome enhancement to the game. Critics like Game Informer and VGC mentioned the positive impact of the small amount of voice acting on the overall experience, with VGC specifically noting that it enhanced the experience of the characters. In conclusion, while there were some drawbacks, the majority of critics found the voice acting in Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp to be a positive addition that contributed to the game's storytelling and immersion.

In terms of the technical performance on the Nintendo Switch for Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp, the majority of critics had positive feedback. Cubed3 appreciated the crisp models and animations in normal view, while GamingTrend highlighted the smooth performance and easy-to-pick-up controls. Vooks also noted that despite small performance issues during long battles, the overall experience was stable. These positive aspects indicate that the game generally runs well on the Nintendo Switch, providing an enjoyable gameplay experience for most players. However, there were some negative aspects mentioned by critics regarding the technical performance on the Nintendo Switch. VGC criticized the enemy AI for feeling lackluster, especially towards the end of campaigns, impacting the overall experience. Metro GameCentral pointed out issues with AI limitations, lack of online matchmaking, and a unit cycle bug, which could detract from the gameplay experience. Cubed3 also mentioned visual judder during battle animations, indicating potential performance issues during specific gameplay moments. These criticisms suggest that while the game performs well overall, there are some technical shortcomings that may affect certain aspects of the gameplay. Overall, the consensus among critics for Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp on the Nintendo Switch leans towards a positive technical performance with some minor drawbacks. Critics like Forbes and WellPlayed did not mention any significant technical issues, indicating a generally stable experience. However, concerns raised by God is a Geek and VGC regarding AI behavior and performance issues during specific gameplay moments highlight areas for improvement. Despite these criticisms, the game seems to offer a mostly smooth and enjoyable technical performance on the Nintendo Switch, with room for enhancements in certain aspects to further enhance the overall gaming experience.

The majority of critics praised the Replay Value of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp, highlighting various aspects that contribute to its replayability. RPG Fan appreciated the branching paths in the campaign and player choice in mission order, while Cubed3 and Worth Playing emphasized the map editor and offline offerings as factors that enhance replay value. Gfinity and Impulsegamer noted the ability to choose between AW1 and AW2 gameplay styles, adding variety and replayability. Additionally, Pure Nintendo and GGRecon highlighted the incentives provided through ratings based on performance in battles and unlockable content, which encourage players to replay and improve their strategies. On the downside, several critics mentioned limitations in the online multiplayer aspect of the game, such as the lack of matchmaking and map sharing functionality. Shacknews and IGN France pointed out the issues with saving progress in multiplayer battles and the absence of a rewind feature for turns, respectively. ZTGD highlighted the uselessness of multiplayer elements due to the lack of online matchmaking, which could hinder the overall replay value for players seeking competitive online experiences. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the Replay Value of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp. Critics like Digital Trends, Cultured Vultures, and Player 2 praised the game for offering a variety of modes, missions, and customization options that provide hours of engaging gameplay and replayability. The inclusion of features like the War Room, Versus mode, map editor, and additional content outside of the main campaigns was widely appreciated by reviewers, showcasing the game's depth and potential for long-lasting enjoyment. Despite some drawbacks in online functionality, the overall sentiment is that Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp excels in offering a rich and rewarding experience that keeps players fully engaged and coming back for more, making it a highly replayable title for both newcomers and fans of the series.