Military Madness
Advance Wars, without QoL featuresGenre: strategy - turn-based tactics
Publisher: NEC
Year: 1989
System: TurboGrafx-16
Gameplay Score: 4
Gameplay Notes:
It's amazing to see how streamlined and simple this game is when you compare it to games that released many years later, like Warsong, War 2410, Super Conflict, et al. In this game movement (aka "Shift") and attack couldn't be simpler. It lacks QoL features so common in modern tactical strategy games, like seeing how far enemy units can move, but that can be forgiven. I also wish there was some way to heal damaged units. One misstep spells doom for a stage. The surround feature is pretty neat but hard to get your mind wrapped around how to use it effectively. It leads to some weird decision-making, like moving a unit to serve no other purpose than to surround the enemy. Still, it gives the game some depth. Also, some of the unit capabilities don't make much sense. For example, your infantry units ("Charlies") are almost as effective against tanks as your tanks. Kinda weird paper-rock-scissors going on here. Overall I love this game's gameplay. I only wish it didn't have such a steep learning curve and punishing difficulty.
Level Design Score: 3
Level Design Notes:
As previously mentioned, the levels quickly become difficult and then virtually impossible. All maps are small - the fit on a single screen. This assures that they're each quite short. I really wish there were modes other than the campaign.
Theme Score: 5
Theme Notes:
Moon War I! Yaknow, like World War I, but on the Moon.
Art Style Score: 4
Art Style Notes:
The graphics are fairly simple and the sprites are tiny, but this game has such a clean art style with useful visual elements that I have to give it high praise. And the battle animations are both short and fun. I usually turn these off in tactical games but these are so charming that I didn't even bother seeing if they could be disabled.
Audio Score: 4
Audio Notes:
Music is perfectly suited to the game. There are distinct songs that play on the level select screen, during your turn, your enemy's turn, once the outcome of the stage is certain, and on the end-level screen. All are distinct and evocative. Sounds are good as well.
Overall Score: 76
Review ID: 1477
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