Advance Wars 1 & 2: Re-Boot Camp – A Tactical Revival Done Right
The original Advance Wars was a game I poured countless hours into back on the Game Boy Advance. It had that perfect mix of bright, inviting graphics, deceptively simple mechanics, and the kind of “just one more turn” pull that kept me up far too late on weeknights way back when. For those unfamiliar, Advance Wars is a grid-based strategy game that some would consider entry-level, but don’t let that make you think it’s lacking. It’s one of those games that reminds me of the old toy soldier wargames that I used to play when I was a kid. Just enough rules to make it easy to learn, and just complex enough to make it feel rewarding when you nail the right strategy. So, naturally, I was excited when Advance Wars 1 & 2: Re-Boot Camp was announced for the Nintendo Switch.
I can say this without hesitation that it is everything I’d hoped for in a remaster.
Let’s start with what’s easily the most obvious change, that being the visuals. The original games had a charming, pixelated look that worked beautifully on the GBA’s tiny screen. Re-Boot Camp completely overhauls that with fully 3D models, dynamic lighting, and a crisp, almost toy-like aesthetic that somehow manages to feel both modern and completely faithful to the original.
The units look like miniature figures on a tabletop battlefield, and it works so well. Tanks roll across terrain, infantry shuffle along like wind-up soldiers, and everything from forests to factories pops with color and detail. It’s playful, but also clean and easy to read in the heat of battle, something a strategy game like this absolutely needs.
Even more impressive is how they’ve handled the Commanding Officers. The old static portraits are replaced with fully animated, expressive versions of the characters, and they’ve been given just enough flair to feel fresh without losing their original charm. It’s clear a lot of care went into making sure nothing here feels like a cheap modernization. This is a true visual remaster.
What really made me fall in love with Advance Wars all those years ago wasn’t just its looks. It was the gameplay. And I’m thrilled to say that the core tactical combat remains as rock-solid as ever.
This is still the same highly addictive, grid-based strategy experience where you carefully maneuver units around maps, capture cities to fund your war effort, and try to outthink your opponent by controlling terrain and resources. Every unit has a specific role, and victory comes down to how well you can predict enemy moves while managing your own assets.
Both campaigns from Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising are included here, giving you dozens of missions packed with unique map layouts, varied objectives, and a steady drip-feed of new mechanics and units to keep things fresh. The difficulty curve feels just right, too. It’s challenging enough to make you think, but never so punishing that you want to throw your controller across the room… not that I’ve ever done that… #guilty (ᵕ-_-)
One of the biggest surprises for me was just how snappy the game feels on Switch. Battles move quickly, loading times are minimal, and it’s easy to get into a rhythm that keeps you motivated mission after mission. This isn’t a game that wastes your time with bloat. It’s lean, efficient, and endlessly replay-able.
Beyond the campaigns, Re-Boot Camp also comes loaded with extras. There’s the War Room, which offers challenge maps to test your skills, and a map editor that lets you create and share your own battlefields.
Online multiplayer is also here which offers a fun way to test your tactics against others. That said, I still think Advance Wars shines the most as a solo experience, taking your time and plotting out your strategy, just like the old days.
Advance Wars 1 & 2: Re-Boot Camp isn’t just a nostalgia trip, it’s proof that great game design doesn’t age. The updated visuals are fantastic, the gameplay feels as sharp and satisfying as ever, and the package as a whole is overflowing with charm and content.
If you’ve never played Advance Wars before, this is hands-down the best way to experience it. And if you’re like me, someone who still remembers the thrill of unlocking new COs and watching your carefully planned ambushes unfold on the GBA screen, this remake feels like right at home.
Simply put, Re-Boot Camp is everything a remake should be: respectful, refreshed, and ridiculously fun.