"The best $30 bucks I've spent in a while..."

Graphics : 10/10
I think that Advance Wars have some of the best graphics I have seen on the GBA (albeit many are still first generation). They were colorful enough to play in lighting that would be unsuitable for say... Castelvania COTM.
Sound : 9/10
Although some would say that in-game music really ups the entire experience, I think that for Advance Wars, the music is good, but doesn't add too much. The sound effects are right on the mark, but after a while I found myself just turning the sound off / volume down.
Controls : 10/10
The controls for Advance Wars are outstanding. I never found myself yearning for more buttons to facilitate a function. Furthermore, the controls are pretty intuitive and after the first two training stages, I just stopped thinking about what button did what - always a good thing.
Gameplay : 10/10
This is where Advance Wars really stands out. I think that in opting for Turn Based combat, the strategy involved increases. In games like Warcraft, StarCraft, C&C, etc... the player must quickly react to changing situations; especially during battles. With a mouse/keyboard, that's not too difficult, but with a joypad... forget it. Turn Based combat slows things down (a good thing), leaving time to really strategize.
Replayability : 10/10
Bingo! Advance Wars is one of the few games out there with infinite replayability. For starters, there are several ways to complete the game in Campaign mode. Next up is ''war room'' mode where you take on the computer in single matches. There is also a great VS mode that you can play with one GBA (pass it around). For the War Room mode and VS mode, there are a ton of maps to be ''unlocked'' (read: buy with earned coins). Finally to top it off is a design map mode where you can do anything you like to create any scenario. You can even battle the computer on maps you create.

Overall : 10/10
It has been a while since I came upon a game that has been this fun. I take my GBA with me almost wherever I go. And when I have to sit for longer than 5 minutes, I'm playing Advance Wars. You can save the game at any point (except when the computer is moving, which lasts for 1 min MAX), so that when your wait is over, you just save and carry on. I convinced one of my friends to buy this game over Spy Hunter for the PS2. That's how good I think it is. There is one minor quirk I have, though. It may seem nitpicky, but shouldn't subs (at least, if not Battleships and Cruisers) be able to pass under bridges?? Like I said... minor. Anyways, buy Advance Wars, you won't regret it. I think it's the best $30 I spent in a while.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/02/01, Updated 10/02/01