If you've never waited for a Starcraft map to load, typed "gl hf" with jittery hands, and then promptly shit yourself when the reply came back as Korean jibberish, then you don't know the meaning of competitive gaming. Strangely, the most intense genre in gaming has moved away from the PC (at least for now), onto a piece of hardware that couldn't appear more casual: Nintendo's DS.
The Advance Wars franchise has been around forever, so it was no surprise when Dual Strike became a must-have title for last year's "other" touch-screen phenomenon.
A little franchise named Final Fantasy also tried to bolster the DS's strategy cred, but fell flat when released in December. Too much RPG, not enough multiplayer. As in, no multiplayer at all.
But it's for the best, when you consider that this month brings another Advance Wars, the dreary-looking Days of Ruin. In addition to new, drab color schemes, the game has new units, and serious new features. Commanding Officers now take their place on the battlefield, lending abilities and stats to surrounding units, a la the heroes of Warcraft 3. A new emphasis on naval combat allows for more offense from carriers and battleships, which now have the ability to move and fire.
The one feature that will keep me ignoring my Xbox, though, is the game's online multiplayer, which includes voice chat via the DS's mic. Just remember, if The Phantom Hourglass's use of the microphone left you feeling sheepish in public places, then your raving smack-talk probably belongs on your couch. Just because the system is portable, doesn't mean you have to take it outside.
Be sure to read 1up's full preview, linked again here for your convenience.
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