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Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising gba Game Reviews
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Critic Score
Metascore: 89 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.7 out of 10
based on 34 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 73 votes
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Advance Wars 2 expands on the original title with even more strategic action and all-new features that take the game to the next level. Sturm, the leader of the Black Hole Army, has created a new base of operations, and now he's set his sights on Cosmo Land. It's up to you to unite the armies of Cosmo Land and work with your allies to drive off the otherworldly invaders. The turn-based strategy action of Advance Wars 2 will put your brain to the test in the ultimate battle of good versus evil! Encounter new Commanding Officers and feel the effects of their devastating CO Powers. Use all-new Super CO Powers like Typhoon and Airborne Assault to rain destruction upon your enemy. Master the command of new units like the massively powerful Neotank as you tackle new terrain features and devise original battle strategies. Test your strategic skill against your friends with either Single- or Multi-Pak multiplayer modes. Use the customizable Map Editor to create the most complex and challenging battle maps ever, then trade them with a friend! [Nintendo]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Intelligent Systems
GENRE(S): Turn-Based Strategy
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2003

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Nintendojo
The increased difficulty and lack of a Tutorial mode may turn off newcomers to the Wars series, but the fun, depth, and replayability of this game make it a killer ap for the GBA just as much as the original.
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100
Cinescape
One of the best games to hit the market this year, portable or otherwise.
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100
Nintendophiles
From my perspective, I prefer the original on the sole basis of storyline, because it provides for a greater variety of enemy CO’s and aids in creating a close bond with your own CO’s. Either way, it’s still a great game and is co-owner of the crown when it comes to “Best Game Boy Advance game.”
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100
G4 TV
Attractive graphics, endless gameplay, engaging strategy, new features, and multiplayer out the, ah, missile silo... what more do ya want, a parade?
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96
Gamer's Pulse
Packaged with a new, longer campaign, an expanded roster of COs, a bunch of new maps, and a new constructible unit, the game boasts plenty of original content.
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95
Pocket Games
Strategy and suspense play a greater role this time around, not just because the CPU is more intelligent, but also because each new cast member brings different abilities to the battlefield. [Fall 2003, p.34]
95
Deeko
Though there haven't been as many improvements made to the game, Advance Wars 2 still manages to shine... as it is a polished title that simply needs little improvememnt.
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95
netjak
An incredibly fun and addictive turn-based strategy game that even with its minimal improvements definitely overshadows what the original contained.
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94
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
It might look old-fashioned, but Advance Wars 2 is incredibly satisfying, pleasingly intelligent and never less than tremendous fun, even when it gets horribly hard. [GamesMaster]
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93
Game Informer
Everything a fan of the series could want. There are more opportunities for dual army control (like the final battle in the original) as well as much more challenging maps to defeat. [July 2003, p.121]
92
GameZone
Full of all the exciting, addicting gameplay of the first game, and best of all, there's more of it. And it's more challenging. And there's a map editor! And there's...
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92
Nintendo Power
There aren't as many unit types as I would have liked, but the improved mission diversity more than makes up for it. [July 2003, p.144]
91
GameSpot
No GBA owner should be without it, and anyone getting their hands on a new GBA for the first time should make playing Advance Wars 2 one of their first orders of business.
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91
GameNow
Definitely one of the meatiest handheld games out there, and if you let it, it'll absorb you as intensely as some of its larger siblings. [July 2003, p.51]
90
EuroGamer
Sure, it's a classic, but it's so obviously a £35 mission pack, and is probably double the price it should have been. Unless you were utterly captivated by the original and spend every day pining for more, or never owned the original, it's hard to justify why you should shell out for it.
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90
Yahoo! Games
Advance Wars 2 doesn't take any hard turns from the formula established in the original... and this is one of those rare cases where an overall lack of innovation is probably a good thing in the end.
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90
GamerFeed
Nothing has changed too much from the first title, but I spent over 100 hours with it, and thanks to the new editions that Intelligent Systems did include, I'm likely to do the same again.
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90
NintendoWorldReport
Despite the map design issues, the gameplay is solid and is definitely not a rehash of the original Advance Wars. The additional characters, new story emphasis, and diversity of the scenarios make Advance Wars 2 feel like a brand new game.
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90
eToychest
I have spent well over 50 hours with this game thus far, and I find myself still revisiting it. It has deep, rewarding gameplay, as was as an immensely satisfying multiplayer experience.
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90
IGN
The game is made for players looking for more of the same, not for players looking for "more." It's such an incremental improvement over the original that the number 2 in the title honestly doesn't deserve to be there.
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90
Gamestyle
Portable gaming at its best.
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90
Cheat Code Central
It has a great story and interesting characters and makes you use your brain.
90
Thunderbolt
This is one of the few times where a sequel overshadows its predecessor. Even though the Advance Wars series will be seeing some time on the Gamecube sometime in the future, Black Hole Rising is still a blessing of wonderful quality, floating in a sea of mediocre ports and lacking games.
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89
Gamer.tv
The original Advance Wars was a great game and it will enhance your enjoyment of this sequel when you eventually buy it. And you will. It's that addictive.
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85
GameCritics
I'm giving Advance Wars 2 an 8.5 because of the game's lack of any significant innovation (the missile silos and volcanos are nice, but one new tank doesn't cut it for me). The developers decided not to take any risks, which I can't really fault them for, since the first game was so damn close to perfection to begin with.
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82
GameSpy
A great game, and better than the first in all of the important ways, but the impact is lessened by the similarity to the first game.
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82
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The sequel packs the same simple visuals and strategy system, but I think the rewarding gameplay's even better this time around. [July 2003, p.122]
80
GMR Magazine
The game has changed just enough to please loyal fans, and when you've got a formula that makes for such a compelling gaming experience, why mess with it? [July 2003, p.80]
80
GamePro
Just like its predecessor, Advance Wars 2 is a great, excellently balanced, and super-fun strategy game, but it feels more like an expansion pack than a sequel. If you never played the first one, skip right to number two.
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80
NTSC-uk
The sequel throws players into the thick of battle almost immediately with only the faintest of reintroductions to the Wars world. The missions also get very hard, very quickly, with some of the later missions proving especially demanding, even for Advance Wars veterans.
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80
Edge Magazine
Advance Wars 2 isn't really Advance Wars 2, it's Advance Wars 1.5. Still a superb game, it's only close to perfect for those who've never experienced perfection before. [Sept 2003]
80
Gamenikki
It's still a buy, but fans hoping for something new are in for a sore surprise.
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80
GBA Central
Gameplay is the core of this title, resulting in fantastic replay value, only if you do not mind the fact that not much has changed from its predecessor. Due to the lack of new modes of play and new units, Advance Wars 1.5 would have been a more accurate title.
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80
Village Voice
Happily, no improvement over the original's deep and difficult strategizing.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 73 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Matthew M. gave it a9:
This advanced wars game is awesome. You should probaly try this for your dream to come.And never stop playing this awesome game. Even if its 50.00$, buy it! I'm telling you to buy if you see it!

Professor Chewy gave it a10:
AW2 is such a good game. I get so addicted to it, and you actually gotta think! The hard campaign kept me busy for a while (to tell d truth, it still is) and it gets frustrating but its still hard to stop playing. They should have put infantry actually dying instead of flying out and I like how the different continentz have different looks and stuffs. I've been playing this thing for years. What a great game.

Jb S. gave it a10:
Advance Wars. The best game ever! It is the coolest game ever!! It is like a mix of an anime, modern combat and chess, Advance Wars is a challenging game that is easy to pick up and play yer suprisingly deep. This game is not, and I repeat NOT for idiots because this game requires skill, strategy, and knowledge in combat. So, don't waste your time playing those cheap, rusty games! Move to the greatest strategic game in town! Advance to the next game! I guarantee you: YOU WILL enjoy it! 100% Fun.

George C. gave it a10:
This is an awesome game and people who are good can continue to play against friends in the vs. mode and the design maps option.

Rolando G. gave it a10:
it's a realy good game i buy it and in the same day i understood how to play it but the campaing is realy dificult (specialy hard moded).

N. Zipkil B. gave it a10:
its a cool game i play it much with my friend and we always win even if its on it hard and the last level is a piece of cake.

Daniel Y. gave it a9:
I have played and beaten all of these games, there needs to be pressure made for adaptations for larger systems (Game Cube/Xbox/PS2) to attempt to create a game that is similar. Batallion Wars/ Future Tactics and Dai Senryaky VII have not been able to take me from my dedication to the advanced wars series... I can not think of another game that I would want to play. However, after you beat the game... I usually want at least one more level to win and win big.

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