Here’s why Nintendo won’t make a new Advance Wars game
Intelligent Systems’ forgotten child Advance Wars hasn’t had a new game in almost a decade, the last game released all the way back in 2008.
So why aren’t the development team making a new one yet? Speaking to Eurogamer in an interview about Fire Emblem Echoes, Nintendo’s Hitoshi Yamagami who worked on the last three games has given a reason;
“Personally, I’d love to do Advance Wars, but since it’s harder to create relationships between its characters compared to Fire Emblem, I don’t have a clear idea of what kind of setting it could have.”
Normally I wouldn’t editorialise a news story and I don’t want to speak for all Advance Wars fans, but I’m quite OK with Fire Emblem having all the waifu relationship stuff – we just want to blow some stuff up.
In the same interview producer of Fire Emblem Echoes and contributor to the original Advance Wars game Masahiro Higuchi has given us some hope;
“The Advance Wars series is one that I personally have a lot of interest in. I hear some of the staff here saying that they want to make one too, so if we have a chance it’s something I’d like to do!”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
Worst excuse I’ve ever heard.
I’ll work on it for them for free. ☺️
This is a real shame. The emphasis on interpersonal relationships at the expense of strategic depth makes both games weaker than they ought to be. Fire emblem is practically a dating sim at this point. What I want from a turn-based RPG is interesting strategic decisions, and options to combine abilities in interesting ways and, above all, balanced gameplay. The weapon triangle is just a little too simplistic. I want multiple intermeshing systems that create conplex and interesting tradeoffs. I want maps that are play out like deep puzzles that reward players who can anticipate and plan ahead.
Exactly. I cared about all of the COs but more through the experiences I had playing as them rather than any relationship-y writing the developers forced on us. AW is my favourite strategy series because the gameplay was always at the forefront, and was tactically deep and complex
OK or okay, not ok. ‘kay?
oK
You mean their, not there.
Advance Wars is my favourite Nintendo franchise, and I’d been quietly hoping we’d get a tiny 30 second reveal in the E3 Spotlight or during the Treehouse for a revival for the series, as I think it would be absolutely perfect for the Switch. I think now the franchise is dead, it will be very hard for them to bring back a series after a decade (even more if you don’t count Days of Ruin which was a massive departure for the franchise) and one that had such low sales. Perhaps the only thing that will alleviate my sadness now will be if Nintendo finally get round to getting Virtual Console on the Switch and any of the original three games, as I don’t particularly care for Days of Ruin. Please Nintendo, throw us this bone
I think Advance wars could be revived if they used nostalgia to their advantage–ie bringing back the same lovable characters and factions.
Advance Wars Switch: Black Hole Redemption
^ Black hole as a protagonist lead by Hawke, brought back to life by an older Lash. The allied powers are vying for world domination and black hole must put a stop to it, bringing peace.
*fingers crossed this happens*
So you’re telling me there is still a chance?
I rate Advance Wars over FE but I suppose FE blew up quick and became the major franchise for Intelligent Systems. I’ll still go nuts over a new AW game, or even some older games on the VC. Least we have indie game wargroove coming this year
Advance Wars had really strong characters (up until Days of Ruin). Not sure why that’s a barrier in any way.
Darn it those first three Advance Wars games were mega fun.
I’ve never played the series, it’s surprisingly cheap to get the DS games on Ebay though.
They should make a new one, but with Black Hole as the protagonist, fighting against fallen, now dictatorial allied power, with hawke brought back to life with technology, having to bring world peace to wars world, by defeating each Allied power, which fights amongts themselves in a bid to take over the world. I think it would make a solid setting. But that’s the problem with Japanese developers, I notice a stunning lack of innovation. Like for example, there was an easy way to incorporate being able to place black hole buildings in the map editor despite being a 4 player game, by being able to select which four colors you want to place in a setting menu. Basic features which get left out in these japanese games I notice. And I think it has to do with the corporate culture, and a lack of exposure to outside ideas (Japan is 98.5% ethnic japanese), so everyone making the decisions grew up in the same culture, thinks the same way, and misses out on creative opportunities. THAT’s why he “can’t think of a setting”.
Black hole protagonist: bring peace to wars world. There’s your setting, start working on it.