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For those familiar with the Game Boy Advance, Advance Wars holds a special place. Upon release, it quickly became a beloved title, earning high praise from critics. The series’ last entry graced the Nintendo DS in 2008, leaving a void in the turn-based strategy genre.

In early 2019, Wargroove emerged, developed by Chucklefish, the studio behind Stardew Valley and Starbound. With charming pixel art and engaging gameplay reminiscent of Advance Wars, it aimed to reignite the passion for tactical combat. Does Wargroove successfully capture the nostalgic magic? Let’s delve in.

Engaging Tactical Gameplay

Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game played on a grid-based map. Every move is calculated, devoid of grinding or random chance. The gameplay is easy to grasp but offers increasing depth with each level.

Four distinct factions populate the world: Cherrystone, Felheim, Floran, and Heavensong. While each faction shares the same unit types – Ground, Air, and Sea – only their appearances differ; stats and costs remain consistent. Each unit boasts unique strengths and weaknesses. For instance, Cavalry excels at traversing land and sweeping through infantry but is vulnerable to aerial, naval, and spear-wielding units.

Furthermore, each unit type has a critical hit condition. These powerful attacks significantly increase damage output. Executing these critical hits involves strategically positioning and maneuvering units to meet the specific requirements. Archers, for example, deal 35% more damage when attacking without moving, while Dragons inflict double damage against ground units.

Wargroove

Victory is achieved by either capturing the enemy headquarters or eliminating their commander. Campaign missions introduce diverse objectives, such as escorting civilians or protecting commanders, adding variety and challenge.

Adding to the strategic layer, various terrains offer advantages and disadvantages. Units stationed in forests gain additional armor but suffer reduced movement. Mountainous terrain grants even more armor and increased vision range, ideal for scouting units.

Beyond the campaign, Arcade and Puzzle modes provide unique challenges with unconventional win conditions. Wargroove also features a robust map editor, allowing players to create and share custom scenarios, further extending replayability through community-created content and mod support.

Room for Improvement

Despite its engaging gameplay, Wargroove lacks faction diversity. While four factions exist, the primary differentiator lies in their commanders and their unique abilities, known as Grooves. These powerful abilities can drastically alter the course of battle and are unique to each commander. Groove charge rates vary, often correlating with their potency.

However, the core units within each faction remain identical, lacking distinct strengths or weaknesses. While this maintains balance for campaign and multiplayer, it hinders strategic depth and faction identity. Taking inspiration from Advance Wars, Wargroove could introduce faction-specific unit variations, offering stronger or weaker units with different stats and costs, enhancing tactical possibilities.

Another significant drawback is the absence of mid-battle saving. Players must complete a mission before returning to the level select screen to save and exit. With increasingly lengthy and challenging missions, this can be frustrating, especially if unforeseen interruptions occur.

A minor yet noticeable issue lies in the unit animations. They appear somewhat lengthy and lackluster. For example, capturing a building involves a slow, simple flag-planting animation, while combat animations feel underwhelming. After a few viewings, these animations become repetitive and detract from the overall experience.

Conclusion

Wargroove successfully revives the spirit of Advance Wars with its engaging tactical gameplay and charming pixel art. However, the lack of faction diversity and the absence of mid-battle saving hinder its potential. Addressing these shortcomings would elevate Wargroove to become a truly exceptional turn-based strategy experience. Despite these flaws, Wargroove offers a compelling and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre. Its robust map editor and active community ensure long-term replayability, making it a worthy addition to any strategy enthusiast’s library.