Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

About Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising is a turn-based strategy game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. It is the sequel to Advance Wars, and it continues the war between the nations of Wars World and the invading Black Hole army.

The story follows Orange Star commanders Andy, Sami, and Max as they defend their homeland, then join allies from Blue Moon, Green Earth, and Yellow Comet. The villainous Black Hole COs, led by Sturm and joined by new commanders like Lash, Flak, Adder, and Hawke, bring new units and powers to the battlefield.

Detailed Gameplay

Advance Wars 2 is a grid-based tactics game where you build units, capture properties, and outmaneuver enemy forces. Every unit has strengths, weaknesses, movement range, and fuel or ammo limits, so planning matters more than brute force.

Units and Terrain

• Build infantry, tanks, artillery, air units, and naval units from factories, airports, and ports.
• Use terrain for defense, since forests, mountains, and cities boost protection.
• Match units wisely: anti-air beats copters, tanks beat infantry, and artillery wins from range.
• Watch fuel and ammo, because stranded units become easy targets.

Commanding Officers and Powers

• Choose a CO whose strengths fit the map, such as Max for direct combat or Sami for infantry.
• Charge your CO Power meter by dealing and taking damage.
• Unleash CO Powers like Andy’s Hyper Repair or Sami’s Double Time at key moments.
• Unlock Super CO Powers in this sequel for stronger effects and wider impact.

Campaign and Modes

• Play the campaign across multiple nations, unlocking new COs and missions.
• Capture headquarters or destroy all enemy units to win most maps.
• Try War Room maps for standalone challenges and high scores.
• Build custom maps and battle friends in multiplayer with link play on the original hardware.

Game Highlights

• Sharp turn-based tactics: Every move, unit match-up, and terrain bonus matters.
• Memorable CO roster: Each commander changes how an army plays.
• New Super CO Powers: Bigger powers reward smart meter management.
• Huge replay value: Campaign, War Room, and custom maps offer endless battles.

Controls

Use the Game Boy Advance controls to move units and issue orders.

• D-Pad: Move the cursor across the battlefield grid.
• A: Select a unit, confirm an action, or open unit options.
• B: Cancel a move or close a menu.
• L/R: Cycle through units or scroll map information where available.
• Start: Open the pause menu and battle options.
• Select: Show terrain, unit range, or map details where available.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Winning in Advance Wars 2 is about economy and positioning, not just big armies.

• Capture properties early to grow your income, since more funds mean more units every turn.
• Keep artillery behind tanks so it can fire without taking direct counterattacks.
• Use infantry to capture cities and hold chokepoints while stronger units advance.
• Save your CO Power for a turning point, such as a mass heal or a decisive push.
• Check enemy movement ranges before ending your turn, so key units do not sit in danger.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is Advance Wars 2 a sequel to the first Advance Wars? A: Yes. It continues the story with the same nations and commanders, plus new Black Hole COs, Super CO Powers, and units.

Q: How do you win a battle in Advance Wars 2? A: You usually win by capturing the enemy headquarters or destroying all enemy units, depending on the map’s victory condition.

Q: Can I play Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising online for free? A: Yes, you can play Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation required.