Battalion Wars 2 Review

By Keza MacDonald Published 7 January, 2008

More than a pretty acronym.

Version tested: Wii

Remember the self-referential, idiosyncratic humour and gentle racial stereotyping that used to characterise British games? Kuju has done us proud with BWii. None of Battalion Wars 2's feuding nations is free from its pokey stick of satire, not even our own. 'The Anglo Isles: "This green and pleasant island nation once commanded a mighty empire, but is now relegated to the backwaters of global diplomacy." Battalion Wars 2 begins as Colonel Windsor launches an Anglican attack on Japa - sorry, the Solar Empire, having heard rumours from some mysterious source that their army has been developing a weapon of mass destruction. Sorry, superweapon. Still, it does at least turn out that they do have a pretty powerful satellite weapon hidden away, but they didn't know about it - someone threw it off a cliff several years previously.

The Solar Empire's General A'Quira is voiced by a loud, high-pitched man who mixes up his 'l's and 'r's, the Western Frontier's Sarge Herman by a chap who manages to sound as thick-necked as his buzz-cut-sporting on-screen representation looks. The evil empires have an accent that's a strange mix of Russian and German. BWii definitely has a sense of humour, and though it's mostly light-hearted it does tinge proceedings with a touch of satire on occasion.

Like its GameCube predecessor, BWii is very loosely based on Advance Wars - its mission structure, grading system and unit types closely mimic those of Intelligent Systems' handheld cartoon war-game, but it plays completely differently. It's a third-person blaster that lets you jump into the shoes of any of your units at the press of a button, leading the platoon with an assault veteran before switching to an anti-air unit to personally take care of an incoming bomber. It's all about finding the balance on the battlefield between commanding your units and taking control of them directly.

'Battalion Wars 2' Screenshot 1

No, Recon vehicle! Stay back! You'll never survive the bazookas!

Mercifully, the Wii controls work perfectly, which contributes significantly to BWii's improvements over the original. You move with the Nunchuk and aim with the remote, with a lock-on button to ease the process, and commanding units one at a time or in groups is all done with the d-pad. It's easy to get used to, and the game gives you two or three gentle missions as the start to ease you into things. It's fun right from the outset, and gives you well enough time to learn the ropes and various strengths of the unit types before dropping you into bigger, more complicated battles.

The missions are shorter and more action-packed than before, breaking a campaign up into six or so fifteen-minute missions. It's here that Battalion Wars has improved itself most significantly - objectives are always clearly marked out and missions are well-structured, giving you the chance to build up your squad with reinforcements and smaller skirmishes before a bigger ruckus at the end.

'Battalion Wars 2' Screenshot 2

The naval missions are new for this one, although submarines are rendered pretty much pointless by the absence of fog of war or vision fields.

It's varied, too, scattering naval missions, reconnaissance and a good bit of driving amongst the more conventional assault and defence missions. The unit types are well-balanced - running and gunning with one Rambo grunt is as much fun as blowing things up with a battleship or bomber, thanks to the lightgun physicality of the controls. Once again, Kuju has managed to combine action and tactics with astonishing success, although this is hardly a strategic masterpiece - although units can be commanded individually, most of the time you're just leading a massive group of them across the battlefield. You can't send them off across the map on their own, so the battle is always going on right around you; you're always directly engaged with the fight, but the trade-off is slightly limited strategic potential. The cleverest decisions you'll make in Battalion Wars are which units to bring into which fight, and which to leave a few metres behind, out of harm's way. Unfortunately they're not all that good at figuring out which enemies to target on their own.

But Battalion Wars is much more of an action game than a strategy one, and in that respect it succeeds universally. The controls are fun and engaging, the missions perfectly bite-sized and paced, and always just simple enough - it never feels like a slog, and the game's never difficult enough to get frustrating. Once the campaign's over with, there's online multiplayer too in the form of skirmish (kill each other's dudes), assault (take turns attacking and defending from each other) and a few mildly inspired co-operative missions, in which you and your ally command different units in the fight. Communication's a bit of a challenge without voice chat, but it's good fun nonetheless, and at least spares you from Xbox Live's continuous idiot-chatter when playing strangers. It's a shame there's no split-screen mode, though. There's no way to play skirmish or co-op with somebody sitting beside you, which is a strange omission.

'Battalion Wars 2' Screenshot 3

It's really good-looking, actually - clean and cartoony without being remotely saccharine.

Battalion Wars 2 is good fun, then, with a great visual style and Wii online play that actually works, in our experience so far. But it's a little hard to understand exactly who Battalion Wars is for - its cheery violence is kid-friendlier than Advanced Warfighter, but it's still war, and most grown-up gamers who enjoy tactical shooting have a plethora of more serious and complex options. It's best to think of this as a humourous, cartoony blaster with strategic elements, rather than a home-console Advance Wars - anyone expecting the latter would definitely come away from this disappointed.

Anyway, BWii is a substantial improvement on the original: better-paced, a bit funnier and with the much-needed addition of online multiplayer. Serious warmongers should stick to games with realistic explosions and greater tactical depth, but if you're in the mood for a varied, good-hearted third-person blaster with a few strategic elements rather than a gritty combat simulator, you'll have a few greatly entertaining evenings with this.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Keza.

About Keza MacDonald

Read more articles from Keza by visiting the Keza MacDonald archive page.

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Comments (52) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Nillsens #1 4 years ago

    Meh...

  • Der_tolle_Emil #2 4 years ago

    Oh I do want that game!

  • Charroux #3 4 years ago

    This sounds ace.

    Was never particularly interested in the first one, but this sounds like a lot of fun.

  • Eraser #4 4 years ago

    *adds to most wanted list*

  • mingster #5 4 years ago

    sounds good

  • mingster #6 4 years ago

    a hostile waters remake would be better though

  • ShiroBen #7 4 years ago

    This looks fun!

  • gamelover #8 4 years ago

    Finally a game on the Wii I want to play! Sold :)

  • The_Programmer #9 4 years ago

    "and at least spares you from Xbox Live's continuous idiot-chatter when playing strangers"

    Are you at Eurogamer incapable of muting an anoying player? You can also select an option to avoid a player if they keep annoying you or don't you know about that either?

  • brainbird #10 4 years ago

    Hmm, mildly interested. One to pick up later, I guess. In case there will be a games draught sometime in the future. Or are these times over?

  • Lexx87 #11 4 years ago

    Depends how many consoles you own I spose

  • seasidebaz #12 4 years ago

    "and at least spares you from Xbox Live's continuous idiot-chatter when playing strangers"

    shouldn't that read, "at least spares you from Xbox Live's continuous downtime when playing anything"?

  • AcidSnake #13 4 years ago

    I suspect it uses its own exclusive friend codes though?

  • pjmaybe #14 4 years ago

    Played pretty well IIRC. Looks like some hefty work has been done to the unit graphics to stop 'em being too cute and cartoony but this could end up being brilliant.

    Peej

  • paulf #15 4 years ago

    thanks for the review, it reminded me to preorder Advance Wars: Days of Ruin on import :)

  • Lexx87 #16 4 years ago

    You know it's only 3 more days for it to come out in the UK don't you? You'll wait longer for the delivery and not get it first anyway :p

  • mingster #17 4 years ago

    whys it called AW/ dark conflict in the EU and AW /Days of Ruin elsewhere?

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #18 4 years ago

    Such a bright, cheery review was gently persuading me to buy this until that clanging 7 at the end.

    As it is, it'll have to wait until I've got round to getting Overlord. If only Nintendo produced demos, I might be able to figure out whether this is actually more worthy of my time.

  • magicpanda #19 4 years ago

    "a hostile waters remake would be better though"

    Damn yes, one of the finest game ever to grace my PC.

  • udat #20 4 years ago

    Hostile Waters was superb. Avon and Doctor Who doing the voices was a masterful touch as well. I would love to see that remade or a good sequel.

    This does look interesting though. I would like something light hearted and fun after some of the more "epic" releases of late on the 360.

  • Cappy #21 4 years ago

    Bit of a generous review, unless 7 is now the Eurogamer average.

  • paulf #22 4 years ago

    thanks lexx87 cancelled the us import and ordered the good old euro version instead :)

  • El_MUERkO #23 4 years ago

    sounds fun

  • mcmothercruncher #24 4 years ago

    Online retailer types have the UK release as 15th Feb for this... please let me be wrong but it isn't out "in 3 days" Lexx87.

  • Shanucore #25 4 years ago

    "The Anglo Isles: "This green and pleasant island nation once commanded a mighty empire, but is now relegated to the backwaters of global diplomacy."

    That's not satire... that's description.

    Anyway, woo! I was hoping this would turn out well. It sounds like a gentle, entertaining sort of game.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #26 4 years ago

    thanks lexx87 cancelled the us import and ordered the good old euro version instead :)

    I hope I don't disappoint you too much, but the 3 days are a myth. The release date is Jan 25th.

  • Sid-Nice #27 4 years ago

    This is a better score than I was anticipating; I love Battalion Wars as it's a light hearted version of Command and Conquer, which is a great game but a little too serious for the likes of me.

  • paulf #28 4 years ago

    sorry for my confusing post, just to clarify after reading this review I realised that the new advance wars for the DS was out soon (as Der_tolle_Emil points out Jan 25th.) I thought the us version would be out much earlier but it appears on further investigation that is available of Jan 21st

    as for Battalion Wars 2 which this review and this thread should be about (until i semi hijacked it) thats out on 15th Jan (According to <a href = "http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/gam es/wii/battalion_wars_ii_2847.html"> nintys site </a>
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/08 @ 13:57

  • Keza #29 4 years ago

    The online works with friend codes, but there's also a 'play anyone' button that works just as well. Completely annoyance-free.

  • rudedudejude #30 4 years ago

    This sounds like Hostile Waters : Kids Edition

  • Nithron #31 4 years ago

    That bottom screenshot... Is that a Pelican from Halo attacking that yellow jet thing?

  • Waldo #32 4 years ago

    "BWii."

    How precious.

  • Chim_chimma_nee! #33 4 years ago

    Why do they have to make us the 'baddies'?
    It should be Generic Terrorists with scars and drinking problems.

  • Garulon #34 4 years ago

    "Are you at Eurogamer incapable of muting an anoying player? You can also select an option to avoid a player if they keep annoying you or don't you know about that either? "

    Remember - It's a Wii review, where up is down black is white and useful standard features are in fact horribly annoyances.

    So BW II is BW with some boats and the same shitty graphics as the three-year old original then? Thanks again for bringing a new dawn of originality Wii owners! You've saved gaming!

  • tardo #35 4 years ago

    "Still, would be nice to see a 9 or 10 from a 3rd party? "

    I suppose Zack & Wiki is the nearest to that so far? (with an 8)

    I never played the first BW on the gamecube, but this one is enticing me a bit. So, with BWii and Zack, and NiGHTS soon, i may end up with an overload of games to possibly play. & Advance Wars on the ds.

    Right, time to go search online for Advance Wars/ NiGHTS, as those two will definitely be must-buys for me. Even if NiGHTS ends up being a disappointment..

  • smelly #36 4 years ago

    I dont get it.

    The whole review sings it's praises - but it only gets a 7?

    So I presume there was something wrong with it.. But the review didnt mention anything?

    Confused!

  • figaro7 #37 4 years ago

    Interested in this, first one was quite good, its good to see the missions have been shortened, some of the first games went for far too long! Us aussies havent even got a release date yet, might have to import the euro version yet again!

  • smelly #38 4 years ago

    Just re-read the review.. did i only get a 7 because it doesnt have realistic explosions? Or because it's not the same as advanced wars?

    I'm confused by the score.

    dont get me wrong - I dont care less what score a game gets if it's worth buying.. i just.. dont .. get.. it?

  • smelly #39 4 years ago

    Shallow? But so is mario galaxy, halo 3, etc etc.

    As long as it's FUN..

    Sounds to me like the reviewer wanted it to be something it's not (advance wars)

  • smelly #40 4 years ago

    >no, he was comparing it to other games in the genre.

    But that's kinda the problem.. What's the genre?

    He's comparing it to other games in "kinda" genres - but afaik there's nothing really LIKE this?

    ah well.. doesnt matter i guess.. i just thought it was weird.

  • rare_uk #41 4 years ago

    paulf wrote: as for Battalion Wars 2 which this review and this thread should be about (until i semi hijacked it) thats out on 15th Jan (According to nintys site


    No, sadly Ninty's site says 15th Feb
    Edited by 1 at 07/01/08 @ 22:10

  • Keza #42 4 years ago

    @Frod and Smelly:

    I'm a she, not a he. Not that it matters, it's just a particular bugbear.

    Batallion Wars is fine, and fun, and amusing, but not hugely special. It is a quite short third-person blaster that does nothing particularly new and is pretty basic, but does what it does pretty well. An 8 would suggest a near-essential purchase - this is a good laugh, but by no means essential, especially not compared to other games of its sort, which generally have an awful lot more content. :-)

  • smelly #43 4 years ago

    Ta mate.

    :-)

    (edit) : Although i still dont get from reading the review where it's not deemed as an essential purchase? ho hum
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/08 @ 00:38

  • Muddtallica #44 4 years ago

    smelly: I think she's made herself fairly clear, to be quite honest. The game isn't revolutionary or new, and there's not much about it that's really remarkable, but otherwise it succeeds in attaining the modest target it aims for, hence 7/10. It's quite possible to come out of something with no specific criticisms of any aspect of it, yet still on balance think it's only OK; I felt the same about the movie Corpse Bride, or indeed the first Battalion Wars.

    You know, smelly, you're not half...insistent sometimes, are you? You seem to have something of a reputation as Mr Rabid Wii Troll; I don't happen to think that you are the nutcase some have you pegged as, but I think if you learned to let trivial technicalities like this slide, you'd cop a lot less flak.

    All IMO, of course...

  • haowan #45 4 years ago

    you should know better than to cry about scores, smelly.

  • mingster #46 4 years ago

    There's not that many war/strategy games on the wii so if you half like the sound of it its probably worth a punt.

  • smelly #47 4 years ago

    @Muddtallica & haowan:

    >you should know better than to cry about scores, smelly.


    Im NOT crying about scores..

    I'm just trying to assertain as to whether or not i want to buy this or not. I don't give a shit what people think about me, i'm just trying to figure out whether it's worth spending cash on or not.

    The WORDS of the review tell me yes, but the score suggests that there is something "wrong" with the game which isnt mentioned in the review.

    Saying it's great - but doesnt compare well to other games of its ilk is fine - but then i want to know what these other games on the wii are so i can get them instead!

    I'm not the type to argue whether a game is worth 10 instead of 9 or anything. That's pointless. But a 7 says "good, but not great" - but when the words only tell me "great" i get scared that there is something missing from the words about the game that may mean i wont like the game (or not consider it great myself).

    See, the problem i have (if being picky) is that original halo gots high scores for being the best fps "on that platform", compared against pc fps games it was never that great. But here it seems the game is being compared against pc strategy games - which maybe isnt fair? And if it is being compared against WII strategy games, then i want to know which games are better (so i can get them instead)

    Sometimes i feel that i'm the only one that uses reviews for their purpose (i.e. to ascertain whether or not a game is worth buying), as opposed to just wanking over high scores while telling myself how great my machine is.

    See?
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/08 @ 21:45

  • Keza #48 4 years ago

    smelly: iin the context of the Wii, I think you should probably buy Battalion Wars 2. It is good fun, and if you're into action blasters as opposed to tactical shooters and war simulators you will definitely enjoy it, as you won't be annoyed by its lack of depth or seriousness and the online gives it enough longevity to be worth the purchase. In the context of Wii action games, it's not as good as Resident Evil 4 (in my opinion, if not Dave McCarthy's, but he's very much in the minority), but it's better than just about everything else on the console in the action-shooting genre.

    There is nothing seriously wrong with it, and nothing amazingly brilliant either. It is a simple job done well, and I very much enjoyed it for a week and a bit. But it's not something I see myself returning to that often, nor is it something I would recommend to anyone used to more serious tactical shooters.

  • smelly #49 4 years ago

    Thanks! That's EXACTLY what i was driving at finding out!

    As for "lack of seriousness" I don't want seriousness in my games! :-)

    Thanks again for taking the time to reply - it's appreciated!

  • Muddtallica #50 4 years ago

    Well, I still don't quite understand what it was that was stopping you from inferring any of that information from the original review text, but I suppose it's not important; you're happy now, I'm happy, we're all happy.

    Looking at this game again, maybe it would be worth giving a try...thinking back, I found the first BW to be a fun little game while it lasted, but thanks to the issue with GC Freeloader discs on the Wii, I can't play my US copy any more. This sounds like it fixes my central problems with the first game (no naval units or multiplayer), so maybe I'll look into it when the price comes down a little...

  • smelly #51 4 years ago

    I've decided to get it purely as it'll be the first online game i own on the wii...

    Now to convince some friends to buy it too!

  • budd #52 4 years ago

    well fek me an online game.....
    about bl00dy time too!
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/08 @ 11:20