Even better than the first. CO mechanics are refined and maps more varied. If Advance Wars 1 was excellent, this sequel is near-perfect.
Your verdict
Category
Turn-Based Strategy1 player7+
Description
Sequel to Advance Wars developed by Intelligent Systems on GBA. Published by Nintendo, released in the United States in October 2003. The Black Hole army threatens new nations with unprecedented units. The campaign offers 26 missions with an unlockable hard campaign, 14 playable COs and 12 new ground, naval and air unit types. Link cable multiplayer and numerous tactical challenges.
Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The sequel darkens its setting without giving up the rounded line of the first: to the meadows and beaches are added contaminated terrain in purplish tones, factories and oversized cannons spanning several tiles. The new enemy commanders, drawn with more angular silhouettes, contrast sharply with the round faces of the allied side.
The theme-per-commander principle is kept and widened: the newcomers bring heavier motifs, low brass and mechanical percussion, breaking with the cheerful marches of the first game. The contrast between the two registers is audible at every change of turn and directly serves the reading of the match.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Carrying over the first game's razor-sharp formula, this sequel adds commanders with sharply defined powers and trickier maps without sacrificing any clarity. Outguessing the enemy and exploiting every unit remains a cerebral pleasure of great finesse. The strategic richness and careful balance make it a benchmark that's still just as recommended.
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Returning to turn-based war and adding the commanders' super-powers noticeably deepens the tactical dance of the clashes. Capturing, producing and striking at the right moment chains short objectives and steady rewards. The formula stays very close to its predecessor, but these new strategic options revive the urge to optimize every map to perfection.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
With twenty-six missions and an unlockable hard campaign, the sequel beefs up the main quest from the start, yet the heart of it lies elsewhere. Mastering the fourteen COs and the twelve fresh land, sea and air units opens a vast tactical playground, extended by War Room and link-cable duels. Every map invites a replay in pursuit of perfection, which firmly cements its standing as a strategy heavyweight.
Direct sequel to Advance Wars on GBA, the fifth overall entry of the Famicom Wars and Intelligent Systems saga, in which the Black Hole antagonist takes a full narrative shape. The franchise then froze in the West until the 2023 Switch remake, which keeps demand steady on the original GBA. Original European cardboard box, non Virtual Console edition, remains sought after by portable tactics enthusiasts.
Is Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising still worth playing in 2026?
Far from simply adding a few maps, Black Hole Rising refines the first game's formula to an almost definitive degree. The Commanding Officer special powers double the tactical depth, the campaign AI holds up remarkably well and the storyline gains real personality with the return of Sturm and his army. The pace stays wonderfully taut over the long haul. For anyone who only played the first, this sequel is the obvious next step and for many the peak of the Intelligent Systems run on GBA.
