Advance Wars 2 'strategy': Little Island

Lets see, I said games that goes with it right. Well, here we are, looking at a game that is rather old although it has not made me lose my interest in...

Advance Wars 2 is the second version of the wars series that is available outside Japan.
Before it was Famicom Wars (NES version), Super Famicom Wars (SNES version), Gameboy wars (Gameboy version). All this episodes in the war series belonged exclusively to Japan.

Advance wars was the first of the series to hit shores outside Japan. Starting with the debut of the Gameboy Advance, Advance wars was made only for Gameboy Advance only.
Advance wars followed up with a series called Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, which basically continued the series with more strategy and some new improvements...

I own Advance wars 2, not on ROM, but on real catridge and on a gameboy advance...
I hated the campaign, although it did allow me on more strategy on the other maps. After playing around with the Orange Star COs, I find that they have almost no specialization, which makes them easy to play around when you go map-hopping.

Other COs from the other faction seems to provide more interesting map domination strategy...

I hate doing reviews, I mean, others have done it, why should I?
So anyhow, I am providing some strategy guides in the versus mode, should you hate your friends so much that you want to thrash him...

This map is in the VS folder and it is called little island.
This map is a fast map, and poor CO selection on your opponent side can make the battle end in about 12 days.
(That is my record on the map).

Let me first make an analysis:
Best Pick CO:
Kanbei (Yellow Comet)

Recommended COs:
Max (Orange Star) (Only if he deploys faster than the opponent)
Olaf (Blue Moon) (Depends on how fast the snow comes)
Colin (Blue Moon) (If he deploy tanks extremely early)

OK on this map...
Andy (Orange Star) (Only if you play guerilla warfare)
Sami (Orange Star) (Only if her capture works faster than the opponent or if she does victory march successfully)
Sonja (Yellow Comet) (Fog of war only)
*Note that this analysis is based on comparison with the best pick CO, so all those in brackets are strategy to beat the best pick.

As far as I am concerned, the Green Earth COs are only any good if the terrain suggest that it is going to be totally either air or navy. Its land troops suck because the infantry suffer, and on this map, infantry is your most important asset for about 1/3 of the game.

I am giving the guide for Kanbei only. To make it easier for you guys, all the other COs on recommended or OK have to go first against Kanbei, or they would be thrashed. Kanbei can go first or second, regardless of what CO the other CO is. (Unless it is Kanbei VS Kanbei)

Basically the idea is to produce two infantry for two turns to capture the two buildings around you. Only send 1 of them for the buildings nearest to you. The other have to go and fight with the other CO over the possession of the other four buildings in the middle.

As Kanbei, your troops should be overpowered so leave the one that you used to capture the building nearest to you there to capture both buildings. Start saving for a recon first so that you can whack out the early attack of the infantry dying to capture those buildings. Make sure to get at least two buildings though.

Than, slowly fight off the resistance and get the other two buildings. During this period while you are trying to get the other two buildings, I like to produce tanks (if you run short, produce a mech instead) Make sure you only produce one unit a turn, this does not affect you too much.

When you get all four in the middle, Kanbei should have enough resources to produce a tank a turn. Slowly surround the enemy and decided your favorite method to finish it off.

Strictly speaking, Kanbei troops might be expensive, but it pays off on this map as you can quickly overwhelm your enemy. Never try Kanbei vs Kanbei though. In this sort of match, the player who go first would win.

Hope you would have a pleasant time thrashing your opponent. Please remember that on this map, the more tanks, the better...

One more thing, Colin is extremely cruel on this map if you happen to meet a Pro in Colin...

Next time on Advance Wars 2 'strategy' >> We'll take a look at a pre-deployed map that could prove unfortunately unfair to many people when you play with one certain CO...

Watch out for Advance Wars 2 'strategy': Bundle City...

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