Battalion Wars 2 looks a little better and, with the addition of naval units and a full-blown multiplayer component, is sure to best its predecessor in every way.

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Probably the biggest and most welcome addition to Battalion Wars 2 is the multiplayer mode, which also features online play -- right there are two big steps up from the single player-only original.

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A Kuju staffer once told me that Battalion Wars was his favorite thing the company had ever done, and it's easy to see why. It has more personality than most of the company's prior work, and it has an appealing look and feel married to a fun, accessible gameplay concept

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We got to try out that multiplayer at a recent Nintendo press event and found it to be pretty much exactly what we expected (and hoped for) after playing the original on the Cube ... We didn't get to see a lot of Battalion Wars 2, but what we saw looked right in line with the original game's mechanics and spirit.

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Graphically speaking, BWii maintains the comedic animated style found in the first game while increasing the polish and effects with the Wii's added horsepower. The battlefield can grow chaotic in a firefight with rockets exploding and soldiers running everywhere, and the amount of sheer madness on-screen at once is pretty impressive.

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That makes the series an unusual mix of near-simultaneous shooting and strategic planning. The games are broken into missions which usually pit your army against another. And, oddly, everything is done in with cartoon-ish graphics, so that the war looks kind of … cute?

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-"The difficulty level from mission to mission can be a little erratic"

- "Wi-Fi modes fast and fun"

- "Tilting the remote to adjust the elevation when you're piloting a plane feels stiff and slow."

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Like its predecessor, Battalion Wars 2 brings to the virtual battlefield an entertaining combination of strategic planning and real-time action. I really think that in terms of overall storyline, not to mention the variety of missions, soldiers, weapons and vehicles, this sequel has really one- upped its predecessor. When you additionally consider the mostly- intuitive controls, sleek presentation and fun online modes, you have the recipe for a great new installment to the sleeper franchise.

At the same time, though, there's still room for improvement. I think that developer Kuju has failed to capitalize on or misused Wii's control enhancements -- seldom pinpoint IR-based soldier deployment and jumps and dives assigned to gestures on the nunchuk, for example. (There's no buttons left on the Wii remote or nunchuk -- not a lot the studio could have done -- but it's still an issue.) Furthermore, you can't play through the single-player campaign in the online cooperative mode; instead, you have to battle with a friend in a handful of specially designed cooperative stages. And, of course, none of the multiplayer modes support a headset -- a fundamental shortcoming.

Perhaps the biggest issue I have with the game, though, is that despite the inclusion of naval fleets and the online offerings, it hasn't changed much from the original outing, whose novelty has faded some. The same complaint could be leveraged against Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, whose basic game design and look was similar to its predecessors. Corruption, though, at least implemented revolutionary control, which significantly enhanced the experience.

Even with a few missteps, Battalion Wars 2 remains a quality title that I can recommend to anybody who liked the original or to any Wii owners interested in an action game that requires a little more smarts to complete.

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Even though most of the original game's shortcomings are still present in Battalion Wars 2, this is a much better product thanks to improved graphics, good pacing, and a decent attempt at online play. Though it still doesn't match Advance Wars in terms of brains or brawn, this Wii soldier is worth sending into battle.

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Online or off, looks alone will probably lure you back to play at least a few more missions. The colorful environments (especially the well-done water that comes into play with the naval units) and cute units make this a game that will give anyone pause when they walk by and see it on your TV. But, particularly on a machine not known for winning over hearts with its graphical prowess, pretty pictures only take you so far; after that it comes down to how engaging the game is. Battalion Wars 2 flounders because it lacks both the comic mischief that make cartoons like Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner so much fun and the tactical depth to be taken as a serious war game. The no-man's land in between isn't a place where you want to hang around too long.

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If you've been through and enjoyed these wars before, there's no reason to resist enlisting once again. Battalion Wars 2 boasts enjoyable storylines and presentation along with killer weapons and a dose of strategy. That gets a gold star in our book. Four, even.

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Despite what might seem like many complaints, we generally like Battalion Wars 2. In nearly all ways, it's an advancement over its predecessor, so if you liked the first game, we'd be surprised if you didn't like this too. Unfortunately, the title falls shorts of being a truly "great" Nintendo property. In the end, the formula is shallow and the experience marred by too many small problems. That said, it is a likable and fun Wii title that merges qualities from the action and RTS genres into a one hybrid genre.

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Despite its overly complex control scheme, Battalion Wars 2 is, like many games, one that becomes immensely enjoyable after learning its ins and outs. Allowing the Wii remote to more closely simulate a computer mouse would have increased the game's fun factor even more, but after spending enough time on the game's campaign, gamers are encouraged to delve into multiplayer, where the price tag pays for itself over and over again.

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These minor hitches aside, Battalion Wars 2 is an unexpectedly great sequel, one with precise controls, fine online multiplayer options and an above average presentation. While it isn't the best military game on the market, it still hits its targets – and that's good enough for a nice, shiny medal.

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Fredescu said:

We're not getting this in Australia this year right?

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Insaniac said:

is it only 2 players online for skirmish and assault?

oh, and anything regarding wii 2 wii LAN?

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doomed1 said:

i think theres supposed to be LAN support, though i don't know if its still in the cards. i hope so tho, i'm trying to get a LAN party together with this in my dorm.

i seriously hope they put in headset support though.

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Polari said:

Fuck Nintendo up their stupid asses for treating this game the way they have, seriously. Looks like a great sequel to a great game.

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Insaniac said:

yes. This is the first game that really could use headset support on the Wii.

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Polari said:

Fuck Nintendo up their stupid asses for treating this game the way they have, seriously. Looks like a great sequel to a great game.

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avatar299 said:

Yeah, We should boycott the game guys.

That will fucking show 'em

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Polari said:

Fuck Nintendo up their stupid asses for treating this game the way they have, seriously. Looks like a great sequel to a great game.

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BobFromPikeCreek said:

You know what to blame.

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The Black Brad Pitt said:

So is this series meant to be Nintendo's answer to battlefield?

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The Black Brad Pitt said:

So is this series meant to be Nintendo's answer to battlefield?

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The Black Brad Pitt said:

So is this series meant to be Nintendo's answer to battlefield?

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EktorPR said:

I want this game...but it'll depend on reviews if I get it on day 1. I mean, GH III releases the same fucking day!

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Mashing said:

That's the impression I get becuase you jump into all sorts of different combat vehicles and aircraft.

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Milabrega said:

It'll be in stores on what date 28th,29th or 30th? Anyone planning to get a league going for some online play?

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&#1057 said:

You don't actually "jump into them" though.

They're units, like in an RTS. It's just that instead of being an omniscient commander that floats overhead, you control single units at a time, while still commanding nearby units.

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