Advance Wars

Started playing Advance Wars a few days ago. I played it a little a few years ago, but I'd forgotten everything so I started afresh. The tutorial was impressive, introducing new units and aspects of the game with each training level. It reminded me of the "programmed" rules from the original Squad Leader. This approach suits wargames very well, but it's applied to most games in one way or another.

Programmed rules were about the only hope for Squad Leader to be comprehensible. It was a brilliant but demented squad-level WWII wargame . The scenarios introduced new concepts in stages. The first just had infantry, leaders and machine guns, that formed the core of the game. Each following mission introduced a few new counters and a fresh concept (say, radios, and calling in artillery strikes). By the end of the game, there was quite a party happening on the board, but you could understand it because everything was introduced sequentially, in digestible chunks.

Advance Wars demonstrates perfect programmed tuition. Each training mission has you defeating a powerful new enemy unit with specific counter-tactics: usually the starting unit locations give you the edge. The first mission, with just two infantry apiece in the open, works because the computer has one unit lagging so you can double-team each one with your two infantry. The positions also ensure you will get to strike first: guided by your assistant, you cannot lose.

The game is also secretly showing you something else: concentration of force. Bring two units to bear on the enemy's one, while denying him the same chance, and you will win. It's a principle of military strategy, one of the most basic.

At the end of the tutorial, you'll know how every unit works - which you'll need, because knowledge of the unit relationships and hierarchy are essential to success. Not knowing whether a "B Copter" can attack a "Medium Tank", or the potency of that attack, will hamper your success. With about twenty different units available, it's testament to the tutorial that it successfully teaches you all the information you require.