Overview- Critic & User
Reviews - Videos &
Screenshots
News- Codes
& FAQs - Gameplay
Controls - Similar
Games
Answers
Bundles
Critic & User Reviews
IGN Review of Tom Clancy's End War
The Nintendo DS version of Tom Clancy's EndWar gets off on the wrong foot right from the start with its box quote that claims it won Game Critics' "Best Strategy Game of E3." This is, of course, not true, as the portable EndWar wasn't even shown at E3 and that award was given to the very different console versions. But, once you get past the misleading advertising, you'll find a decent if humdrum turn-based strategy game here.
The biggest difference between the portable and console EndWars is that the DS game eschews the innovative voice controls and real-time strategy for a more traditional, turn-based and stylus-controlled affair. The DS does have a microphone, of course, and it's tempting to be disappointed that the developers didn't include the ability to give audio commands to your troops. But thinking back to my frustrating times trying to get Brain Age to understand the word "yellow," maybe it's just as well EndWar DS is a touch screen game. There is some light voice work, though, that helps bring your armies to life.
EndWar's story is typical Tom Clancy stuff involving three campaigns in Europe, America, and Asia. Players can choose to begin in either Europe or America, and within each crusade you have some choice in the order you tackle the dozens of missions. This all adds up to quite a lengthy game that can be subtly customized to your taste.
Gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has played a turn-based strategy game before. There are two phases to each turn: move and action. You move, your opponent moves, then you attack, and finally your opponent attacks. The playing field is divided into hexagons, providing more offensive and defensive opportunities than the square tile-based areas of Advance Wars. Adjacent allies will provide a support boost during skirmishes and you can block enemy units from advancing by placing your vehicles next to them with one hex in between. A wide variety of units is available (land, sea, and air) to keep things interesting. The requisite amount of strategy is here, it just isn't anything that hasn't already been done better.
The other area where EndWar is lackluster is the visuals. Advance Wars: Dual Strike arrived early in the DS' lifespan and it still looks a lot more impressive than this. EndWar goes for a more realistic presentation in its battle sequences, but the art lacks personality and what little animation is here doesn't run very smoothly.
©2008-12-03, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The biggest difference between the portable and console EndWars is that the DS game eschews the innovative voice controls and real-time strategy for a more traditional, turn-based and stylus-controlled affair. The DS does have a microphone, of course, and it's tempting to be disappointed that the developers didn't include the ability to give audio commands to your troops. But thinking back to my frustrating times trying to get Brain Age to understand the word "yellow," maybe it's just as well EndWar DS is a touch screen game. There is some light voice work, though, that helps bring your armies to life.
EndWar's story is typical Tom Clancy stuff involving three campaigns in Europe, America, and Asia. Players can choose to begin in either Europe or America, and within each crusade you have some choice in the order you tackle the dozens of missions. This all adds up to quite a lengthy game that can be subtly customized to your taste.
Gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has played a turn-based strategy game before. There are two phases to each turn: move and action. You move, your opponent moves, then you attack, and finally your opponent attacks. The playing field is divided into hexagons, providing more offensive and defensive opportunities than the square tile-based areas of Advance Wars. Adjacent allies will provide a support boost during skirmishes and you can block enemy units from advancing by placing your vehicles next to them with one hex in between. A wide variety of units is available (land, sea, and air) to keep things interesting. The requisite amount of strategy is here, it just isn't anything that hasn't already been done better.
The other area where EndWar is lackluster is the visuals. Advance Wars: Dual Strike arrived early in the DS' lifespan and it still looks a lot more impressive than this. EndWar goes for a more realistic presentation in its battle sequences, but the art lacks personality and what little animation is here doesn't run very smoothly.
©2008-12-03, IGN Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved