So, if I have Advance wars 2 and AW:Dual Strike...

Do I have any reason to play AW 1?

(By the way, I don't have AW : DS yet, but know I'll get it at some point - if you have it, look at my trade list - and also if you have AW 1, if I "need" it)

I kind of like the story of the AW series (I know it's kind of kiddy and corny but anyway). Why don't you ask yourself if there's a reason to get AW: DS if you have AW2? The gameplay is changed but not a great deal (although tag team CO powers is annoying), and the graphics and pretty much everything stays the same between each game. Still, it's engaging and fun. They don't add much between versions but if you really like the single player maps/scenarios, it's worth it if you can find it cheap.

I've been told the same thing that was just posted above me.. I have AW 1, 2 and DS and was told there is really no use for any of them other than DS since they are all just gradual improvements over each other.

Since I've barely played any of them, I think I'll dump the first 2 and just keep DS... if I ever finish that one and need more AW maybe I'll backtrack.

I'm just the opposite. I have both AW1 & AW2, and I can't wait to get AW: DS. I say get all of them if you can - mighty entertaining, and you won't regret it.

Well, the stylus input is a major improvement. I've only played the first few missions of AW : DS, so can't really comment on anything else.

Before dumping the first two, remember to unlock and buy the maps only accessible while AW1 or 2 are in the GBA Cartridge slot.

[quote name='http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/ds/code/924889.html']
Old Version Maps

By having old versions of advance wars inserted in your DS at the same time as Duel Strike, unlock new buyables at the the Battle Maps Shop!
Advance Warpaper: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 1 is inserted in your DS
Advance Warpaper 2: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 2 is inserted in your DS
Hachi's Land: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 1 is inserted in your DS
Lash's Land Map: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 2 is inserted in your DS
Nell's Land: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 1 is inserted in your DS
Strum's Land Map: Buy for 1 point when Advance Wars 2 is inserted in your DS

Contributed By: TheeKrazySpike[/quote]

What we need is Advance Wars: Wifi Edition and thena ll the others will become completely obsolete.

On a side note I recently played the Japanese only Super Famicon Wars (SNES), pretty neat, took some guessing to navigate menus since I don't read Japanese, but I'll be damned if the first mission didn't take me an hour to beat. The first mission! I guess they made em harder back in the day, and it was nice to play straight strategy without having to worry about CO powers or Tagging or other nonsense. I'd reccomend it for the Japanese speaking public or the trial and error public =0).

[quote name='eldad9']Well, the stylus input is a major improvement. I've only played the first few missions of AW : DS, so can't really comment on anything else.[/QUOTE]

Interesting, as a few of the reviews (well at least one of them anyway) I've read said using the stylus can get tedious as it's easy to mishit and basically it just worked better using the D-pad.

I have the game, but still playing through AW2 before moving to DS.

I don't play with the stylus, find it too imprecise.

[quote name='espy605']I don't play with the stylus, find it too imprecise.[/quote]

The D-pad is a lot faster to work with for me.

As for AW2, I just skipped that game (had original) then jumped to DS version. It was a nice drastic change.