Battalion Wars 2 - Nintendo Wii

Battalion Wars 2 is easily one of my favorite games on the Wii. It takes a majority of the elements of the first game and generally improves on the game in nearly all aspects.Graphics - The game is definitely clean and crisp looking. Reflections inthe water are very nice and the environments look and feel open. The art style is slightly cartoony but has many gritty moments. Each armies' units have a distinct look and feel. The Solar Empire is bright, shiny, and futuristic while the Tundrans look like cold-war Russian stereotypes. With exception for a few minor graphical quirks that many people might not even notice I would say that the game is one of the best looking games on the system.Storyline: It's painful. Cultural stereotypes abound. Thankfully, it doesn't detract from the game because when it gets down to it, this game is about sending your units into battle. Although the voice acting is pretty solid, considering the script, most people will probably skip the cut scenes in order to get to the good stuff (the gameplay). One major improvement over the first game is that Brigadier Betty's voice has been completely overhauled from the shrill, annoying, and torturous mess that gamers suffered through in the first game.Gameplay-Single Player: There are numerous additions to the game, such as factories and airbases, adding much more depth to the game. Some things are missing, such as the ability to instruct any unit to guard any arbitrary spot on the map. It is a minor quibble, but now you can only instruct units to go to target locations such as a building or helipad or other object. The single player campaign levels are fairly solid but most people won't play them more than a few times.Gameplay-Online Multi-player: First, I will say that I really love the online multi-player in this game. This is where the game shines. It is also where the game also fails to shine the most and you can see the flaws in Nintendo's online strategy.Multi-player pros: --> Multiple modes: Co-op (my favorite), Assault, and Skirmish. --> quick match making: I've never waited more than a minute for a random game match. --> Constant action: Although some of the levels are very large, the designers set spawn points up in the game to ensure that the action is fast-paced and frantic.Multi-player cons: --> Friend codes: If you want to play against a friend, you need their friend code. I hate friend codes. I hate them with burning acid and spiders. This is a problem with most other online Wii games, so I can't hold it against Battalion Wars so much as I hold that against Nintendo in general. --> No voice chat: Expect to lose co-op matches on a regular basis until you and your friends are familiar with the maps. Co-op is a total blast, but without the ability to verbally communicate strategy the experience feels hollow. I can understand the limitation for random matches in an effort to protect minors. Unfortunately, Nintendo, in their effort to be completely kid friendly to the bitter end has determined that people that are friends who have traded their 16-digit friend codes should not be able to actually speak to each other. To compensate, I set up a Ventrilo server on my computer so my friends and I can use voice chat while playing. After that was done, I started to truly enjoy the game so much more.Overall, I recommend this game if you are looking for an action/strategy title. While it is pretty decent without voice chat, this game could have been so much better if they included that. If that one part hadn't been left out this game, I would have rated this game as 4 stars. If you don't plan on playing online, you may want to just rent this game instead.

I purchased this game based on some of the user reviews I read in various places that stated how much fun it was. They were right. This game is a blast. It is certainly not a perfect game, but if you are looking for a fast, furious, fun game to play you should add this one to your collection. It is perfect for mindlessly blowing a couple of hours on a rainy Saturday. My 6yr old son LOVES this game. It is the only game we own that he likes as much as the various Star Wars games we own(for Xbox 360). I just wish it had a co-op mode so I could along side my son instead of having to take turns trying to get thru the missions (he usually completes them faster than I do...). Great game. Highly recommended.

Battalion Wars 2 (or BWII), has received above average reviews from the professional gaming media, and all in all i think they've got it right this time (miracle, I know). The game is hard to describe, because it's not your typical war game (if the graphics already haven't told you that), it's not really a deep RTS, and it's not turn-based. The basic play of the game is to reach a certain area (with or without a specific unit), destroy a specific enemy unit, or destroy a certain...thing. Each mission is pretty much described above, with slight variations of course. The story is actually really lame; the same goes for the VO (although I don't think it's as bad as everyone says it is). Where the game actually hook you is the overall gameplay.You control a battalion of soldiers at any given moment, hence the namesake. What makes this game unique is that unlike your conventional RTS game, you take direct command over a specific unit, all the time. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. The good-you actually feel as if you're doing a part of action, and its fun to do so. The bad-it limits control over your other units, and that lack of control could very easily be the difference between victory and defeat.As you command your unit, you can lock onto a specific unit (be that enemy or otherwise), as do a variety of things. You yourself can directly attack it, send others from your battalion to attack it, or capture it (again, either directly or with other units). The overall mash-up of game ideas and gameplay styles means you're not going to get bored easily. It does, however, make everything feel a lit loose and unpolished. BWII is a Jack of all trades, but a master of none.One of the most important aspects of the game is online play. You can play either with/without a buddy, and the matches play out incredibly smooth (very little lag time). There are 3 modes. Assault (conventional 'kill everything' mode), Co-Op (play through missions with a friend), or Skirmish. The game has a neat little way of keeping track of your online progress, something that isn't common in online Wii games, let alone early ones. After several matches, you can earn a score (out of stars), and everyone you play will see it. I don't know if the game matches random players through rank, but I doubt it. I've been matches with players far better than I, but it could be due to the lack of available players. Another cool online feature is the unlocking aspect. After playing a certain number of matches for a certain mode, you can unlock additional maps/missions.However, all of the neat online features don't stand out if the game isn't enjoyable, and this is a hard game to enjoy. BWII requires you to multi-task beyond belief, and when it works its great fun. Sometimes, however, the game will draw you in, and it becomes insanely difficult to command your entire battalion.The camera is another faulty aspect of the game. You move it be moving the IR reticule, but it tends to get out of control whenever you lock on to fast moving targets. Sometimes it will simply refuse to obey your commands. For the most part the camera works fine, but the occasional misstep will cost you dearly, especially since it is practical useless for targeting airborne enemies in close range.BWII is hard to recommend. It's an interesting strategy game, but it won't satisfy fans looking for a more fulfilling experience. It is a fun little romp though, and when it works, it works great. Unfortunately it's not most of the time.

Bought it for my boyfriend along with the prequel. He loves both of them! A war game that doesn't take itself too seriously.

I can't believe I missed out on this one when it first released. No, it's not your typical RTS (which is probably why I like it so much). No, it's not set in the distant past nor in the far reaches of the future. It's a game that's a little bit strategy and a little bit action, a little bit lighthearted fun and a little bit of a satire, a little bit casual and a little bit hardcore. In the end, it's a pleasant mix of gaming conventions that, by virtue of their unusual pairing, blend together to become something totally unique. I love it. Battalion Wars 2 is a ton of fun, especially for the price.

really hard core strategy game!

The product I received was brand new in the packaging and it worked perfectly. I definitely would buy from this seller again or definitely recommend this seller.

Shipping was fast, and game works great.

yes its a fun game but does get hard and very enjoyable.loved playing it and was very informative on how to play the game.

As advertised, my son is absolutely hooked, so are all his friends. Good graphics, and visuals, exiting story and charachrers.

got it great thanks

GREAT GAME TO PLAY GOOD VALUE

great