Advance Wars 2
↗ 16%
😍 8.7/10
(GameBoy Advance - US, Strategy)
_2.png)
 (En,Fr,De,Es,It).png)
.png)
Complete
$72.35
Loose $25.74
Manage Collection
Developed_By:
Intelligent Systems
Published_By:
Nintendo
Released On:
09 Sep 2001
The turn based strategy war continues. Choose your army and take to the streets to reclaim the world.
Troops, tanks, air and sea units are all available, at a cost. After each mission, you use your points earned to purchase new units and Commanding Officers, that add an additional level of power and experience for your army (whether it be greater strength, faster response times or stronger attack ability).
You can also create your own maps for Skirmish mode, and take on up to 4 players in a battle royal.
UPC-A:
045496731458 (USA)
UPC-A:
045496733124 (United States)
Nintendo Media PN:
AGB-AW2E-USA (United States)
Part #:
AGB-AWRE-USA (USA)
ASIN:
B00008YMZV (United States)
YouTube
Reddit
Twitch
Wikipedia
DB
IGDB
RG
RAWG
M
Metacritic
HowLong
GF
GameFAQs
Number of Players Supported:
1-4 Players
Miscellaneous Attributes:
Multi-Link Cable, Battery Backed RAM, Single Cartridge Multiplayer Support
Prices as of 09 Oct 2026
Typical $60.75–$69.74 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Market activity: active · about 278 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
More GameBoy Advance Strategy
Common
😍 8.5/10
Advance Wars
$94.97 (Complete)
Sep 2001
Uncommon
Harvest Moon More Friends of Mineral Town
$99.98 (Complete)
Jul 2005
Scarce
😊 7.9/10
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon
$141.99 (Complete)
Jun 2004
Scarce
Rebelstar Tactical Command
$49.99 (Complete)
Sep 2005
Scarce
Yu Yu Hakusho Tournament Tactics
$35.08 (Complete)
Nov 2004
Scarce
🙂 6.5/10
Fortress
$12.83 (Complete)
Aug 2001
Rare
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation
$81.00 (Complete)
Aug 2006
Rare
SD Gundam Force
$89.00 (Complete)
Oct 2004
Rare
🙂 7.1/10
Chessmaster
$39.95 (Complete)
Aug 2002
More from Intelligent Systems
Abundant
😊 8.3/10
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
$58.17 (Complete)
Jul 2019
Abundant
😊 7.6/10
Paper Mario: The Origami King
$28.26 (Complete)
Jul 2020
Abundant
😊 8.3/10
Paper Mario
$262.03 (Complete)
Feb 2001
Abundant
😍 8.6/10
Fire Emblem: Awakening
$44.56 (Complete)
Feb 2013
Abundant
Paper Mario Thousand Year Door
$47.25 (Complete)
Oct 2004
Abundant
😍 8.8/10
Super Metroid
$350.00 (Complete)
Apr 1994
Very Common
Mario Kart Super Circuit
$49.99 (Complete)
Aug 2001
Very Common
Fire Emblem Engage
$47.50 (Complete)
Jan 2023
Very Common
Fire Emblem Path of Radiance
$214.97 (Complete)
Oct 2005
Very Common
🙂 7.3/10
Mario Paint
$88.49 (Complete)
May 1992
Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
In this tactical strategy game, players command infantry, mech, and air units to capture cities and neutralize enemy fortifications across diverse terrains like mountains, rivers, and reefs. Strategic movement relies on understanding terrain limitations and fog of war mechanics, while special structures such as missile silos and research laboratories offer unique offensive and economic advantages. The ultimate objective is to outmaneuver the enemy by leveraging ground, naval, and air support to secure strategic control and produce advanced units like neotanks.
Story
Cities
Cities can be allied, neutral, or controlled by the enemy. Both infantry and mech units can capture neutral and enemy cities, which can then provide ground units with supplies and HP.
Missile Silo (SILO)
Missile silos can be used by infantry and mech units. Move one of these units onto a missile silo to fire a single missile with an unlimited range of fire and a blast radius of 2 spaces. Each silo contains one missile.
Road
Roads allow units to traverse maps without hindrance, but they offer no other terrain benefits.
Plain
Plains are the most common type of terrain found. They provide only a minimal defensive cover.
Wood
When FOG OF WAR is present, units deployed in woods can only be seen by units adjacent to them and by air units. Air units cannot hide in woods during FOG OF WAR.
Mountain (MTN)
Only mech, infantry, and air units can travel over mountains. In FOG OF WAR, mech and infantry units increase their vision range by 3 when they're in the mountains. Mountains also offer excellent defensive cover.
River
Rivers cross much of the terrain. They can be traversed only by infantry, mech, and air units. Rivers offer no defensive cover.
Bridge (BRDG)
Bridges are essential in that they allow ground units to cross bodies of water. Bridges provide no other terrain benefits.
Sea
Seas can be crossed only by naval and air units. Seas offer no terrain benefits.
Shoal
Shoals provide loading and unloading points for landers. Almost all units can travel over shoals, but shoals provide no defensive cover.
Reef
When FOG OF WAR is present, units deployed in reefs can be seen only by adjacent units and air units. Air units cannot hide in reefs during FOG OF WAR.
Pipe
These indestructible pipelines block passage by all units.
Pipe Seam (PIPE)
Certain pipe sections can be destroyed, allowing units to pass through.
Laboratory (LAB) (Campaign Mode only)
Hidden research facilities that appear on the world map only when certain conditions are met: If you can capture a lab, you'll be able to produce neotanks on future missions.
Black Cannon (CANNON) (Campaign Mode only)
Special cannons with a large range of fire and superior firepower. They have unlimited ammo and can only be used by the enemy army, but they are susceptible to attack.
Mini-cannon (CANNON) (Campaign Mode only)
While not as powerful as Black Cannons, they are still formidable weapons. They have unlimited ammo and can be used by only the enemy army, but they are susceptible to attack.
How to Play
Preparing for Combat
Insert the ADVANCE WARS™ 2: BLACK HOLE RISING Game Pak into your Game Boy Advance™ and turn the power ON. The GAME BOY logo will appear, followed by the Language Selection Screen where you can choose one of the languages (ENGLISH, FRANÇAIS, DEUTSCH, ESPAÑOL, or ITALIANO) using the D-Control Pad. Press START on the Title Screen to move to the Select Mode Screen.
Select Mode Screen
ADVANCE WARS 2: BLACK HOLE RISING has six game modes to choose from. Use the D-Control Pad to select a mode, and press the A Button to confirm your choice. Depending on the mode you select, a sub-window with further choices may be displayed.
•
NEW: In some sub-windows, you can only select NEW when starting the game for the first time.
Saving
There are two ways to save game data: by completing a mission or by selecting SAVE from the Map Menu during a mission.
Completing a Mission
When you finish a mission, you will be asked if you want to save your game data. Use the D-Control Pad to select YES, and press the A Button to confirm your choice.
Map Menu
You can save your game data at any point during a battle. Select the SAVE command from the Map Menu and press the A Button. You will be asked to save your current game data. Restore your game by selecting CONTINUE from the Select Mode Screen.
•
Note: Games played in Link Mode cannot be saved.
Combat
Battles consist of COs issuing orders (FIRE, CAPT, etc.) to their troops, then waiting while the enemy CO does the same. When all COs are finished, a day ends. This process continues until a victor emerges.
Armies
You'll find five separate armies in ADVANCE WARS 2: Orange Star, Blue Moon, Yellow Comet, Green Earth, and Black Hole (enemy). You will give orders to all the soldiers, with the exception of the enemy army, via your commanding officers.
Battle Outcome
Mission Complete (VICTORY)
There are two main ways to win a mission: HQ Capture or Enemy Rout. For an HQ Capture, move one of your INFANTRY or MECH units onto the enemy field HQ and select CAPT. To rout the enemy troops, you must defeat all deployed enemy units.
•
Depending on the rule settings and the Battle Map, you might be able to win by Base Capture - capturing a pre-determined number of properties.
Mission Failure (DEFEAT)
There are three ways to lose on the field of battle: HQ Capture, Rout, and Surrender. HQ Capture and Rout are the same as above. To surrender, simply choose YIELD from the Options Menu on the Map Menu.
•
The terms for victory vary between game modes.
Units
Soldiers, vehicles, and artillery that appear on the map represent entire units. Each unit starts with a total of 10 HP (Hit Points).
War Funds
It takes money to deploy units into the field. War funds are collected from the properties (bases, cities, HQ, etc.) each army controls on any given map. These funds are added to your total at the start of every turn.
•
Unused funds are carried over to the next turn, but your funds are not carried from map to map.
Unit Deployment
Units can be deployed from one of three deployment properties: a base, an airport, or a port. Press the A Button to display the Deployment Menu, then use + and - on the Control Pad to select the unit you want to deploy.
•
Confirm your choice by pressing the A Button again.
•
The unit then appears on that property and can receive orders on the next turn.
Movement
Each unit can move once per turn. Use the cursor to select the unit you want to move, and press the A Button. When the unit is selected, its movement range appears. Place the cursor where you want the unit to move. A red arrow traces the unit's path. After the unit moves, the Command Menu appears.
•
Note: Two units cannot occupy a single space at the same time.
The following orders may appear in the Command Menu: CAPT (Capture), WAIT, FIRE, SUPPLY, JOIN, LOAD, DROP. Use + and - on the Control Pad to select an order, and press the A Button to confirm. Once a unit has been ordered to wait, it can receive no further orders until the next turn.
Gas
Ground units burn fuel only when ordered to move. Air and naval units consume fuel every turn. They crash or sink if they run out of fuel, so check the fuel status on the Cursor Intel Window.
Cancelling Movement Orders
You can cancel movement orders until you've given secondary orders from the Command Menu.
•
Normally, units don't consume fuel if their movement orders are cancelled.
•
However, in FOG OF WAR, units consume fuel even if their movement orders are cancelled.
Capture (CAPT)
The Capture command appears when you move one of your infantry or mech units onto a neutral or enemy property. Confirm the Capture orders with the A Button to make your unit begin securing the property. Each property has a capture number, which is reduced each turn by the number of HP the capturing unit has.
•
An infantry or mech unit with 10 HP can capture a property with a capture number of 20 in 2 days.
•
Once a property is secured, it turns the colour of the army that captured it.
**F
Controls
SELECT + L Button + Control Pad (Right)
Clear All Saved Game Data
Control Pad (+ or -)
Select YES to confirm
A Button
Confirm selection
Control Pad
Select unit to delete
B Button
Stop deleting units
L Button
Display the Unit Menu
R Button
Display the Terrain Features Menu
START
Display map overview
SELECT
Display the Map Designer Menu
Control Pad (Up or Down)
Change colour of army units, HQs, and bases
Tips & Maps
Supply
You can supply units with their maximum amount of fuel and ammo by moving APCs adjacent to them or by stopping on secured properties, which also recovers 2 HP per turn. Using bases to recover supplies and HP costs money, which is automatically deducted from your war funds.
APC
Move an APC to a space adjacent to a unit in need of fuel or ammo and select SUPPLY from the Command Menu to resupply. If multiple units are adjacent to an APC, all of them receive supplies, and air and naval units can also receive supplies from APCs when adjacent.
Join
Move one unit onto a space occupied by a unit of the same type and select JOIN to combine them into a single unit with the total fuel and ammo of both (capped at the type's maximum). The new unit combines their HP, but the total HP will never exceed 10.
Design Room
Access this mode from the Select Mode Screen to design custom maps and change CO hair and outfit colours. Custom maps can be used in Versus Mode, Multi-Pak Link Mode, and traded with friends in Link Mode.
Map
In the Map Designer, use the L and R buttons to open unit and terrain menus to place features like HQs, cities, bases, roads, and woods on the map. You can scroll through choices and colours, then press A to place items, avoiding special terrain features available in Campaign Mode.
Laser
This four-directional laser strikes friend and foe alike and has unlimited ammo, but it can only be used by the enemy army and is susceptible to attack.
Deathray (D Ray)
A powerful, one-directional laser used exclusively by the enemy army that damages only enemy units and has unlimited ammo but cannot fire every turn due to high energy costs. It is susceptible to attack.
Factory
These enemy deployment properties can deploy ground, air, and naval units.
Volcano
Volcanoes sometimes erupt and spew burning magma, dealing damage to any troops struck by it.
Climate
Climate conditions such as rain or snow may occur mid-battle, affecting the movement range of all deployed units. Place the cursor on a terrain feature and press R to get detailed information for strategy refinement.
CO Powers
Commanding Officers possess unique talents called CO Powers, with each CO having a Normal CO Power and a Super CO Power. These abilities become usable when the CO Power Meter fills during combat.
CO Power Meter
The meter increases automatically during combat, with different rates for different COs. When small stars are full, the normal CO Power is available; when both small and large stars are full, the Super CO Power is ready.
Items & Weapons
Battleship (B SHIP)
These powerful ships have a tremendous range of fire and their cannons do enormous amounts of damage to other naval units.
Cruiser (CRSR)
Cruisers can do heavy damage to both subs and air units and can transport up to two helicopters at a time.
Lander (LNDR)
These transport units can carry up to two ground units at a time.
SUB
Submerged subs can be attacked by subs and cruisers, and the only way to find a submerged sub is to run into it.
Terrain Intel
Terrain plays an important role in battle strategy as it affects troop movement and also provides defensive cover.
Headquarters (HQ)
Each army's headquarters acts as its base of operations, supplying ammo and fuel, restoring HP, and providing superior defensive cover. Victory is yours if you can capture your enemy's HQ.
BASE
Bases are the deployment points for all ground units and provide supplies, HP, and high defensive cover.
Airport (ARPRT)
Air units enter the battlefield from these bases, where they also receive supplies, regain HP, and benefit from high defensive cover.
PORT
Naval bases that serve as deployment points for naval units, providing ammo, fuel, repairs, and excellent defensive cover.
Search Games
Popular Consoles
By Year
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
© 2026 RetroGold. All rights reserved.