The best handled strategy game to date. Different from its predecessors, and better.
To summarize the gameplay quickly: Each player is afforded an ordnance of properties on a square tile map, to field units. Units battle each other in turn-based fashion, in both direct and ranged combat. There are a great many units overall, and the complex relationship of matchups makes strategy paramount. Infantry are slow and weak but can capture cities, tanks rule ground combat, artillery are indirect attackers, and anti-air guns swat down planes, etc. Any map can feature a mix of ground/air/naval units. The object is to capture more properties to increase your war fund, so you can eventually overwhelm your opponent. Each player also has a commanding officer which he can "board" onto any unit, increasing its power and conveying bonuses to others.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (AWDoR) is considered by most to be a "reboot" to the series, though the core gameplay has hardly changed. The artwork is new, all the classic COs have been replaced, and the units rebalanced. While this might disappoint some, the new cast fills in just fine, and are just as capable at being corny. The music and graphics are a bit "dark-n-grittier", but still look great. I rather like the new look, myself. The interface has been spruced up quite a bit, with the option for bigger icons and the ability to declare moves and attacks in the same motion. Also, capture animations can be left on with others off, allowing you to speed up play without missing critical information.
I personally don't think this game is much more challenging than any other in the series, though perhaps with the retooled unit balance, a bit more care must be taken to find the right mix of hardware. Perhaps in this sense its less forgiving, but the game is far from impossible. Frankly, once you get good at the game, you'll start to welcome overwhelming challenge. This is a game that's fun to be good at!
This game has less content than the other DS entry (Dual Strike), but really most that was removed will not be missed. The single-player experience will go by quickly, but there is still a map editor and online play to keep things fresh. A lot of Dual Strike's more specialized (and annoying) units have been removed, which is a plus in my book. The game has also been tweaked to give more of the units a fighting chance. To a veteran, you can certainly sense the difference, and I like it very much. The COs still tip the game quite heavily but thankfully most of the game-breaking powers have been mitigated. This is the best multiplayer edition of Advance Wars yet. Of course, there are a few questionable additions and subtractions in my opinion. I have mixed feelings about some of the new units, but certainly none of them are game-breaking. You'll see what I mean.
The Verdict:
This is a must-play game. Anyone with even the slightest bit of patience will find loads of fun with any Advance Wars title, and I challenge that DoR is the best yet.
I honestly recommend all of the Advance Wars games very highly. If you like DoR, you might also go try Dual Strike or one of the Gameboy ones as well, just to see the "classic" units and characters.
This game is timeless and addictive, and loaded with features... and this time, none of them feel extraneous. The "sleeper hit" Advance Wars has truly become a "sleeper series", and DoR is the new-crowned king. Get it. You don't know what you're missing.
+Timeless Wars gameplay never fails to entertain.
+Unit list is more rounded/solid than ever.
+New style/soundtrack look great.
+Online play.
+Still has great map editor.
+Advance Wars is the best portable game, ever, period.
+No, whatever other game you're thinking of pales in comparison. Sorry.
-COs are still a little imbalanced, but less game-breaking than before.
-Less overall 1P content than before, but still plenty.
-Online players frequently drop/are hard to find these days.