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tribblewingAside from character pin-ups and in-game screencaps, I've been unable to find any official Advance Wars: Days of Ruin artwork. And there's been no fanart either. This makes me sad. (I'd draw some too, but it's out of my league.)
But a lack of fanworks isn't surprising since all past installments of AW were strictly lauded as decent TBS titles. Even though there was more to it, such as cornball character designs and endless screens of hokey, mind-numbing dialogue. Like most people, my relationship to those games boiled down to "JUST SHUT UP AND LET MEFUCK PLAY YOU!"
But AW:DoR has raised the bar for itself. While still hokey, now I can't get enough of its dialogue, which just hits these *moments of complete earnestness*. Or its dual-screen 'cut scenes', which are just scrolling, static images like the ones you get in visual novels. Nevertheless, these images manage to be as dramatically rewarding as earning an FMV.
I must admit though, that the various heroes are simply a run-of-the-mill assortment of the various viewpoints and personalities you'd find in cliched war stories. The villains are much worst, mostly staffed by evil for evil's sake types. These are balanced out by the presence of an Opportunist, then spiced by a trio of Psychopathic 'teehee' Gothlolis.
But yeah, I've been successfully tearjerked by everything the good guys say. I want my characters alive because I want to hear them talk more. And I want some of the characters dead for being all too believable self-serving assholes. But yes, the talking!
CAMPAIGN 20: Waylon Flies Again: Day 2:
WAYLON: Someone put the damn kid in charge! You think you got a chance against me, brother man? Think again! I'm gonna get you like I got Brenner! Whoooooo!
WILL: Keep talking, Waylon! It'll be the last thing you ever do!
WAYLON: Aw, don't sound so hostile kid! I know you missed me! You gotta live my life, brother man! Food, drink, girls... I got it all! I'm living the high life while you're out there eatin' bugs and whatnot. So how about it? Make things easy on your old selves... Just hand over the Lazurians, and I'll see that Greyfield rewards you. What do you say, brother man?
WILL: Save it Waylon! We're going to fight and we're going to win!
WAYLON: Aw, hell! You're as bad as ol' Brenner! All ready to die just to defend a buncha damn Lazurians. Well, nothing for it! Looks like I'm gonna teach you a lesson!
WILL: I don't need your lessons, Waylon.
WAYLON: Stuff it, junior! You and your little toy soldiers make me sick! All self-righteous... Struttin' around like you own the damn joint... You ain't helpin' people because you care! You do it to feel important! You're a hypocrite, and you ain't better than me! Least I'm honest! Least ol' Waylon's honest about who and what I am!
WILL: ...Maybe you're right.
WAYLON: Praise Greyfield! The boy sees the light!
WILL: Maybe we are the same. You do what you want to do, and so do I. You fly around and act like a jerk because it's what you want to do. And I help people because it's what I want to do.
WAYLON: ...Why you little sack of crap.
WILL: Does that make me hypocrite? If I do nothing, people will suffer. People will die. You say I do this to feel important, and maybe you're right. But if that saves even one life, then it's worth it. Understand?
WAYLON: Aw, nuts! I heard enough! Folks like you never live very long, anyway. I'm gonna bury you, kid. Give my regards to Captain Courageous!
And I'm gonna follow up on this w/ a screenshot sample w/ Lin in it. (It's abridged. I ganked it by capping a video clip from the official site.) Because Lin is essentially the Methos to Brenner's Duncan MacLeod.
...now I'm somewhat happy and surprised that both of these examples comment on the moral legitimacy of self-interest.
But a lack of fanworks isn't surprising since all past installments of AW were strictly lauded as decent TBS titles. Even though there was more to it, such as cornball character designs and endless screens of hokey, mind-numbing dialogue. Like most people, my relationship to those games boiled down to "JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME
But AW:DoR has raised the bar for itself. While still hokey, now I can't get enough of its dialogue, which just hits these *moments of complete earnestness*. Or its dual-screen 'cut scenes', which are just scrolling, static images like the ones you get in visual novels. Nevertheless, these images manage to be as dramatically rewarding as earning an FMV.
I must admit though, that the various heroes are simply a run-of-the-mill assortment of the various viewpoints and personalities you'd find in cliched war stories. The villains are much worst, mostly staffed by evil for evil's sake types. These are balanced out by the presence of an Opportunist, then spiced by a trio of Psychopathic 'teehee' Gothlolis.
But yeah, I've been successfully tearjerked by everything the good guys say. I want my characters alive because I want to hear them talk more. And I want some of the characters dead for being all too believable self-serving assholes. But yes, the talking!
CAMPAIGN 20: Waylon Flies Again: Day 2:
WAYLON: Someone put the damn kid in charge! You think you got a chance against me, brother man? Think again! I'm gonna get you like I got Brenner! Whoooooo!
WILL: Keep talking, Waylon! It'll be the last thing you ever do!
WAYLON: Aw, don't sound so hostile kid! I know you missed me! You gotta live my life, brother man! Food, drink, girls... I got it all! I'm living the high life while you're out there eatin' bugs and whatnot. So how about it? Make things easy on your old selves... Just hand over the Lazurians, and I'll see that Greyfield rewards you. What do you say, brother man?
WILL: Save it Waylon! We're going to fight and we're going to win!
WAYLON: Aw, hell! You're as bad as ol' Brenner! All ready to die just to defend a buncha damn Lazurians. Well, nothing for it! Looks like I'm gonna teach you a lesson!
WILL: I don't need your lessons, Waylon.
WAYLON: Stuff it, junior! You and your little toy soldiers make me sick! All self-righteous... Struttin' around like you own the damn joint... You ain't helpin' people because you care! You do it to feel important! You're a hypocrite, and you ain't better than me! Least I'm honest! Least ol' Waylon's honest about who and what I am!
WILL: ...Maybe you're right.
WAYLON: Praise Greyfield! The boy sees the light!
WILL: Maybe we are the same. You do what you want to do, and so do I. You fly around and act like a jerk because it's what you want to do. And I help people because it's what I want to do.
WAYLON: ...Why you little sack of crap.
WILL: Does that make me hypocrite? If I do nothing, people will suffer. People will die. You say I do this to feel important, and maybe you're right. But if that saves even one life, then it's worth it. Understand?
WAYLON: Aw, nuts! I heard enough! Folks like you never live very long, anyway. I'm gonna bury you, kid. Give my regards to Captain Courageous!
And I'm gonna follow up on this w/ a screenshot sample w/ Lin in it. (It's abridged. I ganked it by capping a video clip from the official site.) Because Lin is essentially the Methos to Brenner's Duncan MacLeod.
...now I'm somewhat happy and surprised that both of these examples comment on the moral legitimacy of self-interest.
