Fortress - Game Boy Advance

Players use a variety of weapons and units to achieve their aims. Twerps are the grunts of the game and come in two varieties: offensive and defensive. Offensive twerps attack your opponent, while defensive twerps help repair your structure. Wizards will summon monsters that can inflict massive damage to your enemy. Weaponry is dependent on which level you are playing--prehistoric, medieval, pirate, or space. Prehistoric weapons are primitive (rocks and slingshots), while space weapons are futuristic (plasma cannons).

There are three gameplay modes: battle, blitz, and tournament. Unfortunately, the modes are very similar and don't greatly affect the way you play the game. Single-player games are great for quick doses of addictive action, but two-player games through a link cable can be outstanding. The caveat is that the game's nuances might be difficult for some users to pick up. The manual does a fine job of defining everything that's in the game, but a poor job explaining how to tie it all together. An in-game tutorial would have helped immensely. While the graphics and sound won't dazzle anyone, this game is both addictive and deep--a winning combination for a puzzle game. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros: Epic two-player battles, if both players understand the game Single-player sessions are short and sweet Deep strategy Cons: Proper strategy isn't covered in the manual Bland graphics Annoying sounds

Amazon.com Product Description
Mixing the strategy of Rampart and the puzzle elements of Tetris, Fortress will have players using blocks to build forts around four themes: caveman, medieval, pirate, and futuristic. The reason for building your fort, of course, is that an opponent (either the computer or up to three friends networked to your GBA via the separately sold communication cable) is trying to knock you silly with projectile weapons. The better you are at building smart fortification, the better you'll be able to return your opponent's volleys. Also, special magic spells and attack soldiers add depth to the game.