I’ve been playing Glory Days 2 around the office for a week or so, and I’ve fielded the same question a few times now: “What kind of game is it?” To that, my response has become “tactical action sidescroller,” which may sound a little confusing to some people. Essentially, this game expertly combines the gameplay of these three time-tested genres into one intense experience.

 

The basic concept of the game is that you control numerous aspects of the battlefield at the same time. Some, like ground units or air support, are autonomous and simply carry out their goal of “destroy the enemy” as long as nothing gets in their way. You’ll assign your budget to buy different types of units like tanks and jeeps or infantry, and then they just march along your screen and attack. You’ll be controlling helicopters, jets, prop planes and all kinds of other aerial assaults.

 

You use the touch screen to pilot your craft, and then use a combination of the d-pad and buttons in order to fire on enemy bases, pick up civilians, and even order paratrooper drops. You can use the choppers to pick up and deploy infantrymen on enemy bases as well. You’ll only be able to use one assigned vehicle per level in the campaign mode, but there’s a lot of variety. One of my favorite weapons so far has been the special missile found in one of the early levels. Earn enough points and you’ll be rewarded with a cruise missile that’s launched from your base. You then get to steer this missile across the battlefield and make it do a nosedive directly (hopefully) into an enemy bunker.

 

There’s a skirmish mode and a local wi-fi multiplayer mode for up to 8 players as well. Glory Days 2 promises to fill that hunger for a great sidescroller at the same time that it serves up some intense military action. For more info, you’ll just have to tune in next week for our full review of this title. Here’s a teaser – the sound and music from this game are amazing, and even on the tiny DS speakers. Want more? Yeah you do.