PixlBit

Don’t let the title deceive you; Shadow Wars is actually more akin to Advance Wars and Fire Emblem than its brethren.

Ubisoft is switching gears with the latest entry in the Ghost Recon Series. Rather than tactical third person shooter gameplay, Shadow Wars features turn-based strategy in the vein of Nintendo’s Advance Wars or Fire Emblem titles. This style of game revolves around navigating units on a grid, each of which can perform certain moves and move a certain number of spaces with each turn. Enemies have similar capabilities and matches typically revolve around defeating all enemy forces, or holding them off for a certain number of turns.

Shadow Wars features six unique unit classes: Recon, Gunner, Sniper, Commando, Medic, and Engineer. These units will be enhanced as the quest goes on with new skills and equipment. Drones are eventually acquired as well and can be put to use on the battlefield. These, like the unit classes, can be advanced with combat gear.

Based in Eastern Europe, players embody the role of the commander of the Ghosts, an elite spec ops force on a mission to stop the Russian ultranationalist Yuri Treskayev. From the deserts of Kazakhstan (Very nice!) to the frigid area of Siberia, Shadow Wars offers a diverse landscape. Through these lands, players will have to destroy secret Soviet-era “Dead Hand” bases which house Treskayev’s drone army.

The trek through this story should provide for over 30 hours of gameplay in 37 unique missions, according to Ubisoft. 20 additional Skirmish missions can be unlocked along the way, each offering three levels of difficulty, further extending the experience.

Outside of the story mode, two players can go head-to-head, taking use of one 3DS by passing it back and forth. Throughout all modes, stereoscopic 3D is offered, but given the style of game it isn’t likely this feature will add much.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars will launch alongside the 3DS on March 27 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. For an in-depth look at the game, please view the 9 minute YouTube walkthrough from the developers found below. Be sure to check back after launch for PixlBit’s review!