Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Famicom Wars

Famicom Wars is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer. It was released on August 12, 1988, in Japan. It was later re-released on Virtual Console. It is the first game in the Wars series.

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Jun 9, 2026
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Famicom Wars
Cover art
DevelopersNintendo R&D1
Intelligent Systems2
PublisherNintendo
DirectorsSatoru Okada
Kenji Nishizawa
ProducerGunpei Yokoi
DesignersHiroji Kiyotake
Hirofumi Matsuoka
ProgrammerToru Narihiro
ArtistMakoto Kano
ComposersHirokazu Tanaka
Kenji Yamamoto
SeriesWars
PlatformFamily Computer
Release
  • JP: August 12, 19881
GenreTurn-based tactics
ModeSingle-player

Famicom Warsa is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Nintendo and Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer. It was released on August 12, 1988, in Japan.1 It was later re-released on Virtual Console. It is the first game in the Wars series.

Gameplay

Players take control of one of two warring nations, Red Star and Blue Moon, as they seek to establish turn-based dominance over each other. After selecting which stage to start the game and setting which, if either, player will be controlled by a person, the Red Star army is given the first turn. The objective in each stage is to either capture the enemy's headquarters or destroy all remaining enemy units in one turn. During each turn, the player is given a certain amount of funds which can be used to build units in factories, seaports, and airports under their command; additional funds are earned by conquering cities near their headquarters. Each unit has their own speciality and unique abilities, with ten land units (including two foot soldier units), four air units, and two sea units. Some units have heavier firepower than others, while others provide support to allies. Only foot soldier units are capable of conquering cities, which can then be used to repair or refuel damaged units. There are 15 maps available at the start of the game, with two secret ending maps dependent on which nation the player fights for when playing against the computer.

Development

Development of Famicom Wars began as Intelligent Systems changed its direction from creating hardware to developing simulation games.3

Reception and legacy

On release, Famicom Tsūshin four reviewers all complimented Famicom Wars. They all found it actively distinguishing itself from other simulation games which they described as dull or difficult to understand with information portrayed as numeric data. Two reviewers complimented the graphics and animation, with one saying the battle animations are realistic which will get the player more into the action.1 The 1989 "All Soft Catalog" issue of Famicom Tsūshin included Famicom Wars in its list of the best games of all time, giving it the Best Simulation and Best Commercial awards.5

The original Famicom Wars was followed by a series of sequels which were released only in Japan as well, which includes Game Boy Wars in 1990 and Super Famicom Wars in 1998, both which were developed by Intelligent Systems and Nintendo, as opposed to a sub-series of sequels to the original Game Boy Wars, which were developed and published by Hudson Soft. The series eventually made its international debut with Advance Wars, released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. The maps from both Famicom Wars and Super Famicom Wars were later included in Advance Wars and its sequels.6

A group of six soldiers from the game appears in the Wii game Captain Rainbow. The soldiers aspire to win the volleyball gold medal.7

Notes

Notes

  1. Japanese: ファミコンウォーズ, Hepburn: Famikon Wōzu
References

References

  1. Famibo, Tofuya; Mizuno, Tenchou; Miyashita, Mariko; Taco X (August 19, 1988). "新作ゲーム クロスレビュー" [New Games Cross Review]. Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). No. 155. ASCII Corporation. pp. 12–13.
  2. "Famicom Wars (FCS) - Development Notes - Kyoto Report". Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  3. Iwata Asks - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Archived November 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Fami-Com. Soft Scramble". Famicom Hisshoubon (in Japanese). Vol. 17. September 2, 1988. p. 6.
  5. "'83〜'89 ベストヒットゲーム大賞" ['83〜'89 Best Hit Game Awards]. ファミコン通信 〜 '89全ソフトカタログ [Famicom Tsūshin: '89 All Software Catalog]. Famicom Tsūshin. September 15, 1989. p. 138. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  6. Accessed 2007-11-25 Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links