Bad Apple Wars asks players to take sides in a war between apples and oranges. The Vita game puts players in command of either fruit, fighting across a grid-based battlefield packed with soldiers, tanks, and artillery. It is a strategy game dressed up as a cartoon, and the combination mostly works.
Trailer, via オトメイト.
The Grid
Each mission drops players onto a grid where units move one space at a time. Players control a commander who can move freely, giving orders to friendly troops while avoiding enemy fire. The grid system is simple enough that new players pick it up within minutes, but deep enough that veterans find new tricks after dozens of hours.
Units include infantry, tanks, artillery, and special forces. Each type of unit has its own strengths and weaknesses. Infantry are cheap and easy to replace, but they fall fast against heavy fire. Tanks are slow but powerful, able to break through enemy lines. Artillery hits from a distance, punishing enemies who spread out too thin.
Commanding the Troops
The commander is the heart of every mission. Players guide the commander across the battlefield, issuing orders to friendly troops along the way. Orders can be given to individual units or to groups, and the game rewards players who learn to balance both approaches.
Friendly troops follow orders automatically once issued, which keeps the pace quick even during busy fights. Enemy commanders act the same way, moving across their own side of the battlefield to coordinate attacks. Watching an enemy commander move his troops feels like watching a chess master plan several moves ahead.
The Campaign
The campaign sends players through a series of missions that build on each other, teaching new systems and strategies as the story unfolds. Missions range from straightforward fights to missions that require careful planning to win. The pacing keeps the campaign engaging without dragging.
The story itself is light, focusing on the rivalry between apples and oranges rather than any deeper political conflict. Characters are drawn as cartoonish caricatures, and the writing leans on jokes rather than drama. Players looking for a deep narrative will find little here beyond a thin excuse to stage battles.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer lets two players face off against each other online, with each player taking control of one side of the battlefield. The mode is fast and chaotic, rewarding quick thinking over careful planning. Matches are short enough that losing a round rarely feels like a waste of time.
The online experience is limited to two players, which means matches can feel small compared to other multiplayer games. There is no chat feature built into the game, so players communicate through gestures and actions rather than words. That limitation shows in how quickly matches resolve.
The Look
The graphics lean heavily on bright colors and simple shapes. Character models are small but expressive, with large eyes and exaggerated movements. The battlefield backgrounds are varied, from sunny fields to snowy mountains, giving each mission a distinct look.
The Vita hardware handles the visuals well, though the game does not push the console’s limits. Performance stays steady during battles, even when the screen fills with units. The game runs at a smooth frame rate, which helps keep the action readable.
Sound and Music
The music is cheerful and energetic, fitting the game’s tone. Sound effects are simple but effective, with clear feedback for every action taken. Voice acting is minimal, mostly limited to mission briefings and victory announcements. The sound design supports the gameplay without demanding attention.
Where It Falls Short
Not every part of Bad Apple Wars holds up as well as the core strategy. The difficulty curve can feel uneven, with some missions feeling too easy and others requiring repeated attempts. The campaign’s length is modest, ending before players get a full sense of everything the game offers.
Some players may find the repetitive nature of missions wearing down over time, especially since the core loop rarely changes. The lack of a ranked multiplayer system means there is no clear way to measure progress against other players.
What Works
The strengths of Bad Apple Wars are easy to see. The grid-based strategy is accessible to newcomers while offering enough depth to satisfy longtime fans of the genre. The commander mechanic gives players real agency in each battle, making every fight feel personal rather than scripted.
The presentation is bright and appealing, making the game easy to recommend visually. The multiplayer is quick and fun, even if it lacks depth. These elements combine to make Bad Apple Wars a solid, enjoyable game that earns its place on the Vita library.
Final Word
Bad Apple Wars succeeds because it understands what makes strategy games fun and packages that understanding in a bright, simple wrapper. The grid system, the commander mechanic, and the cheerful presentation all work together to create a game that is easy to pick up and hard to put down.
The campaign is short, and the multiplayer is limited, but neither issue takes away from the core experience. Players who enjoy strategy games will find plenty to like here, even if the game does not push the boundaries of the genre.
Bad Apple Wars is a solid entry in the Vita library, worth playing for anyone interested in strategy games.
Key Facts Box
- Platform: PlayStation Vita
- Genre: Strategy
- Publisher: Atlus
- Critical Score: 7.4/10
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
