Warlocked

Queen Azarel's humans and Chief Zog's beasts divide Warlocked into two campaigns of real-time war on the Game Boy Color. Bits Studios built the battles, Nintendo published the cartridge in North America in 2000, and units are summoned only by spending resources pulled off the map. A full menu of troop names means nothing when the stockpile is empty.

Fog covers the enemy until a scout walks close enough to see them. Workers haul the resource home, the commander anchors the camp, and fresh bodies appear beside the buildings after the cost is paid. Spend too early and the next wave cannot be called; hesitate and the other faction is already at the wall.

Humans bring archers and knights, beasts bring heavier brutes, and each army has wizards who can afflict the soldiers across the field. Orders shift from holding a point to razing the far camp, and no turn marker ever freezes the field.

Strategy this direct was scarce beside the platformers on that handheld's shelf. The live argument is the resource number against the headcount already deployed. Lose the gathering and the summon list is only a set of names with no one left to answer them.