When you follow up a successful title it is very easy for developers to simply tweak a game engine and add some minor improvements. Not so for developers RedLynx; instead of simply providing a Pathway to Glory 1.5, they have listened to all the fan feedback and have completely overhauled the game for Ikusa Islands. The result is quite possibly another Game of the Year award and one of the N-Gage games that makes the device a must have.

In a similar move to EA's Medal of Honor series, RedLynx have decided to leave behind the shores of Europe in favour of the battle in the Pacific. While this was a disastrous move for EA, Ikusa feels almost like a completely fresh game. Gone are the dreary European streets, to be replaced by lush vibrant environments and an all-new enemy in the Japanese forces.

The core game mechanics remain unchanged; you are given a squad of soldiers and have to navigate the impressively large maps to complete a number of objectives. A system of action points is allocated to each member of the squad, which are spent on movement, firing, throwing a grenade, driving a vehicle and aiming. Just like the first game, the amount of points a soldier has depends on experience and weight carried, so someone with a sub-machine gun will have more actions to perform than someone carrying a rocket launcher. Cover and stance is just as important as before; you have to plan your moves carefully so your soldiers are never exposed to enemy fire, as one of the biggest improvements is in the enemy AI. Make no mistakes, as if you do the AI will punish you for it; while you have access to snipers, grenades and artillery, so does the enemy!

The game can be incredibly cruel at times but the developers have tried to make Ikusa extremely realistic; leaving your men exposed will quite rightly see them dying very quickly indeed. Thankfully, Ikusa's maps are littered with all kinds of cover to utilise, from trenches and buildings to pill boxes and fortifications. This game is no shooter and you have to remember that; like the original PTG, Ikusa demands a high level of concentration, which is rare for a mobile game.

Graphically the game has also had an update, with the sprites looking more clearly defined and the maps are now astonishingly detailed. This is easily the best looking N-Gage game so far released and would utterly trounce a similar Nintendo Game Boy title. The explosions also deserve a special mention, as not only are they impressive to look at, but coupled with the excellent sound effects they are, for want of a better word, beefy. When a building is destroyed by an anti tank shell, it really does feel like something massive has happened.

Just like the original game, each mission is accompanied by a very impressive introduction; beautifully rendered pictures accompany a briefing delivered by your commander. Not just in text but actually scripted dialogue, which again is impressive and immersing. A nice touch is that after the briefing you can read a historical summary of real events that inspired the mission, which shows exactly how much effort RedLynx have gone to in putting together this classic title.

Sound wise the game is also utterly superb; not only do you get the aforementioned introductions, but this is easily the most talkative game on the N-Gage. The weapons sound great, and most actions are accompanied by feedback from both your troops and, thanks to the improved AI, you will hear the enemy taking shots at you during their turn, which can be a little unsettling as you suddenly panic and wonder if you have missed an enemy soldier.

What about multiplayer gaming? To be honest, RedLynx couldn't have done a better job with the game; everything has been tweaked and improved to perfection. Ikusa is a perfect lesson to other N-Gage developers on how to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the device. The game features two to six players gaming over Bluetooth, N-Gage Arena and the often ignored hot seat. That means that up to six players can take turns playing on just one device! RedLynx have even included a file sharing mode, not unlike the Nintendo DS, where one device can act as a host over Bluetooth to again up to five others that do not have the game. RedLynx have literally got all the bases covered when it comes to multiplayer and the already fantastic gameplay is all the better for it.

So, what can returning fans of the game expect to be changed for the online multiplayer? Well, aside from the improvements to the game engine, you can now sent voice messages in the game, vital for co-ordinating a team attack or simply to taunt an enemy. And the addition of the feared mortar adds a whole new dynamic to the game; with the inclusion of indirect fire, even established veterans are going to need to rethink their strategies.

Pathway to Glory: Ikusa Islands is everything fans could have hoped for and more. Improved in every conceivable way and play tested to death, fans of the original should not hesitate to seek out a copy immediately (well, go on, what are you waiting for?!) as I expect Ikusa to light up the N-Gage Arena like never before. To anyone that has never tried the original, then this is a great place to start, even if you are not a fan of strategy gaming, as this is one game that's so enjoyable as to transcend the genre and appeal to all. To anyone who does not own an N-Gage and still views the device with scepticism, I urge you to seek one out and give this game a go; to not do so would mean you missing out on one of the finest strategy titles ever made. N-Gage Game of the Year 2005? You had better believe it! I'm starting to believe that there is nothing RedLynx can't do with Nokia's gizmo. Now, why on Earth are you still here? Get buying already!

Reviewed by Ashley Martin for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).