Rising Sun

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The 'Rising Sun' campaign is a fan-designated name for the opening Orange Star missions of the original Advance Wars (2001). This introductory arc follows rookie CO Andy as he learns the basics of warfare, faces off against Blue Moon and Yellow Comet, and uncovers the first hints of a greater threat. The campaign is notable for its tutorial structure, gradually introducing new unit types and mechanics while building the game's core narrative.

In Their Own Story

In 1902, a badge was urgently sought for the Australian contingents raised after Federation for service in South Africa during the Second Boer War. The most widely accepted version of the origin of the badge attributes the selection of its design to a British officer, Major General Sir Edward Hutton, the newly appointed General Officer Commanding, Australian Military Forces. The design was first worn by the Australian Commonwealth Horse. Hutton had earlier received a 'Trophy of Arms' as a gift from Major Joseph Gordon, comprising mounted cut and thrust swords and triangular Martini Henri bayonets arranged in a semicircle around a brass crown. Three different designs were created, and they formed the basis of a new design created in 1903, which was subsequently adopted as the General Service Badge in 1911. The original badge bore the words 'Australian Commonwealth Military Forces' on the scroll at the bottom. There were early sardonic references by diggers to the badge's similarity to the logo on Abel Hoadley's well-known 'Rising Sun' range of jams and sauces, but whether this gave rise to the badge's universally accepted name is open to conjecture.

Reader's Guide

Since its inception, the basic form of the 1904 version has remained unchanged, although modifications have been made to the wording on the scroll and to the style of crown. In 1949, when Corps and Regimental badges were reintroduced, the wording on the scroll was changed to read 'Australian Military Forces'. Following the ascent of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, the Crown on the badge was changed from a King's (Tudor) Crown to the St. Edward's Crown on the 1956 version. In 1969, the badge was modified to incorporate the Federation Star and Torse Wreath from the original 1902 version. In 1972, the scroll wording was shortened to 'Australia'. In 1991, a new design by Case Wildriks returned the design to one similar to that of the original World War I badge, with the inscription 'The Australian Army'. In 1995, the metal was changed from 1160 aluminium alloy, returning it to brass for the first time since World War II, but with a copper and gold plate, while also raising the crown and arms. The version used today is the seventh iteration of the design used as the General Service Badge.

Did You Know?

• The campaign's tutorial missions teach players about capturing properties, producing units, and using CO Powers, with Andy's Hyper Repair being the first power unlocked.
• The final mission of this arc, 'The Final Battle!', introduces the Black Hole army and their mysterious leader, Sturm.
• Despite being the first campaign, it contains several missable optional missions that can affect the player's CO rank and unlock bonus content.