This game came out when I was in training in the Army. I was in advanced individual training during that time which meant we had a lot more freedoms than we did in basic training. Anyway, one of the graduates from my barracks gave me their old GBA SP with a couple games. One day, we got leave to go into town and hit the mall. I went to the local game store (can't remember if it was a GameStop or not, but it was similar) and they had this game in the new release section. It was fitting; a game about warfare and we were in the heat of a war while I was training for it. So I bought it, took it back to my barracks, and became addicted. I looked forward to playing it every night before bed. I played the game so hard, I beat it before I even finished training.
Once training was done, I gave my GBA SP to an incoming soldier. When I got home, I bought the upgraded version of the GBA SP instead and played all the custom maps I could, made my own, spent so much time in the wars in the game.
Sad to say, though, my whole gaming collection was stolen before I was sent off to war. I couldn't take my favorite game with me to chill on the frontlines. I had plans to make battlefields and challenge the most insane ai to big fights. All that, ruined before I was deployed.
Anyway, game was great. I got the switch version (made sure it was physical) and rekindled my addiction to this amazing game.