Every time you buy a game, you get a product key that allows you to connect to their online servers. You can only play story mode. While the series is best known for its online components, the Portable series allowed fans to take the experience anywhere. However, because of the incredibly fun multiplayer features, this game will always be better known for the fun times players had online than for its single-player aspects.
The deep strategy involved lovers of this genre from day one and maintained such a fun gameplay that a thriving online community emerged.