Golden Sun

Game developer Camelot (which also made the legendary Shining Force series for the Sega Genesis, and, more recently, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64) designed Golden Sun from the ground up to take advantage of the GBA's horsepower, and it shows. Sharp, vivid landscapes, detailed towns and dungeons, and awesome weather effects--it looks like a Super Nintendo game with some extra zing squeezed onto a handheld system. Fans of Secret of Mana or Chrono Trigger will appreciate the feel of this game.

But the game's greatest strength is its magic system. Your characters each have their own latent psychic abilities based on one of the four elements of alchemy (earth, water, wind, and fire). The characters will be called upon to use their individual forms of telepathy and telekinesis to solve various puzzles in the game. Also, you can collect Djinn (elemental spirits) and link them to your characters. Not only can these Djinn be summoned in battle, they can also bolster or hinder your characters' latent psychic abilities, give them special attacks, and even change your characters' class. This system is similar to Final Fantasy VIII's guardian system, though far more intuitive and easy to master.

Golden Sun employs a basic turn-based battle system, but it has amazing spell and fighting techniques that really take advantage of the GBA's technology. The game achieves a nice balance between flashy attacks and the brevity of these same attacks--a lesson the makers of other RPGs should learn. Battles are beautifully and quickly fought, and don't overtax the gamer.

The game also has an addictive arena mode in which players can fight monsters they've already encountered in the game. Players can also link up with another GBA (this feature requires another Golden Sun cartridge) and fight against another party. While it's not true a multiplayer option, it adds a great replay value to the game.

Golden Sun's weakest point, however, is its standard-issue story. In essence: boy wakes up amidst disaster, meets stalwart friends, and rises to the challenge to save the day (all while living up to the image of his dear departed father). The story is a little stale, but the mechanics of the game transcend this flaw and bring the gamer into a state of handheld nirvana. --Bryan Karsh

Pros:

• Vivid graphics
• Deep, intuitive magic system
• Addictive multiplayer arena mode

• A plot straight out of "RPG Story Lines 101"

However, one thing worth mentioning is that some parts of this game are quite dark and violent. Unless the english version is *heavily* censored, I feel that the ESRB rating for this game is not accurate. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under the age of twelve.


This is what the GBA was designed for   December 18, 2001
21 out of 22 found this review helpful

Only a few months in , and this game proves just what the GBA is capable of. The story in this game frankly is rubbish, usual kids save the world stuff but forget that; the joy of this game is in the playing.

Graphically , GS takes it's cues from that all time great Chrono Trigger but it is slicker and prettier though it doesn't make you laugh quite as much. The battles are very much final fantasy style and you will be amazed at the quality of the graphics in the battle scenes - you really feel like you're playing a PS1 game, not a handheld.

There are some nice set pieces in the game as well, the ship from Kalay and the Colloseum spring immediately to mind but I won't spoil it for you! Also the Djinn (magical creatures which boost your stats/change your class (and therefore magic available) and can be summoned when not equipped add a real tactical aspect to the boss battles - do you go in with the Djinn on standby to summon the big hits but have low hit points and rubbish magic or do you leave the Djinn equipped and try and chip away at them - getting the balance right holds the key to the big battles, especially thge rock hard Jupiter lighthousew confrontation.

the game is BIG, so far I have racked up 27 hours on the game clock (and lots more in abortive attempts) and I've not got through it. The puzzles in the dungeons are fairly simple though I have been stumped a few times before finding the right way through.

The music and sound effects are top quality all the way through and you will find yourself humming the music.

Criticisms, well there are a few - Sometimes the game feels a bit too linear and you can't backtrack to places where you feel you've missed something - which is annoying because the routes back invariably are blocked or one way.

Also, there are no easy battles, and there are lots and lots of them - you'll be trying to solve a puzzle in a dungeon and find yourself getting whacked by a random encounter you weren't prepared for - 2 Chimera Mages and a Thunder lizard have been my downfall on more than one occasion because I was trying to find the way through the dungeon and not really concentrating on healing my party etc.

However, this game is still awesome - and really sets the standard for those to follow it - If Nintendo think they can get away with a re-issue of Link to the Past when they come to release a Zelda game they will be wrong because Golden Sun is a better game than that. Buy it now.


Golden Sun   September 25, 2001
18 out of 33 found this review helpful

Ok. I'm not really 12. I just couldn't get the server to work. I'm actually 14, and I have never actually played the game. I have however read every peice of info I could get my hands on. So here goes!
Golden Sun (by Nintendo and Camelot) is a RPG based on a boy from a town where people use psynergy, a mysterious energy thats kinda like psycic energy, and are able to fight, and move things with their mind. The hero of the story is a boy named Isaac (Frodo in the beta version) who, with three others he meets in his adventures, has to save the Four Elemental Stones from Saturos and Menardi, who are the games main bad guys.
Moving past the story, the game features great graphics, tight game control, an epic storyline, great battle mode, and SWEET LOOKING SUMMON SPELLS! Sorry...
Golden sun appears to be the first of many great RPG's for GameBoy Advance, and one you won't want to miss!


Great Game!   October 9, 2001
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

This game looks truely amazing. If you like the Final fantasy series on Playstation you will definatly like this game. It features vast and complex worlds and has a truely amazing story. The menues are complex but will get easier to uderstand as you move through the game. Play as four characters. The elements include wind, water, fire, and earth. Summon huge creatures who can then combine with other summons and watch as the battle graphics get a whole new and wonderful look. Animation is great and so are the characters. Multiplayer battles against friends and see who is the better fighter. This game looks totally great and should be one of the best RPG's for Gameboy Advance!


Awesome Game!   October 10, 2001
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

I just picked up a nintendo power magazine in a book store, and found out about this game! It's a turn-based RPG, with hundreds of options for wepons, armor, and spells. Little sprites, called djins, help boost your psypower (magic). Also, this game has MULTIPLE STORY LINES. even if you've played the game before you can still be kept on your toes. Oh yeah, the graphics are GREAT! I'm deffinitely gonna buy this game!