Quote:Although it's an established destination for Japanese role-playing games, the Game Boy Advance's opening months were particularly empty when it came to the stat-heavy, time-intensive genre. Save for the occasional port (such as the excellent Breath of Fire) it was up to Nintendo themselves to show how things should be done. Enter Golden Sun, an entirely new property developed by Camelot, creator of the fan-favorite Shining Force series on the Mega Drive, as well as more cutesy offerings like Mario Golf and Mario Tennis.

Full Story: RPG Gems: Golden Sun

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My favourite GBA game but never managed to get the second one.

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I was thoroughly impressed by the first one. I bought the second one but due to other games grabbing my attention, I never got into it. Sadly I'm to the point now where I'd have to replay the first to reintroduce myself, and I just don't have the drive for it.

Great story, great characters, really fun battle system and djinn system.

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Just... yes A fantastic pair of games (I never got around to playing the DS version).

I will forever remember getting hopelessly lost in the middle third of the second game, where you had to visit a series of random islands in order to get bits of the Trident, so you can defeat Poseidon and get into Lemuria.

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(December 28, 2011 05:43:59 AM)Kevio17 Wrote:  Just... yes A fantastic pair of games (I never got around to playing the DS version).

I will forever remember getting hopelessly lost in the middle third of the second game, where you had to visit a series of random islands in order to get bits of the Trident, so you can defeat Poseidon and get into Lemuria.

In my opinion, the DS Golden Sun game wasn't too great. The GBA installments are where its at! Those entries are much more charming and have more devious puzzles!

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(December 28, 2011 05:43:59 AM)Kevio17 Wrote:  Just... yes A fantastic pair of games (I never got around to playing the DS version).

I will forever remember getting hopelessly lost in the middle third of the second game, where you had to visit a series of random islands in order to get bits of the Trident, so you can defeat Poseidon and get into Lemuria.

To this day the first game remains my favorite 2d rpg of all time. And i feel ya on getting lost in GS:TLA, that trident section is on par with the triforce section in Wind Waker.

As for the DS game; while it's good, it doesnt compare to the first two for three reasons:

1. Halfway through the game something happens that prevents you from returning to any of the previous areas. So when i finished the game i was one fire djinn short of 100%.... Both the original games let you revisit every area again for sidequests and collecting missed djinn.

2. They reuse all of the secret bosses from the second game. Beating Dullahan and the other three secret bosses in the original was awesome, but the fact that they threw those same bosses into the DS sequel was just disappointing. They didnt even change their strategies, they're almost exactly the same as they were the first time around.

3. The change from 2d graphics to 3d graphics was unnecessary. While the summons benefited from this change, the game just doesnt feel the same without those classic 2d sprites. They gave the game a classic AND original feel. Let me put it this way: FF does 3d better than GS, but GS does 2d better than FF.

Also id like to add that the fire and water elements were neglected in the DS game. The two fire representatives were almost exactly the same character and the two water representatives were just plain weak, but the earth and wind characters were each extremely individual and extremely proficient in their differing roles.

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I would have liked the second game better if Felix' cape had stayed green instead of blue...sad but true haha.

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Unfortunately, I never did get to play any of the Golden Suns. Perhaps once I've trimmed dow my Pile of Shame a bit, I'll hunt for a copy.

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