Golden Sun: The Lost Age

Golden Sun: The Lost Age Review

THE RPG SAGA CONTINUES

Camelot Software Planning has produced an excellent and unforgettable sequel in Golden Sun: The Lost Age for the GBA. This sequel along with the first game will make you want to rush out and buy a GBA SP so that you can play them yourself. The Golden Sun games are among the best RPG games available for your GBA. Golden Sun: The Lost Age is the continuation of the story told in the first part and many new puzzles, areas and magical creatures known as Djinn await you. Golden Sun: The Lost Age begins right after events in the last game.

UNLEASHING THE FURY OF ALCHEMY

The power of Alchemy that once threatened to destroy the world is on the verge of being released once again. Two vile and sinister characters known as Menardi and Saturos attempted to light four lighthouses in the first game that would have unleashed wondrous but destructive powers. Each of the lighthouses represents one of the four elements: fire, wind, water and earth. These make up Alchemy. This power is said to grant one their heart’s desires, vast riches and even the power to destroy the world. Four valiant heroes: Isaac, Garet, Mia and Ivan ventured forth to stop them. Two lighthouses unfortunately were lit in the first game and the sequel begins with the search for the remaining two.

Felix, Jenna, Sheba and Piers are the new heroes in the sequel. They will be challenged by new and old villains that are as evil and sinister as Menardi and Saturos. You can also transfer your game data from the first game to the sequel through a password or a GBA link cable. Who knows what familiar heroes from the first game one might come across as they are playing through the sequel? I was impressed by Camelot and how they told one immersive story through these two games. Instead of creating a sequel with an entirely new story in a different world we continue the suspenseful events set in motion in the first game and the saga of the four lighthouses.

USING PSYNERGY AND DJINN

The game takes place in the world of Weyard where individuals known as Adepts have special abilities called Psynergy and can also use elemental spirits known as Djinn. These are two excellent elements that make the Golden Sun RPG games fun and exciting to play. Psynergy is what gives our characters many of the unique abilities that they can use in battle. Characters can use abilities such as cure, quake, whirlwind, flare, frost, and heal. Battle occurs as you are walking on the overworld map or in specific areas infested with monsters. You are then taken to the battlefield in which your group of up to four characters and the enemy will take turns attacking each other. Each type of Psynergy comes from one of the four elements discussed earlier, and each character will have their own set of special Psynergy abilities. Outside of battle, Psynergy will be needed to figure out many of the puzzles and challenges.

Many will remember the interesting puzzles that were scattered throughout the last game. These puzzles included figuring out how to move switches in order to open locked doors or moving logs correctly in a river to go forward. Many of these types of puzzles return as well as others in the sequel and some will be even more difficult. If you examine your environment for clues and use your Psynergy wisely you will find the right solution. Your move power allows you to move statues or other objects that are on the ground and block your path. The mind read ability is another interesting one that will help you read people’s minds and find out what they may be hiding.

The information you find when you read someone’s mind is often interesting and quite funny. On the outside they may act as if they like you but by reading their mind you can find out how they actually feel. I wish other games incorporated this ability! There is also a whirlwind ability that allows you to attack enemies with a tornado or remove leaves that are blocking an entrance. Djinn, the elemental spirits you will find in the game are very exciting. There are many of these within the game and each Djinni belongs to one of the four elements. You need to look everywhere as you are playing since many of them are hidden.

Using Djinn will bring many unique changes to your characters. Your character class may change based on what Djinni you have selected. Changing character classes will change your attributes as well as the powers that you are able to wield. It is wise to experiment with the placement of your Djinn with your characters because specific Djinni will be better with one character than another. Some characters will get certain powers unique to them and better attributes by equipping a particular Djinni than another character. Some Djinni will raise your stats such as in attack, defense, and Pysnergy. Djinn can also be unleashed to aid you in battle to attack your enemies or to allow you to summon powerful spirits. Some of these spirits will rain destruction upon your enemies or reduce their defense. Some will increase your attack or heal your entire party. One powerful spirit known as Echo will attack with a double strike. There is so much to do within Golden Sun: The Lost Age that you will definitely enjoy finding all the Djinn and using your Psynergy to unravel all of the intriguing puzzles and mysteries that come your way.

THE BEST RPGs ON THE GBA

Golden Sun: The Lost Age as well as the original Golden Sun are without a doubt some of the best RPGs you will find on the GBA. The graphics used to depict everything from the villages, characters, battlefields and Psynergy powers are artistically designed and incorporated within the game. You will find these graphics to be some of the best on the GBA system. You will also be amazed at the power of the musical score. I never thought the GBA could produce the eloquent music or memorable visuals that you will find in the game. Let us not forget the great gameplay, the challenging puzzles and the use of your Psynergy and Djinn. Both of the Golden Sun games demonstrate the talent that Camelot has in giving us an impressive RPG gaming experience. Golden Sun: The Lost Age concludes the epic story begun in the first game, a story you will find suspenseful and well-written. I hope Camelot decides to grace us with a sequel worthy of these excellent RPGs. Golden Sun: The Lost Age stands triumphantly as ultimate proof of the intense RPG gaming to be found on the GBA!

Pros

* Using Psynergy and the exciting Djinn elemental creatures
* New areas, heroes, puzzles and much more
* Engaging and immersive story
* Beautiful graphics grace the entire game from the villages, battlefields and Psynergy powers
* Excellent musical score that shows what can be accomplished on the GBA
* Detailed documentation along with a great color map
* You can read people’s minds!
* Data from Golden Sun can be transferred into Golden Sun: The Lost Age

Cons

* There is a very lengthy intro in the beginning
* There could have been more variety in the Psynergy abilities

Final Grade: 95%

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