Golden Sun (GBA) | 
 enlarge | From: Nintendo
Category: Video Games
Buy New: £43.99
New (2) Used (9) from £8.99
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 3844
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Genre: role-playing-games
ESRB: Everyone
Media: Video Game
Number Of Items: 1
Age: 3 - 18 years
Operating System: Game Boy Advance
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5 x 4.8 x 0.9
MPN: 1520687S
UPC: 045496731489
EAN: 0045496731489
ASIN: B00005OARM
Release Date: February 22, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: *BRAND NEW*{Worldwide Delivery}*WILL SEND QUICK RECORDED DELIVERY/SAFE PACKAGING*[Buy With Confidence - Orders Despatched by 100% Honest/Reliable seller] MANY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS :-) VIEW MY FIVE STAR FEEDBACK*****
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Whereas it took the PS2 about six months to get even one genuine classic game, the doggedly reliable GBA is quietly feathering its nest with barnstormer after masterpiece. Golden Sun is the first proper role-playing game on the portable and it's a stonker. RPG fans will be completely un-shocked to learn that the game centres on a spiky haired hero who discovers that the small town life is not for him and he's actually destined to be the saviour of the universe, or something. Although it's not much of a surprise to discover that the game doesn't shy away from the story cliches of the genre it is perhaps a shame that it sticks so close to the usual gameplay traditions, i.e., random battles, turn-based combat and an over-complex spell system. Still, it does do the old customs proud and the combat sequence look particularly good with a rather spiffing 2 -D graphics system and some great 3-D world map views. The puzzles are also more interesting than the norm, most being Zelda-esque physical puzzles as opposed to the usual super-obvious RPG no-brainers. Mired in sentimental tradition it might be, but Golden Sun is certainly more enjoyable than the po-faced interactive movie that is the modern Final Fantasy game. At the time of writing there's nothing quite like it on the GBA, so it's hard not to recommend it. --David Jenkins
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
Best RPG on GBA August 22, 2006
uLtimate gAmer (UK)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Awesome Game, with the best Plot any Role Player wants. This Game has it all, the Original stuff you like to see, plus the new stuff.
Follow the adventures of Isaac, Garett, Ivan and Mia with the most fun you can, seriously, buy this game now
 The same old song on a different instrument August 1, 2006
P.Vineaux (London)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Golden Sun is a well made RPG that sticks to the formula but delivers it with great presentation and graphics for a handheld, despite the game mechanics being as old and crusty as RPG's themselves. If you can't get enough of RPG's, it's worth buying, if you've never played RPG's then it's also a great place to start, but if you're like me and you want something with at least a little originality don't bother, this is why:
RPG cliche #1 - The setting: The game is set in the default for almost all rpg's, mock medieval/fantasy. There are castles, monsters, dragons, and it's all very LOTR. The world map is the same as any final fantasy, and the various villages all have the same bunch of straw roofs, ye olde inns and dark ages type peasants meandering around. Personally, I can't wait for an rpg that actually creates a unique world. How about a futuristic sci-fi rpg? Or one set in a real place in the present?
RPG cliche #2 - The Plot: An energy/eco-force/crystal/spirit has been stolen by some baddies, badness is imminent, and as a rookie/kid/dissenter you must set out on a quest to defeat the baddies, getting sidetracked along the way occassionally. When I first encountered this plot in FFVII I thought it was deep and had a large scope, this is the umpteenth time I've played through it, and it really takes a lot out of a game when the plot is as dated and common as this.
RPG cliche #3 - The Waffle: An rpg is supposed to be the most involving and story-based of games, and the easiest way to make it seem epic and long is to have lots and lots of dialogue, in order to be as pompous and engrossing as possible. Golden Sun has more than the average, which is a lot. It's not so well-written and lacks character a little, which is the main problem.
RPG cliche #4 - The Battle System: You have stats, you have magic points, and health points. You can attack physically, or use magic points to cast magic. You equip armour and weapons to make stats go up and down, you have djinn, which are things you equip to manipulate stats, and offer some more attacks. It's all very geeky and full of numbers, and makes me feel more like an accountant than an intrepid warrior. Although it's the common staple of RPG's, there's absolutely nothing original here.
RPG cliche #5 - Random Battles: Every couple of centimetres you walk in the world map or cave, you'll find yourself in a battle with a couple of weak enemies. This is nothing but a chore, and the worse part of any RPG. You do this a million times, and I have never felt that video games were a waste of time more than when I realise I've spent an hour doing something as pointless and mundane as engaging in random battles. Like some of the cheaper, rubbish RPG's, Golden Sun piles on the random battles to make the game last longer. This isn't necessary at all, how about less random battles and more actual enemies? Zelda showed how progression ought to be done in a game, yet people still use this tired system.
I can't fault Golden Sun for being the simple old school RPG that it is, but it really doesn't have anything new to add to the genre. This is an enjoyably wholesome RPG, but if any of those RPG cliches I mentioned annoy you in RPG's, then you probably won't find this so fun. It's full of them and proud of it.
 A Very Good Game February 5, 2006
Jacob G. North (England)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Golden Sun is all that an RPG in a Gameboy Advance is meant to be, but like a lot of games, there are also some minor problems. First, the gameplay is you average overhead view, in which you have to move around the world, until you get into a fight with a monster or two (or six). The view then changes to behind the characters while you fight. The story holds together so well it is almost unbelievable. You start out as this fourteen year old kid called Isaac (unless you change the name) who witnesses a disaster to his village. Three years later, the fate os the world rests all of a sudden in his hands. I will tell you no more, as it will spoil a lot of surprises. Along the way, you find these creepy little critters called Djinn, who have these powers you can use in a battle, for instance, they may inflict damage. You meet a number of interesting people and a total of four people in your party. You also have a power called Psynergy (sort of like magic) that can also be ised in a battle, but in some cases, they can also be used outside of a battle (like MOVE, to move a block). The graphics in this game are also worthy of mention. They are near stunning for this handheld game console. The environments in which you are in are all beautifully detailled and the characters are also animated to perfection. So why 4 stars and not 5? Simple. Although the gameplay, battles and graphics are all so good, there is one problem with the game. And that is the talking. Do NOT play this game where you have to expect to turn off the console after a short period of time, you will have to go through a lot of time again. What I mean by this is, at key points in the game, several characters talk for ages to explain what is going to happen, or what is going to happen. Along with this are animations to accompany the emotions (eg. if a person is surprised, then the character will shake up and down a couple of times) of the chracter, and there is not one scene without one. It does add realism to the game, but it does eat up time. The bottom line is, this is a good game to play if you are on a long car trip, or have a lot of time to yourself, as the talking bits are annoying. Remember to save the game on a regular basis, and train up at least 4-6 levels in each new area to keep up with the monster's strength. BUY THIS GAME NOW, OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE! Over and out,
jake_da_man
Epic July 25, 2005
* (Planet Telex)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Golden Sun is a RPG of such epic brilliane that it will almost certainly take over your life. You play a young adept named Isaac whose friends are kidnapped by villians and so you set out on a adventure to save them slowly gathering more team mates. Sounds pretty familiar doesn't it? Well actually Golden Sun is one of the most original RPG's ever made. The battle system is extremely fast paced and taken up a notch due to the djinn system which lets you summon extremely cool spirit/demons to help you in battle. Out of battle Golden Sun has some of the best puzzles in any game and likeable charcters and funny dialogue. the only problem is that the dialogue does go on for a bit. Graphics: 10/10 As good as it gets on GBA in battles and out. Sound: 10/10 AMAZING music that really stirrs the heart and adds emotion into the game. Gameplay: 10/10 Brilliant battles, great levels and epic bosses. Lifespan: 8/10 A good 30 hours of gameplay but it'll take you longer getting all the djinn. Good: As technically brilliant as a GBA game can get and pretty brillian untechnically aswell. Bad: The dialogue goes on a bit and er.... em..... oh yeah it..em....is...er... nope i can't think of anything else. Overall:10/10 One of the best RPG's ever. One of the best games on the GBA and even one of the best Games of all time. Golden Sun is an epic masterpiece.
U MUST BUY THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May 11, 2005
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
First off, WOW, this game is as good or maybe ever better than Legend of Zelda or even the Final Fantasies. Its storyline is orginal (and thats hard for a RPG), exciting, fastpaced, thrilling and fufilling. The art/graphics is fantastic for a GBA game, the characters each with their own powers, spells, elemental type and personalities. Although some parts of the plot are predictable, there are many twists and turns to keep you hooked. It has the basic four team line up (two girls and two boys). All i can say is buy this game, buy, buy, buy, buy
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