Golden Sun - Does It Get Better?

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Chacrana

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I'm about 4 hours into Golden Sun right now and... it feels extremely mediocre. As in, I don't know what the appeal of this apart from the fact that it's a portable RPG. I'm at the first lighthouse and I'm thinking about stopping because it's extremely derivative (at least, so far) so does the game improve or is it like this for the remainder of the game?

Oh, and does the story go anywhere?
 
I can't answer the question, but I'm intrigued as well as I'm in the exact same place (although enjoying it a bit more than you)...
 
Well, they were my favorite rpgs ever. The second one picks up the story where the first one will leave off, I think it's a tad better in the 2nd. And imo the second one is the best rpg on the gba.
 
I enjoy both games very much. They are my favorite RPGs on the GBA. The best RPGs of any platform at the time of it's release.

The story does pick up, and gameplay certainly gets more interesting as you get stronger, get better equipment, and more Djinn.

I'd say keeping playing, but that's only because I enjoyed it very much.
 
My younger brother and I have both played the GS games. He, who has played many more RPGs than I, was bored to tears by them. I, who am generally not a fan of RPGs, did enjoy them greatly. Aside from Parasite Eve (1) , Fire Emblem (gba), KoTOR (1) and Tales of Symphonia it's the only RPG I recommend to people.

So if you're bored, sell it to me if you have the box to go with it.
 
I don't know what it was about Golden Sun... it was average in pretty much every area but I really enjoyed the game. It's a very old school RPG with some new elements.

There's a lot of text and the pace is really slow, that made it kinda hard to play but I was addicted to that game. The story was pretty interesting too.
 
In the end, I would argue that it doesn't do much different than most other RPGs, but it is the most polished, best looking package on a handheld, even to date. The soundtrack, interface, gameplay, etc...

I mean, there's not much to differentiate most PS2 RPGs, and yet they all seem to sell like hot cakes and are beloved, so I don't know what the game needs to do that it isn't doing to make it more appealing to you, but does it get more interesting deeper in? Yes. Does it get a LOT more interesting? Not really. The plot is long and slow (I would say "well-paced"), and not full of anything I would call a twist.

But, again, I would say it is the most solid RPG to ever grace a handheld. If you don't like Golden Sun maybe you don't like old-school japanese RPGs?
 
I'm almost half way though Lost Age right now and it's entertaining. I finished the first game earlier in the year.

I thought the plot is one of the best for portable RPG's, compared to other GBA RPG's like Breath of Fire or even FFI&II. Although it does move at a sluggish pace with tons of text to read (which is fine by me). The choices you're given during dialogues make no difference to the results, so that was a bit pointless.

The Djinni combinations provide an unique approach to different classes, although most non-boss battles don't last more than a round of two, so it's irrelevant except in boss battles.

The random battles aren't as ubiquitous as FF. I can actually walk from one town to the next destination without being aggro'ed once. That alleviates the frustration from countless random encounters. There's even an item you can buy that would make the random battles occur even less often.

Game is pretty long, or maybe I just took my time. Although I did consult faqs if I was lost or stuck for more than 15 minutes. Too many other games to play than spending time wandering aimlessly. First Golden Sun I logged about 31 hours.
 
I really liked both Golden Sun games. I would say increase the text speed to fast and just get it going. The slow start is the case with most RPGs. You have to get into the characters and the story.
 
i thought it was great.... was stuck in a point, took a 6 month break, tried it, and found i was stuck right before the final boss......started gs2 the second after i entered that LONG password from pt 1, so 30 minutes after beating pt1 i was playing pt2.


great games... play it
 
[quote name='ashram']i thought it was great.... was stuck in a point, took a 6 month break, tried it, and found i was stuck right before the final boss......started gs2 the second after i entered that LONG password from pt 1, so 30 minutes after beating pt1 i was playing pt2.


great games... play it[/quote]

Oh man, the long password. you need to borrow a GBA from somone else for like 2 minutes to have the data transfer automatically.
 
[quote name='Arkay Firestar']
But, again, I would say it is the most solid RPG to ever grace a handheld. If you don't like Golden Sun maybe you don't like old-school japanese RPGs?[/QUOTE]

:rofl:

Chacrana is obsessed with Nocturne, I'm pretty sure he likes old school japanese RPG's ;)

I got to the same part he did, and was also bored as hell by this game. It just feels really lacking, and the story bored the hell out of me. I'm glad to see someone finally feels the same way, because I honestly don't see why these games were so loved.

I mean, the beginning with the town was cool but the game after that just slowed to a complete crawl.. I literally got bored sitting there playing it. I also find that I don't care for any of the characters whatsoever, and the story is boring.

Part 2 may be better but I don't even think I can get the energy to get through part 1.
 
[quote name='Arkay Firestar']
But, again, I would say it is the most solid RPG to ever grace a handheld. If you don't like Golden Sun maybe you don't like old-school japanese RPGs?[/QUOTE]

Well I loved Dragon Quest VIII and the Shin Megami Tensei series so I really don't think that's the issue. My issue with the game so far is that it just doesn't seem to do anything that's above average. The characters are uninteresting, the story is pretty bland, the combat system is very, very dull, and the music and graphical style leave a lot to be desired. It's dialogue heavy, but the characters say nothing that's important or interesting. It's got the "been there done that" feeling that a lot of generic RPGs have but unlike something like Dragon Quest VIII, it doesn't feel even the slightest bit compelling. I mean, the game's just been: "Oh, here's a town with a thief, now here's a town with people that were turned into trees, now there's a sick town... wait, I don't care. What the hell's the plot in this game?" The game doesn't necessarily do anything wrong, but it sure as hell doesn't anything more than completely average if the first 4 or 5 hours are any indication.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']Well I loved Dragon Quest VIII and the Shin Megami Tensei series so I really don't think that's the issue. [/QUOTE]As Roufuss mentioned you're also into Nocturne, my guess is that you're into more serious and atmospheric stories/games in general (dragon warrior being a slight exception, but as you say, it's a more compelling game).

GS is lighter faire. Lots of dialogue when there's dialogue at all. And it's your typical save the world by doing whatever it is you have to do japanese rpg, but in a much less heavy environment than Shin Megami or Nocturne. By a mile.
 
[quote name='guinaevere']As Roufuss mentioned you're also into Nocturne, my guess is that you're into more serious and atmospheric stories/games in general (dragon warrior being a slight exception, but as you say, it's a more compelling game).

GS is lighter faire. Lots of dialogue when there's dialogue at all. And it's your typical save the world by doing whatever it is you have to do japanese rpg, but in a much less heavy environment than Shin Megami or Nocturne. By a mile.[/QUOTE]

I also thoroughly enjoyed almost all the FF games, Tales of Eternia, Symphonia, Skies of Arcadia, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Xenosaga, and a lot of others (some of these are among my favorite games of all time.) I like JRPGs. A Lot... hell it's probably my favorite genre. It doesn't matter to me if it's a serious or comedic RPG... I'm just not seeing anything on Golden Sun on the level of those games though.
 
[quote name='Chacrana']I also thoroughly enjoyed almost all the FF games, Tales of Eternia, Symphonia, Skies of Arcadia, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Xenosaga, and a lot of others (some of these are among my favorite games of all time.)[/quote]
I had a hunch... with the exception of the Tales line and Arcadia, I really didn't care for most of the others that you enjoy. That's in no way an insult, everyone has different taste. I just find it humerous because it's very much like having a game conversation with my younger brother, you and he enjoy the same RPGs. My taste in rpgs has always been far different than other gamers.

It doesn't matter to me if it's a serious or comedic RPG... I'm just not seeing anything on Golden Sun on the level of those games though.
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I gotchya. The few that were earlier listed struck me as ...moody? atmospheric? Neither are the appropriate description, but definately not the same sort of palatte of GS.
 
This is the best RPG hand down on the GBA.

As far as you getting bored by them, it should get better the story really picks up after the first lighthouse, continue playing youll enjoy it.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']:rofl:

Chacrana is obsessed with Nocturne, I'm pretty sure he likes old school japanese RPG's ;)

I got to the same part he did, and was also bored as hell by this game. It just feels really lacking, and the story bored the hell out of me. I'm glad to see someone finally feels the same way, because I honestly don't see why these games were so loved.

I mean, the beginning with the town was cool but the game after that just slowed to a complete crawl.. I literally got bored sitting there playing it. I also find that I don't care for any of the characters whatsoever, and the story is boring.

Part 2 may be better but I don't even think I can get the energy to get through part 1.[/quote]

Yeah, I'm pretty much the same way with the game. I kept hearing how great this game is and I gave it a chance (got past to the second lighthouse), but I just had to stop. The dialogue I can stand, the mediocre story I can stand. The one thing I couldn't stand with the game are those little expressions that they show during the dialogue or any of those other pauses that happen in the little cut scenes. Also this is coming from someone that loves RPG's, like the Arc the Lad Collections, Tales of Symphonia, the orginial Breath of Fires on the SNES, etc.
 
[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Nope. It's extremely repetitive and boring. Not that good of a game or series really.[/QUOTE]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt this way, then.

I guess I'll dump them on Ebay just in time for Tales of the Abyss.
 
[quote name='Roufuss']I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt this way, then.

I guess I'll dump them on Ebay just in time for Tales of the Abyss.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, Roufuss, I tried giving it an extra hour or two and I couldn't do it. I simply couldn't get another hour into the game. Augh.
 
Finally, some people who didn't like Golden Sun. I played through both games, and found them both to be lacking. They're boring as hell. The plot is lame, and the characters are extremely uninteresting.

If you want a good handheld RPG then go pick up Riviera or Summon Night.
 
I was very unpleasantly surprised by Golden Sun. After reading so many good reviews I couldn't believe I was playing the same game as everyone else. I was on a vacation, and I think it was the only game I brought with me. By the end of the trip I got to a point where I had to use summons in every single battle, and afterwards switch all the djinns back so I could summon again in the next battle.

The twitching characters bugged the hell out of me too.
 
What a coincidence, I just finished the first lighthouse too. So far I like it OK, but I really haven't played too many JRPGs. I tend to prefer the western RPGs. I think I'll stick with the game though, it's tough to put so many hours into a game and then abandon it. Plus I have a sealed copy of Golden Sun 2, so I don't want that to go to waste either.
 
[quote name='Rei no Otaku']Finally, some people who didn't like Golden Sun. I played through both games, and found them both to be lacking. They're boring as hell. The plot is lame, and the characters are extremely uninteresting.

If you want a good handheld RPG then go pick up Riviera or Summon Night.[/QUOTE]

Definitely agreed with you there.
 
I have both Golden Sun games and never really played them much. I like Camelot a lot, but I just don't care to play them (nothing is really making me want to play, plus I got lost and don't know what to do).

I even enjoyed Lufia: The Ruins of Lore much more.
 
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