Golden Sun/RPG basic questions--are they right for me?

BrerDan

BrerDan

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Well, after seeing reviews, I decided to rent Golden Sun for the Game Boy Advance to see if I would like it. I have to say I am LOVING my GBA SP--I enjoy video games, but given that I share my home with a guy who has ZERO interest in games, I never seem to be able to play my Cube. The Gameboy is great because I can play it even while the TV is occupied.

That said, I am trying to branch out a bit beyond the standard Mario games I know and love. I hear sooooo much about RPG and Strategy games, I've been curious to try them....

So...on to Golden Sun. I've not gotten that far in, but I am already annoyed by the way battles just "pop up" when you are walking along. I don't mind monsters randomly placed about--but I *do* mind the way you don't even see them on the screen until you are already in battle. Plus, I find the whole battling with cards thing to be pretty boring. On the other hand, I *am* enjoying the way there is a mystery to be solved storyline and the way you have to figure out puzzles on how to get from one place to the next.

So, this is a rental--my choice now is to buy. My questions are: does Golden Sun continue the pattern of "you can't see the enemies" throughout? Are there other games that include the storyline/puzzle aspect, but don't have the turn-based battling that I just don't get (I also just don't get anime or pokemon and such)? My next rental plans to be Advance Wars, but if all it is is the turn-based battle--I might have to pass.

Thanks much.....

BrerDan
 
That's called "random battles" and is a staple of old school style RPG's. They all have random battles, and yes they are annoying. I haven't played all of Golden Sun but usually, you can find an item or learn a skill late in the game that reduces random battles, otherwise, you have to fight them, as you need to level up your characters and fighting random battles is the only way.
 
Advance wars is extremley turn base, there's no random battles, but it's a strategy rpg, plays more like a game of chess than anything. Tyr it, it;s an awesome game.
 
Well if you don't like the random battles, then you probably wont like many RPGs.
I remember one day when my dad brought home Final Fantasy VII for the PC and how much I HATED the random battles. I never really touched an RPG for several years. But then, for some reason, I got Golden Sun, and just completely loved it. Now I like RPGs :). I guess they just have to grow on you or something.
As for strategy RPG games (FFT, TO), I simply hate them. Of course this is my opinion, one which is strongely disagreed with. SRPGs just take too long, the battles are slow, and to me it feels like every battle is the same. I would probably think you would feel the same way about this considering you dont really like RPGs that much.
One strategy game you might like is Advance Wars. Simply awesome and loads of fun.
Hope this helped you.
 
Hmmmm.... yeah Golden Sun is pretty much like that all the way through. If your looking to "branch out" form the Mario games, you may want to consider picking up some of the games in the Castlevania series. Extremely fun.
 
Thanks for all the input. I guess I'll just out a buy on hold unless I see one cheap. I don't mind so much that the battles are random per se, as muchas I mind that you don't know they are going to happen--if I could see the bad guys and avoid them when I wanted to...I wouldn't mind so much. Plus, I would prefer some more "action" in the fights. Maybe that is why I like Zelda games :) I really really do like the progressing story aspect though....

I wish I could play KOTOR--it looks fantastic. But no Xbox for me! :)

BrerDan
 
In Golden Sun I don't remember an item that could lower you're random battle chances, though you could get the lure cap to increase your chances. But really, if you don't like random battles but still want that RPG experience get Mario & Luigi. You can avoid some of the enemies in that game (Only outside if my memory is right), though doing so isn't recomended. You could also try Sword of Mana, though it doesn't measure up to Secret of Mana in any way possible.
 
there is an item to decrease battles. I forget what it is, but there is one. It costs like 75 dollars and works for like 100 steps
 
[quote name='rebenns']Random battles are a staple of all RPGs except the most recent ones, such as KOTOR.[/quote]

False. Behold Crono Trigger, Grandia, and Grandia 2.
 
I would check out Mario & Luigi: SuperStar saga. Its got the puzzle solving RPG/story line thing your talking about, but there are no random battles and to succeed you have to take an active role in the battles by timing button presses. The game is sorta short, but still bunches of fun.
 
Well--as it tuns out my Kmart had golden Sun for $9.99--the only bargain they had--so i went ahead and picked it up. I'm still going to keep my eye out for what I have learned are the "action-RPGs" like Zelda. Since I only have a Gamecube and GBA SP, I guess that means Sword of Mana and Baldur's Gate. Thanks for all the tips

Dan
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']there is an item to decrease battles. I forget what it is, but there is one. It costs like 75 dollars and works for like 100 steps[/quote]

Yeah, sacred feather I think.

Golden Sun is one of my favorite RPGs-I think it's the first one I ever played through to the end.

And Don't even think about X-box KOTOR...PC KOTOR all the way :)
 
I really enjoyed Golden Sun 1 + TLA, even if their storyline seemed rather bland.

Yes, there will always be random battles (unless there is a monster blocking your way, such as Piers' ship in GS: TLA). However, there is a skill that you can use (in TLA only, I think) that reduces enemy encounters.

However, trust me: the game strategically mixes in the classic RPG with puzzles. I thought Camelot did a good job with this game, and The Lost Age was even better.
 
[quote name='hunter_d'][quote name='CaseyRyback']there is an item to decrease battles. I forget what it is, but there is one. It costs like 75 dollars and works for like 100 steps[/quote]

Yeah, sacred feather I think.

Golden Sun is one of my favorite RPGs-I think it's the first one I ever played through to the end.

And Don't even think about X-box KOTOR...PC KOTOR all the way :)[/quote]

Why PC KOTOR? I like the controls of the Xbox version better. Just curious as to what is better about the PC version.
 
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