Absolutely stunning-Ingenious puzzles and a breathtaking story immerse the player in the exotic world of Golden Sun.
First of all, as RPG's go the battle system may seem standard, but the sheer variety of summons and different classes and the Djinni system recreate the battle experience. Plus the breadth of weapon choice and the special attacks of the more powerful weapons make battle worth watching. Similarly, battles move at a refreshing pace, allowing for quick training and multiple battles in a short time span. The encounter rate is a little on the high side, but cut-scenes and challenging puzzles allow the player to always have his or her mind on something else.
The music, done mostly by Motoi Sakuraba, is delightful. I'm still amazed they managed to stuff all those epic songs in that tiny little console game. Most of the music is not overused-many bosses come with their own battle theme and main dungeons tend to have their own unique BGM. The moods of the songs perfectly complement their situations-a haunting tune for a desolate swamp, a fey/otherworldly melody for a mystical tower, or an invigorating loop for an energetic boss battle. Plus, the standard battle and world map music change half-way through the game. For me, the soundtrack was one of the best parts, better than some newer console game songs.
The art is colorful and stunning, integrating much more complex battle animations and enemy designs than typical GBA RPGs. For pixel art, the detail put into each and every monster must have taken an excruciating amount of time. The summon scenes are particularly worth watching; like a little in-battle movie.
The characters are likable and well-designed. They have a wide range of expressions and actions during dialogue. They flinch when surprised, become frustrated, embarrassed, saddened. Felix communicated primarily by expressions and nods, giving him a rather stoic but strong personality. The game allows the user input in certain choices, which really doesn't really effect the story, but allows for some funny deviations in a second play-through or at least a chance to interact with the pre-developed cut-scenes. The only downside is the semi-annoying noise the characters make when they speak-at least it varies from person to person.
The puzzles are a plus to this game. Many are multi-leveled or encompass a whole dungeon. The player is constantly thinking of how obstacles and gained powers will eventually allow them passage to other places. The puzzles are not all just push-and-pull situations. Unique and simply fun psynergy skills make puzzles new and magical. Most puzzles require more than one skill to complete, furthering the player's passage or granting them access to treasure. The mind-read ability is fun on a whole nother level.
Overall, Golden Sun: The Lost Age is brilliant; The combined game schematics are wonderful and addicting. The music is dazzling and the gameplay leaves the player wanting more. I highly recommend playing this game, a fun-filled adventure wrapped in a vast world of paranormal power and ancient lore.