Golden Sun (video game)

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =

| above = Golden Sun

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| caption = {{#if:File:Golden Sun video game box art.jpg|North American box art showcasing the game's main characters. Clockwise from top: Mia, Ivan, Isaac, and Garet.|North American box art showcasing the game's main characters. Clockwise from top: Mia, Ivan, Isaac, and Garet.}}

| label2 = DeveloperTemplate:Pluralize from text | data2 = Camelot Software Planning

| label3 = PublisherTemplate:Pluralize from text | data3 = Nintendo

| label4 = DirectorTemplate:Pluralize from text | data4 = Shugo Takahashi

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| label7 = ProgrammerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data7 =

| label8 = ArtistTemplate:Pluralize from text | data8 = Fumihide Aoki

| label9 = WriterTemplate:Pluralize from text | data9 = Hiroyuki Takahashi

| label10 = ComposerTemplate:Pluralize from text | data10 = Motoi Sakuraba

| label11 = Series | data11 = Golden Sun

| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both

| label13 = PlatformTemplate:Pluralize from text | data13 = Game Boy Advance

| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Vgrelease

| label15 = GenreTemplate:Pluralize from text | data15 = Role-playing

| label16 = ModeTemplate:Pluralize from text | data16 = Single player, multiplayer

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Golden SunTemplate:Efn is a 2001 role-playing video game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The game follows a band of magic-attuned teenagers called Adepts on a mission to protect the world of Weyard from alchemy, a potentially destructive power that was sealed away long ago. During their quest, the Adepts develop new magic abilities called Psynergy, assist others, and learn more about why alchemy was sealed away. Golden Sun is followed by a sequel, The Lost Age, which together form a complete story.

Golden Sun was released in August 2001 in Japan, November 2001 in North America, and February 2002 in Europe. It began as a single planned game for the Nintendo 64, but production shifted to the Game Boy Advance over the course of development. After facing hardware constraints, the developers decided to split the game into two.

Golden Sun was critically and commercially successful, being the top-selling game for four months in Japan and selling more than one million units worldwide. Critics praised its narrative, visuals, gameplay, and innovative mechanics, and celebrated its ability to rival console RPGs, with minor criticisms directed toward its slow start and occasional mechanical quirks. The game spawned a series that includes three games and appearances in other media.

Gameplay

See caption

Golden SunTemplate:'s form of magic, Psynergy, can be used in and out of combat. Here, an ice spell is used to create a navigable path of frozen ice pillars from puddles of water.

Golden Sun is a role-playing video game. The primary game mode is single-player and story-based, in which the player controls a cast of four characters as they embark on a quest, interact with other characters, battle monsters, and acquire new abilities and equipment.<ref name="manual">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Golden Sun features an optional battling mode accessible from the menu screen, in which players can enter a team from their saved game files into an arena environment to battle CPU-controlled enemies. There is also a two-person player versus player battle mode, which requires each player to have a copy of the game and a Game Link Cable.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp<ref name="nintendopoweradvance_2001-03">Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Rp

The overworld of Golden Sun, which players explore from a top-down perspective, contains towns, caves, and dungeons.<ref name="nintendopower_149">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Environments often contain puzzles, which require the player to perform actions such as creating makeshift bridges by pushing logs into rivers or shifting the track of a mine cart to gain access to new areas.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp<ref name="ignreview"/> Many puzzles require use of the game's magic spells, called "Psynergy".<ref name="psynergy">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="armchairempire-review">Template:Cite web</ref> Psynergy is used in both combat and the environment; for example, the "Whirlwind" spell, which damages enemies in battle, is also used out of battle to remove overgrown foliage blocking the player's path.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp Psynergy comes in four elements: Venus (rocks and plants), Mars (fire and heat), Jupiter (wind and electricity), and Mercury (water and ice).<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp Players can return to previous locations in the game to finish puzzles which they previously could not solve due to lacking a specific Psynergy spell.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp

A screenshot of the Golden Sun game. Four characters look as an eruption of yellow light emerges from the enemy.

Battles in Golden Sun have many special effects. Here, a weapon-specific attack is unleashed by the sword Gaia Blade.

Golden Sun contains both random monster encounters, featuring randomly selected enemies,<ref name="allgame">Template:Cite web</ref> and boss battles that advance the story. During combat, the camera shifts to a pseudo-3D view, spinning and zooming depending on the attacks and items used.<ref name="nintendopower_149"/><ref name="ign_2001-11-09"/><ref name="nintendogamer_2001-12_rev"/> In battle, players must defeat enemies while keeping their own party alive through items and Psynergy that restore life and supplement defense.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp The player receives a "Game Over" if each character's hit points are reduced to zero; if this happens, the player loses money and the party is returned to the sanctum in the last visited town. After winning a battle, players receive experience points, coins, and occasionally items.<ref name="rpg">Template:Cite web</ref>

Players can change their characters' class and powers using collectable creatures called Djinn.<ref name="gamepro"/> There are 28 Djinn in Golden Sun, seven for each of the four elements.<ref name="nintendopoweradvance_2001-03"/>Template:Rp They are encountered in the overworld or in dungeons, and either join the player willingly or after being defeated in combat.<ref name="nintendogamer_2001-12_rev"/> Assigning Djinn to different characters changes their character class, enabling them to use different psynergy, as well as statistics such as hit points or defense.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp<ref name="nintendogamer_2001-12_rev"/> Djinn can either be "Set" to a player or put on "Standby". Each Set Djinni has a special ability which can be invoked during combat by the character it is attached to, which includes enhanced elemental attacks, buffing/debuffing spells, healing/restoration spells, and other effects. After being used, the Djinni shifts to "Standby" mode until it is "Set" on the character again.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp In Standby mode, Djinn do not contribute to character statistics, but can be used for powerful elemental summon spells; after being used for summoning, they return to the Set position after a cooldown period.<ref name="manual"/>

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Golden Sun takes place in the fantasy world of "Weyard"—a massive, earth-like environment with several major continents and oceans. Weyard is governed by the mythological concept of the classical elements. Matter consists of any combination of the four base elements: Venus (earth), Mars (fire), Mercury (water), and Jupiter (wind).<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp These elements can be manipulated by the now lost powers of alchemy. Certain people, called Adepts, can use Psynergy (magic) based on the elements.<ref name="nintendopoweradvance_2001-03"/>Template:Rp

The player controls four teenaged Adepts in Golden Sun: Isaac, his close friend Garet, Ivan, and Mia. A fifth character playable in the game's exposition sequence is Jenna, another childhood friend to Isaac. The primary antagonists of the game are Saturos and Menardi, powerful and talented Adepts who seek to restore Alchemy to the world. They are assisted by the powerful and mysterious Alex, who was formerly Mia's apprentice; and Jenna's older brother, Felix, who is indebted to Saturos for saving his life.<ref name="manual"/>Template:Rp<ref name="nintendopoweradvance_2001-03"/>Template:Rp

Plot

In Weyard's ancient past, the power of alchemy enabled the development of great civilizations. However, it also caused worldwide conflict that subsided only after it was sealed away. The keys to unlocking alchemy are four elemental stars hidden within the mountain shrine, Mt. Aleph, which is guarded by the town of Vale at the mountain's base. In the game's prologue, Saturos and Menardi lead a raiding party into Mt. Aleph to seize the elemental stars for themselves. They accidentally activate protective traps, causing a thunderstorm and rock slide. In the ensuing chaos, Felix, Isaac's father, and Jenna's parents are presumed dead.

Three years later, Isaac, Garet, and Jenna join their teacher, Kraden, in his research of Mt. Aleph. They are confronted by Saturos and Menardi, now assisted by Alex and a surviving Felix, who coerce Isaac into giving them three of the four stars. After being forced to flee as the volcano erupts, Saturos and Menardi abduct Jenna and Kraden as bargaining chips. Isaac and Garet are saved by the guardian of Mt. Aleph, the Wise One. He instructs the teens to prevent Saturos' group from casting the stars into their respective elemental lighthouses across Weyard, which will unseal alchemy's power.

Isaac and Garet pursue Saturos' group to the Mercury Lighthouse, meeting Ivan and Mia during their travels. Despite their best efforts, they fail to prevent Saturos from activating Mercury Lighthouse. Saturos' group leaves for the next Lighthouse with Isaac's party in pursuit. In the ensuing chase, Isaac learns that Saturos has taken another Adept hostage: the female Jupiter Adept, Sheba. Saturos and Menardi activate the Venus Lighthouse before Isaac's party confronts them. Saturos and Menardi merge to form a massive two-headed dragon in an effort to defeat the party, but they kill them. The remnants of Saturos's group continue their quest to light the remaining two lighthouses, with Jenna, Sheba, and Kraden still with them. The game ends as Isaac's party boards a ship to sail Weyard's open seas and continue their mission.

Development

Camelot Software Planning spent between twelve and eighteen months developing Golden Sun, considered a long time for a handheld video game;<ref name="development-time">Template:Cite web</ref> IGN described the finished product as a testament to the positive results a long development cycle can bring.<ref name="ignreview"/> Camelot was no stranger to role-playing games, having previously developed Shining Force for Sega, and Mario Golf and Mario Tennis for Nintendo—sports games with role-playing elements.<ref name="ign2prev">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nintendogamer_2001-12_rev">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Golden Sun was originally intended as a single game for the Nintendo 64 console, but evolved into a duology for the handheld Game Boy Advance (pictured).

Camelot originally planned to create a single game instead of a series, and in the early stages of the project created a game design document for Golden Sun on the Nintendo 64 console. When it became apparent the Nintendo 64 was being replaced by the GameCube, Camelot shifted their focus to making a game on the handheld Game Boy Advance.<ref name="goldensun64">Template:Cite web</ref> Due to the developer's ambitions for the scope of the game and the hardware limitations of a single Game Boy Advance cartridge, the single game was expanded to become two. Scenario writer Hiroyuki Takahashi and director Shugo Takahashi had previously designed Shining Force III, where the story involved playing through the perspectives of both the "good" and "bad" characters. They incorporated elements of this storytelling methodology into the two-game setup of the Golden Sun series, having the player control the protagonists in Golden Sun and the antagonists in the followup.<ref name="gameplan">Template:Cite web</ref>

A major goal with Golden Sun was to make the game's magic usable outside battle for puzzles, and offer players a high level of freedom in how to approach events, rather than a linear story that could only be experienced one way. Camelot's President Hiroyuki Takahashi asserted that players would be unable to experience all story paths in a single playthrough, and that this combined with the game's multiplayer mode would add to Golden SunTemplate:'s replay value.<ref name="ign_2001-08-01">Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2000, Camelot showed an early but playable version at the Nintendo Space World Expo in Japan.<ref name="ign_2001-11-09">Template:Cite web</ref> The game was intended to launch alongside the Game Boy Advance, but slipped to the summer and released in Japan in August 2001. While it was eagerly anticipated in the west, players had to make do with Japanese-language imports until the game was localized and released in North America in November, and Europe in February 2002.<ref name="ign_2001-11-09"/>

Reception

Template:Video game reviews Golden Sun received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.<ref name="metacritic"/> Nintendo Power called it "the richest, most intricate RPG ever to hit a handheld",<ref name="NP"/> while Jason D'Aprile of GameSpy and Andy McNamara of Game Informer labeled it one of the best RPGs on any platform.<ref name="gireview"/><ref name="GSpy"/> Craig Harris of IGN and Christian Nutt of Electronic Gaming Monthly praised Camelot's expertise,<ref name="EGM"/><ref name="ignreview"/> and Rick Moulton of GamesRadar highlighted its addictive quality, making it feel like a console game.<ref name="GRadar"/> EurogamerTemplate:'s Ronan Jennings wrote that prior to Golden Sun, Nintendo treated the Game Boy Advance as "nothing more than a SNES emulator by its makers [...] [Golden Sun] not only compared favorably to 16-bit classics of its kind, it even surpassed the majority of them."<ref name="eurogamer_2004-03-05">Template:Cite web</ref>

Golden Sun was regarded as visually spectacular for a GBA title, with D'Aprile claiming it was graphically better than some PlayStation RPGs.<ref name="GSpy"/> The game was lauded for its colorful, detailed environments and dynamic battle sequences with particle effects and a rotating camera.<ref name="gamespot"/><ref name="GSpy"/><ref name="ignreview"/><ref name="NP"/> The visuals were described as "elegant", "gorgeous", and "a marvel", with Robert Hughes of Nintendo Life noting their enduring appeal on the Wii U Virtual Console.<ref name="ignreview"/><ref name="NLife"/><ref name="NP"/> Ricardo Torres of GameSpot mentioned that the GBA's screen can make the visuals hard to appreciate in poor lighting, but clarified that this is a hardware limitation rather than a game flaw.<ref name="gamespot"/>

The story was praised for its depth and character development, though its slow start and reliance on familiar RPG tropes was noted. Harris emphasized the tightly integrated, intricate plot, warning that distractions can make it hard to follow.<ref name="ignreview"/> Nutt said that although the game's story is "by the book", the characters are elevated by excellent writing and translation.<ref name="EGM"/> Miguel Concepcion of Extended Play highlighted the cliffhanger ending, which may leave players eager for the sequel.<ref name="Xplay"/> D'Aprile and Hughes appreciated the character-driven storytelling, despite some clichéd elements.<ref name="GSpy"/><ref name="NLife"/> Moulton, Harris and Hughes noted the slow-paced opening, with excessive dialogue and unnecessary yes/no prompts that feel contrived, and Hughes mentioned the story can be hard to follow due to verbose chatter.<ref name="GRadar"/><ref name="ignreview"/><ref name="NLife"/>

The gameplay was lauded for its user-friendly menus, engaging puzzles, and fast-paced battles. The Psynergy mechanic was praised for its dual use in combat and environmental puzzle-solving, such as moving objects or reading minds, which Hughes said added a Zelda-like interactivity to exploration.<ref name="EGM"/><ref name="gamespot"/><ref name="GSpy"/><ref name="NLife"/><ref name="NP"/> The Djinn were highlighted for their strategic depth and customization, with Hughes noting the risk/reward dynamic of using Djinn in battle.<ref name="gamespot"/><ref name="ignreview"/><ref name="NLife"/><ref name="NP"/> The turn-based combat was described as fast, visually exciting, and accessible, though Torres critiqued the inability to retarget enemies if one dies mid-turn, and McNamara found the battles too easy.<ref name="gireview"/><ref name="gamepro"/><ref name="gamespot"/> The puzzles were regarded as fun and challenging, requiring clever use of Psynergy, though Hughes noted some frustration with precise positioning for Psynergy use.<ref name="EGM"/><ref name="GSpy"/><ref name="NLife"/><ref name="NP"/> Harris was annoyed by random battles disrupting exploration, and Hughes warned that the Djinn and Psynergy mechanics are initially poorly explained.<ref name="ignreview"/><ref name="NLife"/>

The soundtrack was regarded strongly,<ref name="EGM"/><ref name="gamepro"/><ref name="Xplay"/> with Nintendo Power praising the authentic-sounding bass, percussion, and woodwinds,<ref name="NP"/> while Harris highlighted the use of sampled pan flutes and strings, recommending headphones.<ref name="ignreview"/> Hughes found the soundtrack competent but lacking memorable tracks, though he deemed the battle theme a stand-out.<ref name="NLife"/>

Concepcion and Nintendo PowerTemplate:'s Christopher Shepperd praised the game's unmatched length for a handheld RPG, with Concepcion estimating over 20 hours of gameplay,<ref name="NP"/><ref name="Xplay"/> though Torres noted it is shorter than some console RPGs.<ref name="gamespot"/> Torres and D'Aprile regarded the Battle Mode as a novel addition,<ref name="gamespot"/><ref name="GSpy"/> while Moulton and Concepcion cited Djinn collection and side quests as extensions to the game's playtime.<ref name="GRadar"/><ref name="Xplay"/> Harris found the Battle Mode underwhelming,<ref name="ignreview"/> and Hughes warned that the game's slow start may deter impatient players.<ref name="NLife"/>

Sales and awards

Golden Sun was a commercial success,<ref name="eurogamer_2004-06-28">Template:Cite web</ref> and sold 740,000 copies in the United States and another 338,000 in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="japanchartsgba">Template:Cite web</ref> It was followed by Golden Sun: The Lost Age in 2002, and Golden Sun: Dark Dawn in 2010. Golden Sun was re-released for the Virtual Console via the Wii U eShop in April 2014, and was released for the Nintendo Classics service in January 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Golden Sun won "Handheld Game of the Year" at the 2002 Golden Joystick Awards.<ref name="eurogamer_2002-10-28">Template:Cite web</ref> During the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Golden Sun in the "Hand-Held Game of the Year" and "Console Role-Playing" categories.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was a nominee in GameSpotTemplate:'s annual "Best Game Boy Advance Game" in 2001 and, among console games, "Best Role-Playing Game" award categories.<ref name=bestworst2001>Template:Cite web</ref> Golden Sun was ranked 94 on IGNTemplate:'s Readers Choice Top 100 games ever.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The publication later named the title the 24th-best Game Boy Advance game of all time.<ref name="24th">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was rated the 31st best game made on a Nintendo system in Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games list.<ref name="NP Top 200">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2023, Time Extension included the game on their "Best JRPGs of All Time" list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• The official Nintendo Golden Sun website Template:In lang
• The official Camelot Golden Sun website Template:Webarchive Template:In lang