Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

RPG smarts and exploration thrills combine into a brilliantly driven adventure. [Issue#56, p.51]

The DS does great RPGs and great Zeldas. Now it does both at once. Essential.

An astounding return for the prodigal Sun.

It was a long wait, but Golden Sun fans can breathe easy; Camelot have still got it. More of a tranquil sunset and one of the finest swansongs the DS could ever have asked for, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn provides gamers the full package; interesting overworld and story, challenging puzzles, and fun combat, with ease of play no matter what the player's experience.

A perfect continuation of the Golden Sun series which will appeal to all, even if seasoned players will find it a little too easy.

The story of Golden Sun DS is wonderful. The game feels like the GBA version with all the positive aspects. Never change a running system.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is an excellent JRPG. Surprisingly, gameplay is extremely close to previous installments in the franchise and it's quite baffling Camelot did not dare to do more with this third episode. Despite this flaw in originality, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a well done and refined lengthy adventure but it does not win over Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Sky as the DS game of the year.

An accessible RPG with fantastic dungeon design and charming graphics, but light on story.

There is something for every RPG fan in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn: a superior blend of puzzle-solving and gameplay for newcomers and the same charm from the original GBA games for series veterans. The battles are fun, the puzzles are rewarding, and the overall game is addicting, all ingredients needed for a stellar RPG.

With the 3DS set to take over the handheld world in a few months, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn may just be the last great RPG for the legendary Nintendo DS.

The third Golden Sun follows a classic approach to RPG which might disappoint some, but will please those who love japanese style games.

It's taken a long time for this sun to rise again, but Dark Dawn is a substantial RPG that will appeal to both newcomers and veterans.

Once again, this is easily my favourite RPG title of the year and if you're looking for good old fashioned action and adventuring than this game is for you.

Camelot doesn't risk and create a game not so memorable as its predecessors but still very suitable for fans of the Golden Sun series.

If we haven't stressed this enough, this is not a game for everyone. Its glacial pace and text-heavy gameplay will put most gamers to sleep. But those looking for a deep combat system, a complex story, and a long-awaited new entry in a beloved franchise will absolutely love the many hours they spend working through Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.

The new Golden Sun is a nice sequel, but there is nothing special or unique in this game.

Even if it won't be remembered neither as the best one in the trilogy, nor as one of the best JRPG in the rich DS line up, Golden Sun Dark Dawn is nonetheless a well above average game, imbued with a deep combat system and nice puzzles.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is mostly what we were waiting for in a sequel to the classic original titles. With just about everything you can expect from the series brought over onto the DS, this game features the high production values and classic jRPG gameplay coupled with the rewarding puzzles and unique Djinn battle system.

With just about everything you can expect from the series brought over onto the DS, this game features the high production values and classic JRPG gameplay coupled with the rewarding puzzles and unique Djinn battle system.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn delivers many hours of fun for role playing game lovers out there, and both the main story and the sidequests get better as the game progresses. The story may be a little jumbled at times, but the combat mechanics more than make up for it.

As part of a saga, however, Dark Dawn leaves a lot to be desired, even more considering all the commotion regarding the series' new rise. And no matter it's quality or commendable status as an RPG, the game is inevitably a dark dawn to Golden Sun fans.

By comparison with DQ IX, Golden Dawn Dark Sun is an experience that brings together less and remains close to tradition. By then, some fans of the series will feel too girded with a familiar atmosphere, despite the visible efforts to raise the quality levels of the series.

A fine addition to the roleplaying game lineup on the DS, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is excellent proof that Nintendo can continue to build their franchises and aim for bigger and better things.

In the third part of the Golden Sun saga much is the same. The Djinn system is very entertaining and gives the game that extra something that lifts it above many other turn based RPGs.

Bar a handful of bosses, Dark Dawn is a pushover, never requiring you to brave the combat's depths. Yes, it grants breathing room for testing unlikely combinations, but we'd have liked to put our mastery to the test. [Jan 2011, p.101]

Golden Sun is a very enjoyable game and one that remains true to the series. Despite the game's shortcomings when it comes to dialogue and pacing, Dark Dawn is fun while it lasts and a worthy addition to the series. Here's to hoping the wait for the next Golden Sun game won't be nearly as long.

With a lengthy central quest and plenty of side missions, there's enough Golden Sun here to illuminate many a long winter evening.

Undoubtedly, Camelot has faithfully reproduced the GBA episodes' formula, and that includes its old-school narrative approach. With the exception of the brilliant transposition of this universe in 3D, the actual changes are not so numerous. Of course we can find some nice adjustments, but they fail to balance out a lack of personality. We still think all the qualities of a Golden Sun game are still there : a solid RPG with an excellent combat system, good puzzles, and of course an army of oh-so-useful Djinns to collect.

Still! It's impossible not to love Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, because even despite the ridiculous easiness and the stereotypically meandering adventure, it still has a ton of heart (both the lighthearted and heartwarming varieties), and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Having waited seven years for another helping of Golden Sun, cozy is exactly what I was looking for.

One of the best japanese RPGs that we've played this season, probably the most complete Golden Sun so far - we expected something more from its script, not just the plain and simple story that we've suffered several times, but still, it's a must-have no doubt.

The vastly improved graphics offer a kind of detail you normally wouldn't find on the DS.

End of the day, it's a must for fans of Golden Sun or indeed any fan of portable RPG games.

Golden Sun is great franchise, and Dark Dawn can comfortably stand next to its excellent prequels. The world set in place here is intersting and fun to explore.

For all its complexity, this is a game that remains virtually open-armed in its inviting accessibility.

Dark Dawn might not be the major upgrade many were hoping for, but it is yet another solid DS role-playing adventure and a golden opportunity to revisit yet another classic RPG series.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

All things considered, Dark Dawn is still the game series fans have been waiting seven years for.

It's definitely worth checking out, but I'd probably temper any nostalgia-based excitement for it.

It's like RPG comfort food. You've been here before, you know what to expect, so sit down – grab your stylus, and prepare for another journey.

Strictly as an RPG though, Dark Down is a worthwhile endeavor.

No doubt about it, you'll definitely get your money's worth here. It may not be the most memorable or challenging RPG you'll play, and is definitely not without its frustrations, but Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a respectable package - with sufficient character and quality to hold your interest right through to the end. It's a good game for younger players to cut their RPG teeth on… and for the fans, of course.

The difficulty is too low, with virtually no challenge until the very end of the game, when it suddenly ramps up to interesting levels.

Dark Dawn may not be a great game, but it's striving to become something better. Despite its flaws, it has charm enough to be worth a look -- even on a platform glutted with RPGs.

If you're searching for a first-class RPG with great writing and complex combat, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn shouldn't even be on your radar. But if you can handle an unhealthy dose of JRPG stereotypes and don't mind breezing through encounters, some fun is waiting to be unearthed here.

But if you don't expect this sequel to do anything other than continue the same story and gameplay that turned a few heads years ago, Dark Dawn is one of the better RPGs to hit the DS this late in 2010.

It doesn't reach the same heights as some of the truly great JRPG's available on the DS but it still provides plenty of solid role playing action and introduces a new generation of handheld gamers to the world of Golden Sun.

While it may never be considered a classic, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is certainly a DS RPG worth playing.

It's got some interesting mechanics to it, but the game ultimately feels somewhat dated.

People new to the franchise will appreciate the efforts taken to acclimate them to the mythology and mechanics of Wayard, but the lack of nostalgia might diminish the title's overall appeal.

Golden Sun is one of the games you think you've already played... and more than once. If you are not familiar with JRPGs or you suffer from Alzheimer it may entertain you much more. [Issue#200]

A good RPG, but visually it seems more a Gameboy Advance game than one published for the Nintendo DS.

Way to simple and some boring dialogue, but awesome graphics and a smart leveling system makes up for it.

From the simple but colorful and dynamic polygons of this new Golden Sun DS, it's pretty much the Sega Saturn that stares at us. If only she knew how much we miss her.

Dark Dawn is a good RPG, mainly thanks to the refined combat system and the intelligent puzzles. The game lacks a bit of originality and challenge, though. The end also comes very unexpected.

There's not a whole lot to say about Dark Dawn. It's a polished, visually-appealing, cliché-filled, trope-ridden jRPG that is seemingly made exclusively for the fans of the previous games.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a traditional RPG with a great technical value. The graphic is sharp and the soundtrack is perfect for every kind of situation on the screen. The lack of new ideas, anyway, is quite a problem for everyone who is looking for new emotions.

The obscure names and redundant dialog can reach levels of absurdity, and sometimes you'll want to yell at your characters to just shut up and get on with the adventuring, but the puzzles and presentation make the complex plot worth slogging through.

Are you willing to put up with a particularly long opening that's nearly devoid of tactics, challenging puzzles, or meaningful plot developments? Because if you are, a pretty fantastic fantasy role-playing game awaits. If not, well, there are plenty of other RPG alternatives on the DS.

It may be handsomely made, but that doesn't save Golden Sun: Dark Dawn from being a disappointment.

Series and genre fans are well provided for but it's a shame the technical achievements aren't in service of a more adventurous game.