Golden Sun

 Game Boy Advance
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 335 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 294 out of 335
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 335
  3. Negative: 18 out of 335
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  1. SeanK.
    Dec 22, 2003
    10
    An awesome game with amazing graphics and an easy to follow storyline.
  2. Me
    Feb 13, 2003
    10
    This game was awesome! The scenery and battles were beautifully designed. It had the perfect balance of every aspect. The characters ( especially Ivan ) were the best ever. I actually felt like I was a part of the adventure.
  3. xxx
    Apr 27, 2003
    10
    this game is sooo great but it is too bad that there is no golden sun 3.
  4. EDWINM.
    Jun 19, 2004
    10
    I don't use my gba (game boy advance) to much, but this game is addicting. Battle scheme to plot it has you hanging. Even with the side quest. I keep going...This is a must play!!!
  5. Kelly
    Aug 18, 2004
    10
    Best game ever, hope there's a #3 soon. anyone who thinks the game sucks, sucks!
  6. Shnafalgen
    Oct 19, 2005
    7
    Other then GREAT graphics and the simplicity to the conversations, the game got so boring I felt as if I were about about to pull my hair out. Everytime I got to a new part in the game their was something, just one little peice of the puzzle I was missing. It got increasingly irratating to have to go backwards once you took a step fowards. I gave this game a seven because going back made Other then GREAT graphics and the simplicity to the conversations, the game got so boring I felt as if I were about about to pull my hair out. Everytime I got to a new part in the game their was something, just one little peice of the puzzle I was missing. It got increasingly irratating to have to go backwards once you took a step fowards. I gave this game a seven because going back made me stronger but, it got old, fast.… Expand
  7. B.F.Y.M.
    Dec 2, 2005
    9
    Wonderful seriously. But the ending could have been better.
  8. SarahK.
    Sep 15, 2005
    9
    It was really fun and some of the characters were cute, I thought it was challenging but fun.
  9. JamesB.
    Jun 24, 2007
    10
    Best RPG I've ever played, and I've played the big console titles like Final Fantasy VI, X, and XII. It's unfortunate that there aren't more RPGs made like this. The Mode 7 battle system works really well, too... I would never expect to see a graphics engine of such high quality on the GBA.
  10. iNSOMANiAC
    Feb 16, 2008
    10
    Its very rarely I would score a game 10 but if any game deserves it, Golden sun does. As has been said by many other people it is on of the best RPGs ever created, beautifully crafted excellence. I was completely bored with turned based rpgs for many years until I turned this little beauty on. Its a mixture of the puzzles of Zelda and the fighting of final fantasy. Its the little details Its very rarely I would score a game 10 but if any game deserves it, Golden sun does. As has been said by many other people it is on of the best RPGs ever created, beautifully crafted excellence. I was completely bored with turned based rpgs for many years until I turned this little beauty on. Its a mixture of the puzzles of Zelda and the fighting of final fantasy. Its the little details that make it rise above the rest, the fact that you get random battles less in areas you've already traveled, or the huge combinations of djinn powers possible. Some of the puzzles are fiendish, but fair. The size and detail in the game is nothing short of incredible for a game on a gameboy (and im saying this in 2008 !). Nothing before matched it for sheer quality and nothing has matched it since (except of course, golden sun 2) Just buy this and number 2, and pray for Golden Sun 3 on DS.… Expand
  11. RayC.
    Dec 28, 2004
    10
    This game is one of the ultimate rpg's it has almost everything you desire in a rpg with a few exceptions like the battle where you have no choice but lose and the extreamly long cut scenes and talking.
  12. hector_bcn98
    Aug 11, 2023
    8
    Por más que la nostalgia le pese a muchos, no es la obra maestra que nos venden. Es un buen jrpg, con mucho mérito de crear entornos 3D en una Game Boy Advance, pero eso hace que el juego gráficamente sea algo feúcho. Además, las mecánicas son clásicas y simples.

    Las magias y sus combinaciones mediante djinn son tan variadas como confusas. Mazmorras con puzzles muy fáciles y pocos jefes    Por más que la nostalgia le pese a muchos, no es la obra maestra que nos venden. Es un buen jrpg, con mucho mérito de crear entornos 3D en una Game Boy Advance, pero eso hace que el juego gráficamente sea algo feúcho. Además, las mecánicas son clásicas y simples.

    Las magias y sus combinaciones mediante djinn son tan variadas como confusas. Mazmorras con puzzles muy fáciles y pocos jefes finales. La historia tampoco es demasiado interesante, no conocemos a ningún villano, por no decir que aparecen tres veces en todo el juego. Muy buen juego si quieres un jrpg para alguien que nunca ha jugado uno o es un crío, pero no creo que sea extraordinario.    … Expand
  13. Ap616
    Aug 10, 2023
    10
    Golden Sun + Golden Sun: The Lost Age are probably my favorite games of all-time, and I love a 'lot' of games...

    There is so much content packed in this journey throughout the 2-game joint story. There's a lot of dialogue with an interesting story. It's not Final Fantasy or maybe Dragon Quest length, but not short either if you do a lot of optional things. The battles are quick-paced    Golden Sun + Golden Sun: The Lost Age are probably my favorite games of all-time, and I love a 'lot' of games...

    There is so much content packed in this journey throughout the 2-game joint story. There's a lot of dialogue with an interesting story. It's not Final Fantasy or maybe Dragon Quest length, but not short either if you do a lot of optional things. The battles are quick-paced with little-to-no wasted time at the beginning or ends of them which is nice compared to some other RPGs, and also has some definite strategy involved for optional super bosses. The weapons, equipment, unleashes, psynergy, summons, Djinn, puzzles are all quite cool aspects of the game. The great puzzles & psynergy used outside of battles are fun & varied too! The sprites & visuals are phenomenal for the Game Boy Advance, a standout game for the graphical capabilities of the system. Also, the OST is a particular highlight; the person who made the music put their soul into the game, developing the different tracks. All the tracks are very nostalgic for me & quite good, like Final Fantasy IX's OST. Check out Coaltergeist's YouTube channel for remastered Golden Sun tracks if you want a taste.

    This game is definitely up there with some of the bests from the GBA system for sure(if not besting them all in my humble opinion)... great games such as: Pokemon, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Advance, Mario & Luigi: Super Star Saga, Advance Wars, Metroid, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, and Fire Emblem.

    If you like JRPGs, lots of extra content, & want to play one of the absolute best to grace the GBA, definitely check out both Golden Sun & Golden Sun: The Lost Age.

    Thanks for reading, and have a great day!    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2001
1
#1 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2001
1
#1 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Total Video Games
    90
    Hard-core RPG fans may feel the game is too derivative, to a certain extent it is, but for the rest of us Golden Sun is both a fantastic game and a nice trip down memory lane.
    Read full review
  2. GMR Magazine
    90
    A deep combat engine and brilliant graphics make this the best RPG available on the GBA. [Feb 2003, p.97]
  3. Thunderbolt
    90
    As one of the most critical Nintendo fans around, it's nice to see a game come out for the GBA that's original, pretty, fun, and doesn't involve any one of their stupid mascots.
    Read full review
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