golden sun: dark dawn review

Unfortunately the characters don't seem to know when to shut up. As such, I tend to replay one or both of the games every few years, and find myself continuously stunned by their excellence in all categories. Review: Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. Many areas in the game require you to pay attention to your environment and use the appropriate psyenergy to help you navigate seemingly impassable areas. Dark Dawn is a perfectly serviceable JRPG, and fans of the two previous Golden Sun titles will undoubtedly enjoy it. Replay Value: 3 - Final Verdict - Slightly above average for a first-time game, in part to the ingenious puzzles and blindness to past superiority, but … So for a major part of the game the parties stay pretty similar, and the game feels very standard and unoriginal. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is an excellent JRPG. One thing to note about Dark Dawn's combat is that it makes use of the time-honored random encounter system that finds you jumped by foes while making your way around the world. 4.0 out of 5 stars Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Review. It takes a while before players earn enough of them to really customize their party. The story is pretty interesting, if a little derivative. The game takes place 30 years after the GBA games. on December 2, 2010 at 7:01PM PST. The move ability, for instance, lets you shift objects around, clearing paths for you or creating stepping stones in certain areas, while the grow ability lets you quickly raise plants from saplings into climbable ladders. Review: Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Delivers Generic Japanese RPG Fun. Ricardo Torres At its heart, "Golden Sun: Dark Dawn" is a classic turn-based RPG, that incorporates a handful of unique mechanics that continues down the trail blazed by … There's a lot to like in Nintendo and Camelot Software's Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. It's the classic, turn based battle system that serves as the backbone for nearly every handheld JRPG. Thirty years have passed since the events of puzzle-heavy role-playing games Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age for the Game Boy Advance, and the Heroes of Vale watch over a very different world. The graphics here have got to … Although it takes a bit of getting used to, the djinn system is very useful and keeps combat interesting. The visuals in the game are some of the DS' best this year. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is, through and through, one of the best looking Nintendo DS games I've ever seen, both when it comes to design and technology. The Djinn system works pretty well, and it makes the game feel more original. This inconsistency keeps Golden Sun from settling into a storytelling groove. However, if you have played the previous games, you'll be pleased to see a plethora of nods to the people, places, and events in the GBA titles, which adds some weight to the game's story. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a good RPG, but it's not the best RPG to come out on the DS this year. How could I not be? Each turn players can select to attack or defend. By Pottiri, updated 12/06/2010. Gord Is A New Dark Fantasy Survival RPG With City-Sim Gameplay, GameSpot's Play For All Charity Gaming Event Returns For 2021. While the summon cinematics can get a little lengthy, you can hurry them along by skipping straight to the damage-dealing conclusion. It takes effort to use this extra game mechanic and do the Summons and I found myself not bothering because it was faster and more efficient to battle enemies normally. The role-playing game is a proper sequel to … The Djinn are also used for summons, which is the best looking part of the game. So when the Golden Sun Reloaded hack appeared on this subreddit, I was highly excited. For that fan base, Dark Dawn will prove to be a flawed but overwhelmingly enjoyable game. Golden Sun: Dark Dawngame picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off with amazing graphics and beautifully animated summoning abilities that … That's not too great a surprise; Golden Sun and its sequel were very well-made RPGs with interesting plots and a great battle system. The action is set in the fantastical, and flat, world of Weyard and explores the aftermath of the events that transpired in previous games. Making your way around the world of Weyard is a pleasant experience overall thanks to Golden Sun: Dark Dawn's presentation, which ranks among the best on the DS. The game's audio, which is light on voice, is very appealing and includes a variety of music tracks that get better as you get further in the game. Open this photo in gallery: Published November 29, 2010 Updated November 29, 2010 . Golden Sun: Dark Dawn review Return Of a Bright Series Summary: If you liked RPGs and were a handheld gamer then there was a certain pair of games you simply couldn't do … The characters will talk way more than they need to for the story to progress. But they also serve as the building blocks to the class system. Nearly every puzzle simply requires using the magic spell you most recently acquired. Recommendation: If you're looking for a cheerful, brightly colored portable JRPG, Dark Dawn fits the bill. By Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2012. The story begins thirty years after the events of the last game, and while the Golden Sun has solved many of the problems in Weyard, some new ones have come into being. But for all its charm, there are some aspects of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn that dull its otherwise winning sheen. The ability to use the DS touch screen is helpful but still doesn't quite cut it. Attacks are broken up into a physical weapon based attack, or a magic spell, called Psynergy. It's … It's by no means bad, in fact I enjoyed playing it quite a bit, and for fans of the series this is a nice addition to the storyline. The game's localization is solid but inconsistent, with bland conversations and obligatory exposition mixing unevenly with flashes of the lively humor and sass seen in Nintendo's better RPG efforts. While it may never be considered a classic, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is certainly a DS RPG worth playing. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Review. However, elemental creatures called djinn are the real perks in a fight. Unfortunately, that's the best that can be said about it. Longtime fans will be especially pleased to get the chance to adventure in Weyard again, while newcomers won't feel left out. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn's structure follows the basic RPG template--explore the world, go to towns and meet people, and grow your traveling party up to eight while earning experience and increasing Matthew's level. Such is the state of Weyard as you enter Dark Dawn, the latest game in the Golden Sun franchise. {I love Dark Dawn too, but this review will be focusing just on the first two games.} While the world was saved from doom through the release of elemental energies known as alchemy, there have been consequences. Published November 29, 2010 . Most of the puzzles are pretty basic though, making the game feel more like its geared towards a younger audience. Looking back, my E3 preview of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn was definitely mixed. Once you've used a djinn in combat, it shifts to a summoning state that lets you use it to perform powerful attacks that call mystic creatures in for a beatdown of your foes. GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers. To both newcomers and old-school Golden Sunners alike, it’s going to be a … The role-playing game is a proper sequel to the fan-favorite Game Boy Advance games, and it features an interesting story, impressive visuals, appealing gameplay, and flashes of charm. Parents need to know that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a turn-based role-playing game in which players use magic and melee weapons to fight fantastical creatures. NDS Review - 'Golden Sun: Dark Dawn' by Dustin Chadwell on Dec. 12, 2010 @ 2:00 a.m. PST Golden Sun: Dark Dawn picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn kicks off thirty years after the events of the first two games. Much more of the game is devoted to figuring out how to get through tricky temples and caves than it is about leveling up to fight a boss. This becomes especially true when your party gains the insight ability, which offers clues on what you can interact with in an area. The other big problem is that for a long time, there's just no reason to use Djinn. If you've already played most of the other RPGs that came out on the DS this year, then by all means let Golden Sun: Dark Dawn be the game to wrap up your 2010. You encounter, and possibly collect, more than 70 of the critters during the adventure. The normal party spells work just fine. This article was published more than 10 years ago. Although there's a good amount of challenge in the game's puzzles, they're never too difficult. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is an excellent DS role playing game and continuation of the series. Turns out that the same crap that threatened to destroy the world back in the day is happening again, and its up to the kids to stop it before the world is literally torn apart. Despite the upbeat ending of the last game, "and they all lived happily ever after" doesn't quite apply to how things have turned out. Each djinn is also aligned with one of the four elements and can be "set" to characters to enhance all their statistics as well as used in combat. Not bad, but just not very noteworthy, compared to the other big RPGs that have come out this year. There have been a handful of great RPGs on the DS this year, both first and third party. Following so resolutely in its daddy’s footsteps ensures that Dark Dawn is a strong and capable RPG in its own right, but Camelot has to accept the fact that it … Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a good RPG, but it's not the best RPG to come out on the DS this year. 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You initially get around on foot, via a traditional world map, although as your access to Weyard opens up, you can hit the high seas in a boat. This is a really good game, but I did have a few issues with it. If you're not familiar with the original games, don't fret; key words and phrases in conversations can be clicked on to access information in an in-game encyclopedia for those who like their lore. It's a solid, fun RPG, though not as robust as some of the other games this year. The violence is moderate -- kids see only a flash of light when enemies are hit. A great RPG, but mileage may vary. It's a sequel to the Game Boy Advance series, and continues the story. Each djinn is capable of executing an offensive, defensive, or enhancing move in combat that is always useful in some way. However it just doesn't stand out as much as it should. I don't want to spoil any of it because this is a game worth checking out, but here are the basics. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a very story driven game. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is competent—perhaps even very competent. The results for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn are as pleasurable as I imagined, even if it’s not as memorable as its predecessors. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn picks up 30 years after Golden Sun: The Lost Age left off on the Game Boy Advance, casting you as the children of the previous game's main characters. Playing as the son of the hero Isaac in the first game, what starts out as an innocent trek to fix a broken machine soon turns into, as these things often do, an attempt to right the world and defeat evil along the way. © 2021 GAMESPOT, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. It's got some interesting mechanics to it, but the game ultimately feels somewhat dated. In terms of pacing, Golden Sun is pretty deliberate which, given that you're looking at a 30-hour-plus quest, is both good and bad. You're cast in the role of Matthew, the son of two of the heroes from the GBA games, who, thanks to a chain of events on a fateful day, send the young hero on a journey to save the world just like his old man did. The world, the characters, and especially the attacks in combat look great. We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. After bringing elemental power back to the flat world of Weyard, most of the original protagonists have settled down and had kids, all of whom can manipulate the magical power of “psynergy.” Players can call up huge giants or monsters to help out with the battle, and each one gets a big flourishing cutscene. But it could be far, far better. So many that some gamers probably don't have time to play them all this year. Depending on which types of Djinn are attached to character, their class and spells will change. The battles are very standard, though the Djinn spice it up a little. The game's great visuals, solid gameplay, lengthy quest, and interesting story add up to a very solid experience. If there's only one RPG title that you purchase this year, than I suggest you check out Golden Sun Dark Dawn which features good old fashioned RPG action in the wondrous universe of Golden Sun. The dialogue sections of the game go on forever. While these special abilities are especially useful in combat, they're also key to solving the many puzzles you encounter, which are brain-teasing highlights of your adventure. The cutscenes are so long that I was spending most of my train rides reading dialogue, which makes the game hard to play as a handheld game. There are a lot of puzzles in Dark Dawn, which is great. Players start as the son of Issac, the main protagonist from the previous series. There's a lot to like in Nintendo and Camelot Software's Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. So on top of having to save the entire planet, the characters are trying to live up to their parent's legacy. The visuals have brought the 2D world of the GBA games into full 3D on the DS to good effect. In addition, managing your inventory, psyenergy, and djinn can be cumbersome because of the game's menu system. You encounter a diverse group of folks in your travels, including humans, mystical beings, and beastmen, all with unique problems that require you to lend a hand. Review By Steve Farrelly @ 12:37pm 03/12/10. It's got some interesting mechanics to it, but the game ultimately feels somewhat dated. You can close the DS and leave the game on, so there are ways around it if you’re busy. Unlike most RPGs, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn puts a heavy emphasis on the exploring and puzzle-solving you do outside of battles. The battle system for Dark Dawn is pretty similar to the previous Golden Sun games. However, before you dive in, know that pacing issues and a lack of personality dull the shine on an otherwise great adventure. The story is interesting, but drags on a bit. In Dark Dawn you play as Matthew, the son of the protagonist of the first Golden Sun game, Isaac. Fortunately, the unique world and gameplay mechanics keep things interesting. Golden Sun gets a reboot on the Nintendo DS featuring updated graphics and touch-screen controls. Exploring Weyard, and dealing with the many hazards that creep up on you, is both fun and challenging. 8. 7 years was well worth the wait for both Golden Sun … Nintendo and Camelot's DS role-playing game serves up some fine weather. Throughout the game, players find and collect these little creatures, called Djinn (which will be familiar to Golden Sun fans). A must-buy, even. As you get deeper into the game, you must use more of the abilities in tandem to solve multipart puzzles. Gameplay: 8.5: Graphics: 8.0: Sound: 7.0: Value: 8.5: Distributor: Nintendo Classification: PG Reviewer: Peter Bourke 8.5: Golden Sun Dark Dawn. Although this gets a bit irritating early on, you come across items that help you manage enemy encounters such as feathers to avoid fights and a special hat to encourage them. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn plays at being the best RPG on a system w/ no shortage of great RPGs but it just plays at it.2. By mixing and matching the Djinn, players can customize the strengths of their party. Verified Purchase. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn North American box art DeveloperCamelot Software Planning PublisherNintendo DirectorShugo Takahashi ProducerHiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Toshiharu Izuno DesignerHiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi ArtistShin Yamanouchi WriterHiroyuki Takahashi ComposerMotoi Sakuraba SeriesGolden Sun PlatformNintendo DS Release JP: October 28, 2010 NA: November 29, 2010 AU: December 2, 2010 EU: December 10, 2010 GenreRole-playing game ModeSingl… They're all very cool. Dark Dawn picks up 30 years after the events of the 2003 Game Boy Advance game Golden Sun: The Lost Age. Golden Sun: Dark Dawngame picks up 30 years after the first two games in the series left off with amazing graphics and beautifully animated summoning abilities that span both Nintendo DS screens. RPG fans of any ilk should be very satisfied with the experience that the Golden Sun: Dark Dawn DS provides even if they didn’t play the previous GBA games. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Longtime fans will also be pleased to see the game's not so subtle set up for a sequel at journey's end. Beyond the sheer quality of its assembly, Dark Dawn has little to offer. 9. The only reason to replay Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is if you really enjoyed fighting a certain boss or doing a particular puzzle. Psyenergy, djinn moves, and summons are visual highlights thanks to short cinematic sequences that add drama to the action. The game mixes up its quest duties by tossing in some optional quests, such as playing courier for grandmother, that offer a change of pace from all the mandatory demands on your time. The only thing I could gripe about is that I don’t have to option to skip certain events. Winter's big RPG release comes in the form of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. Mainly concerning the plot, as it is a typical RPG, and is very predictable if you have played many. The world is wonderful, filled with color and an insane amount of details without becoming blurry, the menus are well-designed and the summoned monsters look great. The Djinn each have an ability that players can use like a spell in battles. Using your party's Djinn to summon in some mystical help is one of the visual highlights of combat. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Review. While it's nice to have a meaty quest to undertake, some conversations go on a little too long. The Nintendo DS is the perfect platform for Japanese role-playing games. The game ends on a huge cliffhanger, random battles. Its systems work well, most of the information players will need is fairly easy to access, and the pace of its progression has been tuned nicely. Thankfully, this is one of those times that being able to play the final version of the game gives a completely different experience and a much more favorable opinion of the game. A worthy sequel that reaches expectations in almost every category By PChaosWM, updated 12/06/2010. Surprisingly, gameplay is extremely close to previous installments in the franchise and it's quite baffling Camelot did not dare to … He is tasked with leading a party of Adepts (users of elemental magic) across the world of Wayard. Most of the psyenergy abilities are also handy in combat. Matthew and all his companions possess psyenergy, which grants them special powers tied to one of Weyard's four elements: earth, wind, water, and fire. In a fight the United Kingdom on 5 October 2012 Generic Japanese RPG fun just on the DS ' this! Our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY huge giants or monsters to help out with the,! Dealing with the battle system for Dark Dawn Delivers Generic Japanese RPG.... Stay pretty similar to the damage-dealing conclusion a long time, there are some of the abilities in to... 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