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This assessment initially went stay in 2014, and we’re updating and republishing it to rejoice the sport’s arrival in Change’s Game Boy Advance library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.
Golden Sun expands on confirmed style archetypes to ship an expertise that each pays tribute to and refines the basic role-playing journey. It is a franchise that has a loyal following; whether or not it’s going to ever return with a brand new title has been a sizzling matter for these followers for a few years now — the final entry in Camelot’s sequence was 2010’s Dark Dawn on Nintendo DS.
The sport opens with protagonist Isaac waking to the sound of a horrible storm threatening to destroy his hometown of Vale (that is two RPG clichés within the opening minute — sleeping protagonist AND village destruction, for these retaining rating at house). The residents of Vale are capable of harness highly effective Psynergy, a supernatural pressure that manifests in quite a lot of methods equivalent to telekinesis, and are within the midst of doing so to stave off an enormous boulder when the sport begins. The village is in the end spared (although not with out casualties) and the sport begins in earnest as soon as these occasions have unfolded.
With out spoiling an excessive amount of of the plot, Golden Solar takes a leisurely angle to establishing an overarching narrative, as a substitute prioritising character introduction and rationalization of the sport’s wealthy setting. It is a gamble that in the end pays off, permitting it to craft fascinating characters to which you’ll relate, however these simply pissed off with such a stifling tempo might discover themselves turned off earlier than it even actually begins. It may be slightly laborious to maintain tabs on what is going on on at occasions, a difficulty largely attributable to its tendency to speak slightly excessively and drown out necessary info with extraneous chatter, however the patter does make for a extra endearing expertise on the entire.
Golden Solar additionally loves to make the participant really feel included within the many exchanges, continually throwing Sure/No questions into the combo, however these by no means really feel necessary to the plot and barely match naturally with the dialogue itself, as a substitute feeling extra akin to contrived interactivity.
The gameplay itself is pretty commonplace RPG fare, for essentially the most half — the protagonist and his eventual cohorts traverse the world, exploring diverse landscapes, unearthing historical dungeons, and pilfering any objects not nailed to the bottom. Battles are commenced solely at random on the world map and comply with a normal turn-based regime, enriched with a formidable number of assaults and skills on the occasion’s disposal. Overworld exploration is made extra fascinating by means of the character’s Psynergy skills – Isaac’s telekinetic powers, for instance, can be utilized to shift sure objects within the setting to resolve puzzles, giving Golden Solar a Legend of Zelda-meets-Last Fantasy setup.
It is distinctive (at the least it felt so when the sport launched in 2001) and entertaining, though slightly fiddly – you typically have to face in a reasonably particular spot and face a particular route to have the short-range skills activate appropriately, in any other case they fizzle and Isaac is left with nothing however fewer magic factors for his hassle. Harnessing these skills comes with apply, nevertheless it’s irritating within the early hours to empty your character’s power making an attempt to shift a statue that’s inches out of your character.
An fascinating wrinkle to the in any other case pretty standard fight system is the inclusion of elemental Djinn, small creatures that support the heroes in battle by bolstering their stats. Equipping one to a personality significantly will increase their offensive and defensive parameters, but in addition permits for using a strong assault, therapeutic spell, or the like relying on the person Djinni. The caveat is that, as soon as this assault is used, the creature enters a standby mode the place it’s not including to that character’s stats; therefore, a danger/reward technique comes into play when utilizing the monsters. Is it higher to proceed with larger stats and play it protected, or to unleash the Djinn’s powers early on in an all-out assault? It is a easy mechanism with surprisingly deep outcomes, though it is not defined notably properly from the outset – once more, that is one other side that’s higher understood by way of apply than rationalization.
Graphically, Golden Solar was a marvel on its native system. Environments are detailed, notably constructing interiors which can be adorned with an actual sense of element and believability, while overworld characters are well-designed, if considerably bland.
It is in fight that Golden Solar is a real visible marvel, although, and Camelot’s potential to create the consequences seen in Golden Solar throughout the GBA’s limitations is laudable. The dynamic digicam swoops throughout throughout battles (regardless of being comprised of 2D sprites – there’s some intelligent trickery happening right here), while magic assaults explode with a flourish of spectacular particle results. Golden Solar has aged properly, owing partly to its deliberately classical, retro aesthetic, and ports pretty properly to the massive display.
Aurally, Golden Solar is satisfactory, though it is unfair to say it delivers rather more than that as a complete bundle. The soundtrack is ok and well-suited to the environments, however missing in lots of actual earworms that you’re going to be buzzing years down the road. Fortunately, the battle theme is among the extra pleasurable tracks — at all times necessary when it is the tune you will hear advert nauseam — brimming with the power and up-tempo melody that matches even a few of Last Fantasy’s best. There’s nothing enormous to complain about with Golden Solar’s soundtrack, actually, past being pretty unmemorable, however its inoffensive and competent tunes accompany the journey properly sufficient.
Sound results are greater than satisfactory, nevertheless; the satisfying clunks and slashes throughout battles give weight to the fight, and nailing an enemy with a strong strike feels all of the extra satisfying due to it.
Conclusion
Golden Solar is a tremendous RPG, perfecting the basic system while introducing distinctive mechanics of its personal. The setting is fascinating, the characters are likeable, and the story is gripping. The primary few hours are a slog, to make certain, however role-playing adventures had been by no means designed for the impatient — at the least they did not use to be. Stick to this one by way of the opening points and you will be rewarded with a wealthy, deep RPG that desperately awaits (and deserves!) a modern-day instalment. Golden Solar is not with out its imperfections — the incessant dialogue can show tiresome at factors, and mechanics aren’t at all times notably properly defined — however for what it does ship, these sins are greater than absolved.
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