All this week I am going to be giving ridiculously quick hands-on impressions of all the games I see on the E3 show floor. Since I think everything is a little amazing, they will be rated, from least to most favorite:1(A Little Amazing!),2(Kind of Amazing!),3(Pretty Amazing!),4(AMAZING!), and5(The Most Amazing Thing I Have Ever Seen!).
Ah,Golden Sun, how I’ve missed you so.
Not seen since the gone, but never forgotten Game Boy Advance, theGolden Sunseries has finally been reborn on the Nintendo DS in the form of the sequelGolden Sun: Dark Dawn(SO FOREBODING!). In my hands-on time I got to try out the two main modes in the game: Adventure and Battle.
In Adventure, just like in the old games, you control a main character as he walks around between towns and battles. Instead of most role-playing games ignoring things like puzzles and stuff, what makesGolden Sun: Dark Dawnstand apart is its reliance on very Zelda-esque environmental puzzles and level design. Using the game’s magic system — called Psynergy — you must traverse obstacles and solve puzzles. In the demo, you are given two Psynergy powers: “Move” and “Fire”. Using the stylus and touch screen, you may activate both powers. “Move” literally moves objects on-screen like rocks and statues (a quick stylus swipe!), while “Fire” lets you shoot a fireball in any direction (flick of the touch screen!). What I love about this mode is the puzzles really are clever and well-designed. They don’t feel at all forced just to make the game have more variety. If anything, they are the best part of playingGolden Sun!
Battle is much more obvious. It’s … a battle. In an RPG! Just like every other role-playing game, the battles are turn-based, with characters selecting their attacks from a menu. Fight, Psynergy, summons: all the stuff you are used to seeing in aGolden Sungame is intact. But what is worth mentioning is everything looksreallygood. The battles are beautiful, with some of the most dramatic and over-the-top magic spells and summons this side ofFinal Fantasy!
What else can I say.Golden Sun: Dark Dawnis exactly what aGolden Sungame should look and feel like on the Nintendo DS. The demo is short, so I had no idea what to expect of the story, but I only assume it will be something about dawn. Adarkdawn.
Rating:4 out of 5(AMAZING!)
