Golden Sun

Golden Sun sees the player travel Weyard to stop the release of Alchemy before it destroys the world.

Overview

Golden Sun Logo
Golden Sun Logo

Golden Sun (also known as Ougon no Taiyou in Japan) is an RPG developed by Camelot and published by Nintendo for the Gameboy Advance. It was well received thanks to its interesting story, likable cast of characters, varied gameplay, and intriguing puzzles. The game takes place in a land called Weyard, where a group of people called adepts have the power to channel the elements of Earth (Venus ), Fire (Mars), Water (Mercury), and Wind (Jupiter). The game centers around two boys named Isaac and Garet who are attempting to stop two fire Adepts named Saturos and Menardi from lighting the four elemental lighthouses that will change Weyard forever. Along the way they meet a Jupiter Adept named Ivan, and a Mercury Adept named Mia.

It was followed by a sequel, Golden Sun: The Lost Age on April 14, 2003, which picks up right where the original Golden Sun left off and let players carry over their character data and items via system link or a password. A third game in the series Golden Sun: Dark Down came out in 2010 for the Nintendo DS.

Gameplay

Ragnarok - One of the game's many spells
Ragnarok - One of the game's many spells

One of the most prominent features of the game is its nonstandard take on the RPG mechanic of magic, in this game called Psynergy, which can be used inside of battle to deal damage, buff allies, or inflict various statuses on enemies , but can also be used outside of battle to help solve the game's various puzzles by moving pillars, using gusts of wind to clear away leaves, or even freezing a puddle of water to create a temporary pillar.

The game also featured a creature collection mechanic popular in video games at the time. Early on the Djinn, small magical creatures who are tied to the individual elements, are introduced. These Djinn could be obtained by encountering them in the wild, in towns, or in dungeons and more often than not required you to fight them in order to win them over. The Djinn system became the basis for the game's class mechanic as well and is one of the most deceptively deep systems in recent memory.

Golden Sun featured an offline versus mode in which two Gameboy Advances were hooked up via link cable where players could use the parties from their own cartridges to battle each other. The game also included a battle arena where you could test your mettle against various enemies using the party you had faced in the main story mode.

Story

A Boss Battle
A Boss Battle

The game starts out in a town called Vale 3 years before the actual adventure. The main characters Isaac and Garet are only kids at this time. A storm has erupted, and a boulder from Mt. Aleph is about to fall down and crush the town. Isaac's father and many other villagers go to stop the boulder. Isaac and Garret are sent to the plaza at the bottom of the village initially to meet up with Jenna, looking for help rescuing Felix, her trapped brother in the river. However, on returning with her, the boulder falls, crushing all the villagers that were trying to stop it, including Isaac's father and Jenna's family. Before Isaac and Garret can reach the Plaza, Saturos and Menardi find them and attack them. Isaac and Garret are left unconscious but are found by their family and taken to the plaza.

Characters

There are five party members you will meet on your journey. All of them can use any Djinni - although all five characters have a natural predisposition to one of the four psynergy types.

Ivan
Ivan
  • Isaac is the main character of Golden Sun, he uses a sword and attacks with Earth psynergy.
  • Jenna is a temporary playable character in the earliest part of the game. She is friend to both Garret and Isaac and uses Fire psynergy
  • Garret is Isaacs best friend and second party member recruited. They both come from the same town, Garret uses large swords and attacks with Fire psynergy.
  • Ivan is the third party member recruited. He uses wind psynergy. He is the youngest of the group and carries a crescent staff.
  • Mia is the fourth member that is recruited and the final permanent member of the party. She is a water adept who uses water psynergy. She joins the party in the town of Imil

Locations

  1. Vale
  2. Sol Sanctum
  3. Vault
  4. Lunpa
  5. Bilibin
  6. Imil
  7. Mercury Lighthouse
  8. Bilibin Barricade
  9. Kolima Village
  10. Fuchin Temple
  11. Xian
  12. Altin Village and Mine
  13. Lama Temple
  14. Kalay
  15. Kalay Docks
  16. Altimer Cave
  17. Gandowan Bridge
  18. Suhulla
  19. Venus Lighthouse
  20. LaLivero
  21. Babi Lighthouse

Djinn

Djinn are mysterious spirits that control the elements. When attached to a character, they enhance the stats and psynergy of the characters. They can eventually be used to summon powerful creatures who deal massive damage in battle, along with many other useful effects.

The four types of Djinn are:

Ivan with Jupiter Djinn
Ivan with Jupiter Djinn
  • icon_gs_venus.gifEarth (Venus)icon_gs_venus.gif
  • icon_gs_jupiter.gifWind (Jupiter)icon_gs_jupiter.gif
  • icon_gs_mars.gifFire (Mars)icon_gs_mars.gif
  • icon_gs_mercury.gifWater (Mercury)icon_gs_mercury.gif
Name of DjinnElementHPPPAtkDefAgiLuckEffect Upon Battle Use
icon_gs_venus.gifFlintEarth+8+4+3000"Strike a blow that can cleave stone."
icon_gs_venus.gifGraniteEarth+900+2+2+1"Create a mighty earthen barrier."
icon_gs_venus.gifQuartzEarth+10+300+30"Revive a downed ally."
icon_gs_venus.gifVineEarth+12+40+30+1"Tangle foes to drop Agility."
icon_gs_venus.gifSapEarth+100+300+1"Attack a foe and steal HP."
icon_gs_venus.gifGroundEarth+9+300+30"Use Gravity to hold a foe."
icon_gs_venus.gifBaneEarth+120+4000"Attack with nature's venom."
icon_gs_mars.gifForgeMars+100+20+2+2"Boost party Attack with flame's fury."
icon_gs_mars.gifFeverMars+80+30+20"Wrap a foe in feverish delusion."
icon_gs_mars.gifCoronaMars+12+30+30+1"Boost party Defense with a heat aura."
icon_gs_mars.gifScorchMars+80+3000"Stun a foe with a blast attack."
icon_gs_mars.gifEmberMars+9+40+2+20"Restore party PP with passion's flames."
icon_gs_mars.gifFlashMars+14+30+200"Block damage to party with a firewall."
icon_gs_mars.gifTorchMars+90+300+1"Penetrate defense with a melting blast."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifGustJupiter+90+20+20"Attack with mighty wind gusts."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifBreezeJupiter+12+50+20+1"Boost party Resistance."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifZephyrJupiter+11+300+2+1"Boost party Agility with swift wind."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifSmogJupiter+90+3000"Veil a foe's vision in smoke."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifKiteJupiter+8+400+30"Attack twice next round."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifSquallJupiter+100+5000"Paralyze a foe with a storm."
icon_gs_jupiter.gifLuffJupiter+11+50+20+1"Seal a foe's Psynergy."
icon_gs_mercury.gifFizzMercury+9+40+300"Restore HP with calming water."
icon_gs_mercury.gifSleetMercury+120+300+1"Drench a foe to drop its Attack."
icon_gs_mercury.gifMistMercury+110+4000"Lull a foe into deep sleep."
icon_gs_mercury.gifSpritzMercury+8+400+30"Restore party HP with soothing mist."
icon_gs_mercury.gifHailMercury+90+400+1"Freeze a foe to drop its Defense."
icon_gs_mercury.gifTonicMercury+8+30+20+2"Heal all party ailments."
icon_gs_mercury.gifDewMercury+13+400+40"Revive a downed ally."
Name of SummonStandby Djinn Required (element)Picture of summon
Venus1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gifportrait_venus.gif
Ramses2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gifportrait_ramses.gif
Cybele3 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gifportrait_cybele.gif
Judgement4 Earth: dot_venus.gifdot_venus.gifdot_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gifportrait_judgment.gif
Mars1 Mars: dot_mars.gifportrait_mars.gif
Kirin2 Mars: dot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifportrait_kirin.gif
Tiamat3 Mars: dot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifportrait_tiamat.gif
Meteor4 Mars: dot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifdot_mars.gifportrait_meteor.gif
Jupiter1 Jupiter: dot_jupiter.gifportrait_jupiter.gif
Atlanta2 Jupiter: dot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifportrait_atalanta.gif
Procne3 Jupiter: dot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifportrait_procne.gif
Thor4 Jupiter: dot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifdot_jupiter.gifportrait_thor.gif
Mercury1 Mercury: dot_mercury.gifportrait_mercury.gif
Nereid2 Mercury: dot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifportrait_nereid.gif
Neptune3 Mercury: dot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifportrait_neptune.gif
Boreas4 Mercury: dot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifdot_mercury.gifportrait_boreas.gif

Classes

Each character has multiple classes they can become based on the Djinn they have equipped. Each class has it's own skillset.

Squire:

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Squire
Knight2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Gallant4 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Lord6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif

Solider:

Character: Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Guard
Soldier2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Warrior4 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Champion6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Hero7 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif

Magician

Character: Ivan

ClassDjinn Equipped
Wind Seer
Magician2 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Mage4 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Magister6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Swordsman 1

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Swordsman1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif
Defender2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Cavalier4 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Guardian1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Protector2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif7 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif

Character: Mia

ClassDjinn Equipped
Cavalier6 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Guardian1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif7 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif

Swordman 2

Character: Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Swordsman1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif
Defender2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Cavalier4 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Luminier1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Radiant2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif7 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif

Page

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Page1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif
Illusionist2 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Enchanter4 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Conjurer1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
War Adept2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif7 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Apprentice

Character: Ivan

ClassDjinn Equipped
Enchanter6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Conjurer1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif7 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif

Character : Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Apprentice1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif
Illusionist2 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Enchanter4 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Conjurer1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
War Adept2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif7 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Mercenary

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Brute1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif
Ruffian2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Savage4 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Barbarian5 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Berserker1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Chaos Lord2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif7 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif

Character: Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Brute1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif
Ruffian2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Savage4 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Barbarian5 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Berserker1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif6 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Chaos Lord2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif7 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif

Seer (Water)

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Shaman6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Druid1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif7 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif

Character: Mia

ClassDjinn Equipped
Seer1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif
Diviner2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Shaman4 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Druid1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif6 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Oracle2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif7 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif

Seer (Wind)

Character: Isaac

ClassDjinn Equipped
Shaman6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Druid1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif7 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Character: Ivan

ClassDjinn Equipped
Seer1 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gif
Diviner2 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Shaman4 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Druid1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif6 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif
Oracle2 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif7 Earth: icon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gificon_gs_venus.gif

Monk (Water)

Character: Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Ascetic6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Water Monk1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif

Character: Mia

ClassDjinn Equipped
Pilgrim1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif
Wanderer2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Ascetic4 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Water Monk1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Guru2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif7 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif

Wise

Character: Ivan

ClassDjinn Equipped
Hermit1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif
Elder2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Scholar4 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Savant5 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Sage6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif
Wizard6 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif

Character: Mia

ClassDjinn Equipped
Hermit1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif
Elder2 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Scholar4 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Savant5 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Sage1 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gif6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Wizard2 Water: icon_gs_mercury.gificon_gs_mercury.gif6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Monk (Wind)

Character: Garet

ClassDjinn Equipped
Ascetic6 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif
Water Monk1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif7 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gificon_gs_jupiter.gif

Character: Ivan

ClassDjinn Equipped
Pilgrim1 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gif
Wanderer2 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Ascetic4 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Water Monk1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif6 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif
Guru1 Wind: icon_gs_jupiter.gif7 Fire: icon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gificon_gs_mars.gif