That's fine, I can do the hacked games on here in the Retro Game Room, my emulator would just make it a little easier for me to test the original games in bulk, but I'd also be doing some normal game playing on here (I plan on getting a USB controller in the next few days so I can play N64 games easier also)
*EDIT*
I decided that I didn't really like my original review, so I thought I'd try another:
Golden Sun (GBA)
Golden Sun is viewed by many reviewers and players alike as one of the best Role Playing Games to be released for the Game Boy Advance. It was released on November 12, 2001, less than 6 months after the release of the Game Boy Advance, and went on to win Nintendo Power's award for best Game Boy Advance game of the year. This game has inspired one sequel on the Game Boy Advance and one to be released for the DS sometime in 2010.
The game itself plays like other turn-based Role Playing Games such as Final Fantasy, so this is definitely a game to try for any RPG fans that have not done so. The game offers a vast amount of quests, which are sure to keep the players entertained. The characters in the game practice alchemy, a form of magic. Altogether there are four types of magic in the Golden Sun universe: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Throughout the game, you will meet other adepts of alchemy who will join your party and help you in your path. Each character has a unique set of spells, which will prove useful in solving the puzzles throughout the game.
One unique aspect of this game is the use of the elemental Djinn found throughout the game. The djinn exist in each of the four practices of magic in the game. While some are merely obtained when found, some must be defeated in order to join your party. They may be utilized in two ways: you may use their powers individually in battle, each of which contains a different power (such as being able to heal your party, being able to attack an enemy twice in a single turn, and many more). The other way to utilize your djinn's power is to use the power of more than one at once to summon a stronger creature to attack your enemies with one devastating strike, such as Thor or Ramses (who is a pharoah who followed the Egyptian sun god Ra). These two methods each add a unique aspect to the gameplay of Golden Sun, proving it a unique gameplay experience indeed.
Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics are excellent, especially for the game only being published a few months after the Game Boy Advance is released.
Sound: 10/10
The music in this game is among my favorite of any game. In my opinion, the music in this game is better than that of many games for the current major gaming systems, which is astounding coming from a handheld system such as the Game Boy Advance.
Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay in this game is impeccable. Take a Final Fantasy game of years past, add a unique djinn attack/summoning system, and four different types of magic, and you get this game. It surpassed my expectations in every way.
Replayability: 8.5/10
While some people would gladly replay this game upon completion, there is not a great deal of new material to discover. The arena battle mode makes this game more replayable than a standard Role Playing Game, as the player can battle monsters of increasing strength until the player's party is unable to continue (the game keeps track of the player's best killing spree, so there is always a feeling of wanting to beat the previous record).
Overall: 9.5/10 That's fine, I can do the hacked games on here in the Retro Game Room, my emulator would just make it a little easier for me to test the original games in bulk, but I'd also be doing some normal game playing on here (I plan on getting a USB controller in the next few days so I can play N64 games easier also)
*EDIT*
I decided that I didn't really like my original review, so I thought I'd try another:
Golden Sun (GBA)
Golden Sun is viewed by many reviewers and players alike as one of the best Role Playing Games to be released for the Game Boy Advance. It was released on November 12, 2001, less than 6 months after the release of the Game Boy Advance, and went on to win Nintendo Power's award for best Game Boy Advance game of the year. This game has inspired one sequel on the Game Boy Advance and one to be released for the DS sometime in 2010.
The game itself plays like other turn-based Role Playing Games such as Final Fantasy, so this is definitely a game to try for any RPG fans that have not done so. The game offers a vast amount of quests, which are sure to keep the players entertained. The characters in the game practice alchemy, a form of magic. Altogether there are four types of magic in the Golden Sun universe: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Throughout the game, you will meet other adepts of alchemy who will join your party and help you in your path. Each character has a unique set of spells, which will prove useful in solving the puzzles throughout the game.
One unique aspect of this game is the use of the elemental Djinn found throughout the game. The djinn exist in each of the four practices of magic in the game. While some are merely obtained when found, some must be defeated in order to join your party. They may be utilized in two ways: you may use their powers individually in battle, each of which contains a different power (such as being able to heal your party, being able to attack an enemy twice in a single turn, and many more). The other way to utilize your djinn's power is to use the power of more than one at once to summon a stronger creature to attack your enemies with one devastating strike, such as Thor or Ramses (who is a pharoah who followed the Egyptian sun god Ra). These two methods each add a unique aspect to the gameplay of Golden Sun, proving it a unique gameplay experience indeed.
Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics are excellent, especially for the game only being published a few months after the Game Boy Advance is released.
Sound: 10/10
The music in this game is among my favorite of any game. In my opinion, the music in this game is better than that of many games for the current major gaming systems, which is astounding coming from a handheld system such as the Game Boy Advance.
Gameplay: 10/10
The gameplay in this game is impeccable. Take a Final Fantasy game of years past, add a unique djinn attack/summoning system, and four different types of magic, and you get this game. It surpassed my expectations in every way.
Replayability: 8.5/10
While some people would gladly replay this game upon completion, there is not a great deal of new material to discover. The arena battle mode makes this game more replayable than a standard Role Playing Game, as the player can battle monsters of increasing strength until the player's party is unable to continue (the game keeps track of the player's best killing spree, so there is always a feeling of wanting to beat the previous record).
Overall: 9.5/10 |