Golden Sun: The Lost Age (gba: 2003): Reviews

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Golden Sun: The Lost Age


9.6

based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 83 votes
Read user comments
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Cheat Code Central

The Lost Age will be far more expansive than its predecessor, and players have the ability to meet and join parties of other characters, with party members coming and going as the story progresses. The gameplay includes action outside of the turn-based combat, and players will have the ability to collect djinn, which can be used in battle to solve the game's puzzles.

PUBLISHER:	Nintendo
DEVELOPER:	Camelot Software Planning
GENRE(S):	Role-Playing Game
PLAYERS:	2
ESRB RATING:	E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE:	April 14, 2003

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

G4 TV

Lives up to its exceptional pedigree. Not only does this sequel bring back all that was great about the original, but it's longer, harder, and more involved.

100

Gaming Age

With a pleasant mix of a fantastic storyline, great character development, good pacing of action and adventure, pleasing graphics, and challenging, but fun puzzles, makes Golden Sun practically the “dream” game for fans of the RPG genre.

Nintendo Power

Not only is this a fantastic RPG, but it's arguably better than the first game. Add to that the best graphics on the GBA, a gigantic sound track and a massive, twisting story line and you have a winner. [Apr 2003, p.133]

NintendoWorldReport

A surpremely playable RPG. It has an interesting plot, a refined fighting system, beautiful graphics, a superb soundtrack, and intuitive controls. What's more, it's a long game.

Nintendophiles

Simply put, The Lost Age is the best role-playing game available for Game Boy Advance. However, I highly recommend playing the second best RPG, the original Golden Sun, before you play this continuation of it.

Inside Gamer Online

A flawless RPG with a great continuation of the original cliffhanger. It’ll boast about 30 hours to beat your first time through.

Cinescape

Camelot made a great game engine, and until someone can come along with something better, this is the game to beat.

Nintendojo

A fine continuation of what's shaping up to be quite an epic RPG series.

netjak

The slight flaws of the second are easily drowned out by the overall brilliance of the game play and intriguing storyline. While overall GS2 didn’t match the overall excitement I had for the original it did satisfy my RPG tooth until "FF Tactics Advance" comes out.

Pocket Games

You won't find a more ready graphical or gameplay showcase for the powers of Nintendo's little handheld that could. [Summer 2003, p.40]

All Game Guide

Camelot Software obviously knows the importance of not trying to fix something that is already working on all cylinders, but to enhance its performance by adding just the right amount of grease to its working parts.

GamePro

The best thing you can say about The Lost Age, though, is that it's Golden Sun—except more of it. A good 35 hours more, even. If you've played the original, then this is a must buy.

Cincinnati Enquirer

If you liked "Lord of the Rings," then you'll love Golden Sun: The Lost Age.

IGN

Its extended storyline and slight additions to the gameplay are more than enough make it an extremely enjoyable (and lengthy) adventure.

GameZone

A spectacular game... It's very lengthy, very deep, and has some obvious (yet confusing) puzzles that'll drive you nuts! The story is good, too, and the music is extremely enjoyable.

GameSpy

It's every bit as stellar as the original, though it's best played and appreciated by those that have gone through its predecessor.

GameSpot

Makes some solid refinements to the series' gameplay, features a longer quest, and makes some nice tweaks to the series' presentation.

Deeko

Fantastic. While not many improvements were made over the original Golden Sun, the Lost Age proves that you can remain true to the original formula and still be succesful without changing much.

GameNow

The brain teasers are deviously well designed and they are perfectly suited for a portable adventure. [May 2003, p.37]

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Age sports some remarkably tricky puzzles and labyrinths. I'm a sucker for difficult dungeons, so these brain-benders kept me enthralled (and occasionally baffled) throughout. [May 2003, p.138]

Play Magazine

This one doesn't take you by the hand and lead you from plot point to plot point. Instead, GS: TLA is filled with an exhilarating sense of freedom. [Apr 2003, p.65]

EuroGamer

A thoroughly enjoyable game that matches its predecessor in every way. It's true that the plot never becomes as epic as Golden Sun hinted it might, and it's also true that the game will be a little too 'freeform' for some RPG fans, but it is basically the middle of a story - and thus plays as such.

Game Informer

It would have been nice to see some new innovations, especially in the gameplay department. [Apr 2003, p.98]

TotalGames.net

Bigger, more intricate and rather more absorbing that the first half of the story, The Lost Age is not only a great continuation of the Golden Sun saga but also a deeply satisfying game in its own right.

Yahoo! Games

A good, solid RPG that's right in step with the classic formula, sometimes to its own detriment.

GMR Magazine

Seriously, if you haven't finished the first installment of Camelot's sprawling GBA epic, it's likely you'll be baffled, at least initially, by this direct follow-up. [May 2003, p.73]

GameCritics

Beating The Lost Age is going to require at least 30 hours (and more if the player wants to do all of the side-quests and find all of the hidden goodies) and maybe more if gamers aren't good at puzzles. There's nothing inherently wrong with a game lasting this amount of time (although it does seem long for a handheld RPG) as long as the gameplay warrants it. Too bad for The Lost Age that it shows all of its tricks in the first 12 hours or so...

Gamestyle

The story does finally wrap itself up nicely, and the way you meet up with and fight against your former selves is a rarity handled well. Not a classic game, but very solid nonetheless.

Edge Magazine

Whilst some of the novelty of seeing a stalwart RPG on GameBoy Advance has worn off, The Lost Age is still slick, practised and enjoyable. Fans will lap it up. [June 2003]

The average user rating for this game is 9.6 (out of 10) based on 83 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Thomas N. gave it a10:
The best game i have ever seen to the gba, This is a must have for every rpg fan, who owns a Game Boy.

Leon V. gave it a10:
Totally great. The best rpg ever. Period. GRaphics, awesome; summons, great; items, wicked; characters, absolutely awesome; psynergies, the best.

Ben L. gave it a10:
So Good! Best RPG I have played in my life.

Josh M. gave it a9:
Excellent game, it has great graphics and a great storyline, the only reason i didnt give it a 10 was because im STUCK! and its tickin' me off!

Joe P. gave it a10:
This is by far the best handheld RPG I have ever had the privilege of playing. The story is expansive, you can easily play a good 40 to 50 hours playing through the game the first time, and you can even continue the story after to keep training your characters to defeat all the seceret bosses and unlock the summons. The only thing I have to say is wrong with the game, though idon't mind, is the easy ability to get what you want. The RNG (random-number generator) in the game is poorly made, so once you figure out what enemies drop the best weapons and/or armor, you can get one from that enemy every time. THis is the ONLY problem with GS:TLA, but it is not something major that lowers my review. FOrget my previous statement of being the best handheld RPG out there- it just may be the best RPG period. I'm constantly praying for a GS3...let's hope Camelot can put one together =).

Cleo K. gave it a10:
Lets say Golden Sun is the best game ever plus 2 ofcourse 2 is a little bit better because you can travel over the sea and you have a flying ship ^_^ the summons are better and cooler and so much more !so i gave it a 10

Matt G. gave it a10:
I liked this golden sun more than the last one because it added new things to the gae like sending info, traelling by sea and bigger and badder summons. You definatly need the first GS though if you really want to enjoy the game.I really want to see a third Golden Sun to finish up the story in a way that makes sense and satisfies all the fans of Golden Sun.