golden sun lost age golden sun lost age released different names regions role playing video game game boy advance developed published nintendo second installment golden sun series second earlier players transfer characters items golden sun lost age means system players rewarded fully completing games picking story events previous game lost age puts player roles magic adept named allies seek restore power world way player uses defeat enemies discover new locations help local populations find augment characters powers release lost age generally praised publications found game good golden sun nonetheless ign ranked game eighth best game boy advance title 22nd best game time sold units long awaited golden sun released november gameplay lost age similar predecessor contemporary presentation traditional role playing video game formula players guide cast characters journey fantasy themed world interact characters battle monsters acquire increasingly powerful magic spells equipment building narrative actions player takes compulsory central story lost age allows player complete objectives order choice visiting previous locations advance story elements complete gameplay objectives given stronger emphasis previous game time spent outside battle takes place game dungeons caves puzzles integrated layout unlike original game explored foot brief non boat ride large portion gameplay involves navigating magical ship large sea visiting continents islands complete puzzles players push pillars construct paths elevated areas climb cliffs obtain special item progress story game world puzzles revolve heavily usage game resident form magic spells requiring player find items grant bearer new forms order accomplish tasks role playing video games limit usage forms magic battles offensive defensive measures spells heavily puzzles exploration types combat conversely spells game non battle scenarios situations example frost spell damage enemies battle transform water elongated pillars ice puzzle comes elements venus rocks plants mars fire heat wind electricity mercury water ice player gains spells game progresses acquiring special items utility spell party gains access locations secrets hidden game world players required return previous locations game finish puzzles solve earlier lack specific spells battle lost age contains random monster encounters compulsory battles advance story battle begins separate screen brought enemy party opposing player party battling battle conducted characters background change positions effect gameplay relation battle mode similar traditional role playing video games battle player required defeat enemies direct attacks weapons offensive spells means causing damage keeping party alive items supportive restore life supplement defense player characters downed reducing hit points zero considered game party returned village player visited suffers monetary penalty successful completion battle yields experience points coins occasionally rare items addition main game competitive battling mode accessible menu screen players enter currently developed team saved game files arena battle increasingly difficult controlled enemies players head head team stronger cases experience points coins earned system important features golden sun lost age collection manipulation creatures called singular lost age features host new found scattered hiding game elements counting ones found original allocated character form basis game statistics system set character capabilities different different characters characters classes increasing maximum hit points points statistics available characters perform collected assigned character player choice set standby recovery set influence corresponding character class statistics collection depending character innate element combat player choose character use set character turn special effect invoked combat effects include enhanced attacks healing effects status changed standby standby contribute character class player summons powerful spirit game powerful method attack requires standby available bolster statistics character equipped standby summon sequence takes number turns recovering set position character subsequent increase affinity element attack bolstered character duration battle total summon sequences lost age previous game alongside new sequences earned individually usually acquired completing optional dungeons total encompassing elements arranged evenly distributed manner eventual characters making large array possible class playable characters allowing variety combat options synopsis setting lost age takes place fantasy world predecessor world massive earth like environment modeled old idea world flat circular plane oceans spill edge world entire perimeter endless abyss knows end game north huge black void plot progression lost age spans continents islands oceans main continents previous game takes place matter consists combination base elements venus mars mercury manipulate elements characters game player controls characters eighteen year old village anti hero golden sun serves game new protagonist generally shown speak points game younger sister jenna seventeen year old mars adept fourteen year old girl adept named sharp elderly scholar named hostages forced deceased masters mars adept warriors served previous game antagonists game player takes role complete original objective restore world joining early named piers mysterious young man ship party uses explore world journey groups characters serve antagonists lost age odds heroes original led young warrior pursue world belief potentially destroy original companions powerful enigmatic named alex allies second pair powerful imposing mars adept warriors pressure ensure proceeds quest supposed plot antagonists previous game slain battle game protagonists led pair succeeded great situated world companion takes rest group sets journey complete original objective activate remaining lighting achieve restoration powerful force joined sister jenna adept named previously kidnapped scholar group searches ship cross western half learns man named piers falsely accused piracy owns ship use group clear piers agrees join party continues pursue group discovers companion alex allied younger sister partner order track eventually party able achieve entrance piers home legendary atlantis like society named far ocean ancient king learn true nature life force absence past ages caused world continents decrease size parts world collapse abyss knowing restoring actually save world crosses sea order activate pursuing party enters lighthouse trapped ambushed rescues escape possession finally able explain release necessary thing aiming goal merely sake survival home colony far north located near reveals parents father alive currently held hostage order initial cooperation company agree aid group sets north activate group discovers transformed dragons forced defeat return wounds reach tower wise entity responsible originally prevent breaking seal confronts warns mankind destroy possession power insists breaking seal regardless wise summons giant headed dragon party battle final struggle party slain dragon discover wise transformed father parents dead beast short period mourning gather resolve finish objective activate mars lighthouse towers lit process return force mountain alex took advantage quests gain immense power light golden sun manifestation discovers wise taken steps prevent left die mountain collapses ground meantime find parents actually revived return wise originally planned able recognize reason wise appeared play cruel trick test resolve test ability handle great new responsibility ensure world newly released force abused populace like ancient past game ends parents return hometown find destroyed energy let loose breaking seal families townspeople survived wise warned impending danger advance development lost age revealed japan early magazine famitsu publication review game lost age highly anticipated topped ign list game boy advance wanted games north american version game playable ign noted opening game away boring opening sequence golden sun introducing characters action gamespot previewed localized copy lost age february noted game built predecessor graphics engine environments game featuring rich detail little touches birds fly approach reception lost age generally received positive reviews critics divided game better original metacritic aggregate rating compared likewise gamerankings gives lost age overall rating slightly lower conversely ranked ign readers choice games higher predecessor rated best game nintendo system nintendo_power games list ign gave sequel high praise game mechanics remained unchanged addition complicated puzzles welcomed lost age subsequently ign game month april shane electronic gaming monthly argued lost age going win originality contests looks sounds feels nearly identical predecessor means notch complain publications singled graphics audio particularly strong features publications found fault complaints remained original including combat system ign gamepro took issue lack smart combat enemy killed party members attack members switch defense instead attacking remaining enemies felt elements set fighting system typical rpg fare graphics gamespy felt added features criticized long opening sequence alienated players previous game confused new players unfamiliar places characters lost age sold units week japan best selling game period game sold total copies japan north_america november
Golden Sun: The Lost Age