Golden Sun's soundtrack has lived rent free in my head for the last twenty years. It's okay we all have bad takes in our lives.

It’s a shame that people are skipping out Golden Sun, this franchise deserved a return to life

Unmemorable soundtrack? I'm constantly humming Golden Sun tunes.

No earworms?? That's just wrong. Both lighthouses, cave theme, Elemental Stars, Saturos and Menardi, Saturos' battle theme... the game had an incredible soundtrack that holds up decades later

I couldn't disagree more that the soundtrack is 'unmemorable'. The Saturos battle theme is one of the catchiest and greatest themes in all of gaming. I used to play the up to the first Saturos encounter - which granted isn't very far into the game - just to listen to it on repeat. There are many other themes I remember to this day despite not having played this game since it was released in 1975. Check out the 8-bit Music Theory video on this wonderful and very memorable Motoi Sakuraba soundtrack.

7:05 bro what was Robert going on about??? unmemorable??? what about the overworld music? the lighthouses? the elemental stars track? Saturo & Menardi's theme? and their battle themes??? the ship to tolbi??? the colosso battle theme??? the sol sanctum theme??? the fusion dragon battle theme??? THE FREAKIN SAVEFILE SELECT SCREEN?????

Your damn right it still does. Wish it had a HD remaster or Mario RpG treatment

Golden Sun was the very first RPG that i ever completed as a kid (along with Pokemon). I still remember how satisfying it was to beat the final boss.

Calling the soundtrack "fine" and "unmemorable" is a crime.

Golden Sun was one of the greatest games ever !

Golden Sun was one of my favorite games as a kid. Unfortunately I never got to play the sequel, so I am excited that both of them are now available on NSO.

It surely is. A classic JRPG.

6:46 one of the hottest takes I have ever heard lmao. This is my favorite Sakuraba OST

deserves a remake, its a masterpiece. like nothing holds up to it

LOVE Golden Sun. Truly one of my favorite JRPGs. The puzzles were so fun and I loved having to find all the djinns in the wild and figuring out which characters/djinn worked best. Really hope they come out with another game after Dark Dawn, I think it would be great!

I had the same experience as you had when I first played Golden Sun. I can't really put into words how much that game has meant to me. I vividly always remembered the mind read because it was so much fun to read all these dialogues who were really REALLY good especially at the time. I remember feeling dread when I entered a certain village and started to mindread the immobile villagers. I remember that if you didn't go to Imil after it, but went to a forest east you would get a little extra mindread and an extra scene. This game to me at 10 years old gave me such a feeling of freedom and exploration that seems silly now, because it is an rpg on rails in a way but this was a game that really rewarded backtracking and not following that path laid down before you. The games in Tolbi remain one of my favorite ever. I don't think any game has ever used the "festival" theme as great as Golden Sun did. Also I remember being scared that after getting off a ship and ... well do that which happens on every rpg ship ever... I ended up in a town where I couldn't stay in an Inn ... AND I need to go in another dungeon??? The little glimpes the game gave you of Sheba and what she tought about Babi who to you seemed like such a good ruler. Yeah I love this game dearly. It's also just a very good story and all the summons and place names really ignited a love for history and mythology in a child's mind. I'm really happy it's playable on Switch now but I'm mainly so grateful I played it back then and I struggled through it because english isn't my first language and this game was HARD for a 10 year old but I finished both games and even did the GBA funky code transfer thing. I also finished the extra dungeons, sailed around EVERYWHERE ... and still missed one or two Djins 😆

I started it on the Switch and am in LOVE!!!

The soundtrack is quite memorable as well. I used to leave the menu theme playing in the background for a while, back in the day… it had three different melodies and got progressively better. Beautiful title overall

One of my favorite GBA experiences. I remember playing it during Christmas of its release year. It was so good and had unique qualities that made it a great game.

Playing through for my first time ever, and so far am enjoying it. My only complaint is pressing A brings up a submenu, which happens a lot when I'm also trying to press A to talk to people or check boxes/jars. Feel like maybe it could have been left to SELECT or something, to free me up to spamming A around the world.

would love a Prequel to this series. When they sealed away Alchemy in the Elemental Stars or Babi’s trip to Lemuria. Would have so much potential for further story-telling and universe expansion!

This series is a masterpiece. It deserves a much bigger audience and a proper remaster. I think this review covers the features of the game fairly well. However I'd emphasize the connectivity of the story between both these games. If you want it to be told thoroughly you need to grind until the end. As a kid and still to this day it absolutely blew my mind. This is not just nostalgia, honestly i think Golden Sun is one the of the best RPGs ever made. And I've played FF7, Earthbound and so on. A timeless classic in my book. Do it!

Played both of them back in the day, and loved them. Playing them again now confirmed to me that it wasn't just nostalgia colouring my memories. These games are still enjoyable.

Missed out on this one when I was a kid and decided to finally try it out. I’ll admit I wasn’t feeling it for the first 2 hours or so and the Djinn system was not explained well. But once I got into the legitimately well designed dungeons and figured out how to do more complex summons I was hooked. I’m still only about halfway through the first game but I can definitely see what people like about this so much.

Love the attention these games are getting since it’s rerelease. I have to say though that I HAAAARD disagree about the soundtrack. I still listen to it regularly. It is absolutely one of my favourites

Absolutely loved these games back in the day! And still. I remember casting 'Reveal' on every inch of the towns to find all the secret stuff 😂❤

One of my favourite all time games

It's a good sign that these games are out on the GBA service. I hope that that means they are feilding interest in a sequel. Camelot is a great RPG developer. I wish they would put out a Sega Saturn collection with Shining the Holy Ark, Shining Force III and Shining Wisdom. They are really awesome games and if you enjoy Golden Sun I would really recommend seeking those games out and playing them any way you can!

Claiming Golden Sun has an immemorable soundtrack, sheeeesh. It's only one of the best soundtracks for a videogame period.

I am already halfway through the first game, I thought I had forgotten most of the game but find myself remembering how to do all the puzzles almost immediately. Weird how the brain works. But, this is one of the greatest RPGs of all time

Would love to see these games remastered in similar style as star ocean secon story r

This is still my all time favorite game

Golden sun is that one game that u need to play atleast once in your lifetime

This is a classic, of course it hold up today if turn based RPGs are your thing. Graphics and music are gorgeous.

I had this game back in the day originally on my Game Boy Advance SP but I never got to finish it as I lost my GBA before I could really get into it.. but that didn’t stop me from having immense nostalgia for it due to the catchy music and lovable atmosphere and graphics?! Today I played it on my 3DS as well as my hacked Vita, and I have to say, if you like RPG, it is definitely worth playing!!

I played it for the first time on the Wii U and I loooooved this game. I grew up on games like FF6 and Chrono Trigger and this really felt like I was back in that age when games that good were still being made.

For those who haven't played GS and like RPGs, especially JRPGs: please give this game a try! The dialogues may be lengthy at times but the overall game experience, plot, characters, djinns, battles and music(!) are epic! 🤩

I somehow missed this when it came out and I don't know how. I was a teenager with my own money from a part-time job. I was already playing a lot of RPGs on my Game Boy Advance. I knew about this game and saw it for sale multiple times. For whatever bizarre reason though, I haven't played it until now and damn, I missed out big time back then.

I love this series so much. Played them all and love them all. Apart from the god-tier music, I also really like the combat with the Djinn system, in which the summons are just the best! I still remember being super impressed by the cinematics and graphics of the summon from Dark Dawn on the DS. I want the series to come back on the Switch so bad. I could only dream of a sequel or a remake on the level of FF7.

Missing synergy in a puzzle segment is essentially never an issue, the mp cost is miniscule

there is one more notable song in all of Golden Sun as a franchise between the two GBA games. in the first game when you're onboard the Tolbi-bound ship the same song that was used in the release date trailer is the background music but sadly you never hear it anytime afterwards.

Isaac's battle theme has been stuck in my head for 20 years, same with final fantasy 4 and 5's battle themes. Hugely memorable, hype as fuck combat music and probably the main reason Golden Sun lives forever in my heart

".Golden Sun, when we decided to make that, that was right at the time when the Game Boy was really gaining speed and really taking over the handheld area completely. So it was kind of always a Game Boy game." - "We actually did make a game design document for a Nintendo 64 Golden Sun." The only source can I seem to find for this (an archived 1up interview about we love golf). I think it's fair to say the claim that "GS was originally developed for the N64" is a bit of a stretch.

I remember the year between 1 and 2 being the longest year of my life as a kid, loved the games and have played them both multiple times, dark dawn was ok but I think it felt like it had to be bigger than both together but then just fell a bit flat, it’s not bad but wasn’t at the same level. It’s very much a great rpg to begin with if you’re new to rpgs and will always be special to me. Oh and when I have the time I might even get an nso membership just to play these again!

Can you transfer data from game one to game two on switch ?

7:06 really?! That was a blooper, right? Both GS games have one of the best and memorable tracks I've ever heard - thanks to legend Motoi Sakuraba 🤯

Playing this first the first time now at 35 yo. I've been a chronotrigger fan forever and was thinking about doing another chrono run but your review actually got me into doing a golden sun run. Thanks

Underrated series! I remember being blown away on the battle graphics on my gameboy advanced sp

Wanted to follow up now that I actually have time to make a proper comment. Thanks again, for taking the time to put this review together. I love anything that gives this series more attention, and I'm always curious to hear more people's perspective regarding it.

Golden Sun was a formative title for me as a kid for falling in love with RPG’s. The learning curve was perfect and helped me learn the genre from a young age. GOATED Sun 🐐

One of my absolute favourite game series that I have ever played! The first time playing it I got stuck because I had no idea how to use the psynergy to move that object in front of the entrance. Then my cousin showed what to do, and I was hooked ever since! I would love for Nintendo to bring Golden Sun back!

i’ve been playing these non-stop. finished GS and now onto TLA. loved these as a kid and hopefully will 100% these now!!

"Unmemorable soundtrack" *Preceeds to use for the video songs i still remember all this years later*

Great video, great games. Just to be that pedantic guy, though, Djinn is plural, Djinni is singular. I think you got it backwards in the video. Common error, no big deal. I’m just obsessed with this game. Obsessed. One of my favorite of all time. I lost my damn mind when it came back for Switch NSO. Worth the premium price by itself full stop. This game is as near to perfect as I have ever experienced.

Loved these games so much. Can’t believe I actually beat Dullahan in the Lost Age. What a moment

I have such good memories of playing Golden Sun. Looking forward to playing them again.

I absolutely loved this game when it came out, and I would love for it to be a just a regular download without a subscription. Honestly, the one thing I would change about this duology is make the characters a little bit more distinguishable from each other personality wise, as well as give more of them character arcs that pay off at the end

Oh man, I loved this game so much. No game confounded me quite like it, but I truly believe solving these problems as a kid (and sometimes using the internet to do it) made me a better thinker, and probably upped my media literacy by introducing me to google and forums. Was a completely new form of problem solving for me at the time. Such a rich and formative game. Funnily enough I never played the lost age, so I had no idea its story was completely related. I just finished this one and I'm so excited to play the second, knowing what I know now about the transfer feature!

I used to play it on VBA (yeah, the emulator) and loved it! Was one of the games to introduce and build my passion for (J)RPG’s 💛🧡❤️

8/10 is way too low for a classic like Golden Sun. 9.5/10 is more like it. This and Final Fantasy 9 are my favourite JRPGs and are very similar to each other with their colourful and diverse environments. Golden Sun just reminded me of how great JRPGs were back in the day and pretty much destroys any modern JRPG I’ve played recently like Octopath Traveler. JRPGs these days are too structured and predictable. Also, you’ve gotta be kidding me with your take on the soundtrack. It’s awesome! The Saturos & Minardi/Deadbeard battle theme is the one that sticks out for me.

I have the same feeling as you. I played in my childhood, it was my first Advance game. And it was hard to play it again in emulators or even in my old GBA. I will now start in the Switch and I hope that I can enjoy it. :)

These were my fave GBA games. Soo much nostalgia. Still have em somewhere in the original box probably smashed..😢

I played DS version. Is there any point to try those titles from GBA?

I went straight to the comment section when the music was considered only "fine" in the review and was very happy to see almost all comments being about disagreeing with the music take. I love this soundtrack and I'm still bringing out a few tracks each week while doing other stuff. It's easily Motoi Sakuraba's finest work.

Amazing series! Brings back a lot of memories growing up. I remember playing this when I was like 10.

title: ''Does it hold up?'' Me: ''Tf you mean, its Golden Sun, of course it holds up''

I am also playing breath of fire, one and breath of fire two for GBA, on my PS Vita, and I’m about 25 hours or more into breath of fire one and my characters are very strong!! The GBA was a wonderful little handheld !

I absolutely love this game! The psynergy was so fun to use in puzzles and I like how it is really part of the story and combat as well.

I had this on gba but just could not get in to it. Put 10 hours in and decided it wasn’t for me sadly

When I was a kid, I went on a trip with my brother and parents to see the country my parents are from and our cousins went separately with their aunt so we spent some time together. They had Golden Sun and let us try it out. I loved it so much that I asked if I could just keep it but they wouldn't let me. I've thought about it ever since, and now decades later I am finally playing it through and it's an incredible amount of content and quality for a GBA game.

u can only play this if u have nintendo switch online?

I love that you took the time to review an old classic just because it was released recently to the Switch online. I'd like to see more videos like this!

Is PVP a thing for Golden Sun on switch?

Loved em both. Played em on their launches. One of the few games me and my wife both played on our GBA’S. Great times!

I want to play this again but I keep hearing that it is through a subscription service only and you can’t out right buy the game?

The Djinn aspect was reallly cool to me as a kid. Having your own mini monster with you. Also... man, seeing that double slash takes me back!

i just got back into the GBA an I love that you guys will review their library of amazing games, help spread awareness!!!!

I still have Golden Sun for the Game Boy and lost age and sadly I still never beaten the Lost age. I still have my save file. I did purchase it on the Wii U but I never convince myself to catch up to where I was at. I still remember I had to write everything down to transfer all my save file. I think it was 5 pages worth.

Loved golden sun... I should play it again

I played this when it came out last Jan 17. So sweet to get to play thid again! Responsibilities and chores get in the way, but I will binge this when I get some free time. One of the best JRPGs of all time out there in my opinion. Happy gaming! 😊

I'm so excited to play both games finally, i loved the ds game dark dawn, and have been hankering to play them ever since 2011.😊

Unmemorable soundtrack?? You gotta be kidding! One of the best soundtracks on the GBA hands down

Golden Sun's battle system has a lot of potential on making each fight engaging. There is a risk and reward element in it and can lead to interesting party and Djinnis setups, including the game-breaking ones. It's sadly rendered meaningless by the VAST majority of enemies and even arguably bosses being still too easy to wipe out. Just by simply sticking to equipping Djinnis accordingly to each character's innate Psynergy type and spamming spells. The fights (particularly the random ones) also often lack standout quirks that force the player coming up with different strategies. It's all about attack, attack, attack, heal, just like you would typically on pretty much any 90s turn-based JRPG. For these aforementioned reasons, the path of the least resistance takes over and the player is less compelled to experiment for fights.

That panning camera amazed me back when the game was new. I’m surprised how well it has held up today

Golden Sun's Djinn system, puzzles and ESPECIALLY music are all super duper memorable. It's one of the only game OST I have playing on my phone. As mentioned by a lot of people, when I was 9, I got the game and a GBA for Christmas. It was my first portable handheld and even RPG. That and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are games that bring back so much nostalgia of my youth and were the first games of their genres I've played and fallen in love with. I seriously won't take any slander of Motoi Sakuraba's legendary Golden Sun + TLA soundtracks.

Golden Sun was my third big RPG after FF7/8, and my first portable one. I think part of what hooked me is the small similarities between the Djinn system in Golden Sun and the Materia and Junction systems in FF. You had the freedom to build your characters however you wanted, and I’ve always loved that in RPGs. Dark Dawn was disappointing, but I was a young teenager when it released. I think I might do the same and replay the originals before giving it another go.

Playing through as an adult is definitely different than playing as a preteen. The battle system isn't in depth and I find myself using standard attacks more than using psynergy in battle. Even some of the boss battles so far seem less stressful than they used to be. The game is still fun and I'm looking forward to getting into Lost Age again because I remember that feeling more fleshed out than the first. The story was always my favorite part of the series and that's the biggest reason I'm replaying the games. It's fun to explore and easy to put down and pick up again. I personally enjoy the soundtrack and think it's some of the best, at least from this era.

So because the video brought it up, Switch or Analouge Pocket?

This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone say the soundtrack is unmemorable… literally ever lolol the entire soundtrack has been living in my brain rent-free for the last 23 years xD I was so happy when gba was announced for the nso and doubly so because they showed golden sun… when it came to nso a few days ago I booted it up right after the update time and have been loving every moment of being in Weyard again. I love it, so much. I agree with the sentiment at the end, I would love to see the another entry in the series, even if it’s away from Isaac and Co, because seriously the universe of Golden Sun is just toooo good to fade into history.

Always wanted to play these games I missed them when they released back in the day!

Oh I loved the game and its ost back then.

Golden sun , tales of phantasia,suikoden,wild arms were like my first games and thays why i got in love with rpg games until now ❤

Cool looking game. Would love for a modern title in this graphical style.

This is one of those games I'll probably keep replaying every handful of years for the rest of my life. I'm praying for Nintendo to do something with the IP. Ive also learned some of the tracks on acoustic guitar.

I played Golden Sun Dark Dawn and thought it was incredible. One of my favs for a while. I definitely need to check out these two!

I love these games. I play through one or the other every couple of years for the past 20. They've been my gold standard for rpgs for gameplay.

I just recently complete my game collection all 3 golden sun games

It looks so much like a Camelot game. Shining in the Darkness, especially.

How did they handle the obtuse way to continue your golden sun save on the lost age? That was the most frustrating part on the original

Thank you for sharing your personal story, Zion. :)