[Max]

Thanks to a tip from Amanda on LiveJournal, we have learned some more information about the new games. She also made a scan of the page available.

In an interesting twist, it says that the game begins just after the end of the first Golden Sun game, with Isaac as the main playable character. Beyond that, it doesn't give much more in the way of plot. It confirms that the battle system is faithful to the original GBA version, except with the Djinn on the top DS screen with the party on the bottom; it says some of the larger enemies (probably bosses) will span both screens.

The big news is an "ETA: Summer 2010", though it does not specify what territory that is for. If history is any indicator, it would likely mean a Japanese launch next summer, with a US launch later that year or in Spring 2011.

[Randolph]

So it's looking more like Isaac and co.'s adventure from Venus Lighthouse to Jupiter Lighthouse? That sounds somewhat intriguing...

[Moonear]

If it leaves off from Isaac at Venus Lighthouse, I wonder if your party will meet up with Felix's party in Contigo, just from Isaac's viewpoint.

[Drizzy Drake]

So the descendants part was complete bull**** then?

It`ll be in Nintendo Power no? Because if so I`ll post up anything else if there is anything when mine comes in.

[Toasty]

To be honest, I'm kind of disappointed. It almost feels as though Camelot took the easy way out, and is just showing another part of the previous story, instead of building upon it.

Though I'm still going to hold out hope that they do something more interesting with it. If the game ends at Contigo though, I think I'll be pissed.

[Golden Legacy]

I'm with Toasty. With GS1 and 2, Camelot presented a unique look, providing a storyline that was seen from the perspective of the two parties. It was an innovative idea, but simply "filling in the gap" is how I'm receiving this announcement.

I do find it very unusual that the news from Nintendo Power magazine effectively nulled the press release from E3, in regards to who the characters are. Seeing as Nintendo Power is now outsourced in its publication, I have some reservations about this news.

(it could also be possible that Golden Sun DS could be in parts, with part of the tale being told from the perspective of Isaac after GS1, and continuing on past the end of TLA to give us the "GS3")

[Randolph]

Golden Legacy, on Jul 3 2009, 03:58 PM, said:

(it could also be possible that Golden Sun DS could be in parts, with part of the tale being told from the perspective of Isaac after GS1, and continuing on past the end of TLA to give us the "GS3")

That's what I'M hoping for, at the very least. I just don't see what could happen otherwise.

[Toasty]

I wouldn't mind that, just as long as it at least builds upon the previous two stories.

But if they do that, it'd end up being a pretty big game. Definitely bigger than TLA at least.


But hey, I'm not against that either. :D

[TheEnglishman]

Not too sure how I feel about this news. Not necessarily thrilled, but it might not be a problem either. It may give more time to Karst and Agatio. I thought they weren't brilliantly used in TLA, but they could put in more of an appearance in this game.

[Someone Else]

Did anybody else consider maybe this "starting off with Isaac at Venus Lighthouse" is more of a prologue chapter, showing you quickly the events that happened before the storyline with the descendants?

[Mallick]

Someone Else, on Jul 3 2009, 05:32 PM, said:

Did anybody else consider maybe this "starting off with Isaac at Venus Lighthouse" is more of a prologue chapter, showing you quickly the events that happened before the storyline with the descendants?

This.

You guys have to have a little more faith. Those other two characters in the official art are new. If Isaac was travelling with different adepts at between the end of GS1 and recruiting Isaac's group in GS2, we would've heard about it. I'm guessing there's going to be a time jump somewhere.

[Split Infinity]

That seems like a pretty drawn-out prologue, though. We're talking at least half the length of TLA here.

Still, Camelot aren't stupid. They know what their fans want and they wouldn't intentionally alienate new players by trapping them in an unfamiliar storyline. Ten bucks says they've got something else up their sleeve.

[Blue]

Damnit Nintendo. First you tell us one thing at E3, then they say something else in the magazine. I hope SE's right about this and its just a prologue.
Edit: I just saw in the left corner. Thats Isaac alright. Well this should be interesting.

[Max]

The prologue idea certainly does make some sense. After all, GS itself started with a prologue and then a time jump. Given that there hasn't been a GS game in over half a decade, and that this is on a new gaming system, it would make sense for them to want to provide some context at the beginning of a new game. You might also remember that TLA started "back in time" slightly as well.

[Split Infinity]

Maybe Isaac's party had some sort of revelation between Lalivero and J-Lighthouse? Something they kept from Felix and the others, but which sets up the story for the sequel portion of the game?

[Drizzy Drake]

So.. much.. speculation.. Nintendo give us ****ing answers! Whatever, I`ll up the whole article soon; let`s hope there`s more info.

The prologue idea, now that I think of it does seem like the most logical idea. Max said at the beginning, the game begins with Issac..

[Toasty]

Or maybe they accidentally traveled to the future in that period of time thanks to some crazy jupiter psynergy that Ivan pulled out of his ass.

You have to admit, that'd make for an interesting story. :P


Anyway, I never really thought of a prologue. That would definitely make sense though.

[Split Infinity]

Drizzy Drake, on Jul 4 2009, 12:03 PM, said:

Max said at the beginning, the game begins with Issac..

SEARING INSIGHT

And please, no time travel. Way overused plot element, not to mention one that would be completely out of place in the series.

[Drizzy Drake]

Toasty, on Jul 3 2009, 10:06 PM, said:

Or maybe they accidentally traveled to the future in that period of time thanks to some crazy jupiter psynergy that Ivan pulled out of his ass.

You have to admit, that'd make for an interesting story. :P
Anyway, I never really thought of a prologue. That would definitely make sense though.

So the fact that the game starts at the end of GS1 comes to no importance to you :P

And **** you Split.

[Blue]

Split Infinity, on Jul 3 2009, 07:01 PM, said:

Maybe Isaac's party had some sort of revelation between Lalivero and J-Lighthouse? Something they kept from Felix and the others, but which sets up the story for the sequel portion of the game?

Like the possible gang rape of the three guys on Mia?
xDDD Sorry, sorry...

[Split Infinity]

Well, it would explain the descendants... =P

[Drizzy Drake]

Descendant Mia>>Jenna. Just putting that out there.

[Toasty]

I'm afraid to ask but.....what exactly are you sticking out, where?

Just putting that out there...

Drizzy Drake, on Jul 3 2009, 07:20 PM, said:

So the fact that the game starts at the end of GS1 comes to no importance to you :P

No, not really. =/

[Drizzy Drake]

Descendant Mia is hotter than Jenna. Anybody like to agree? jeebus h christ, do i have to spell it out to you?

and wtf does the h stand for?

[Ironsight]

Drizzy Drake, on Jul 3 2009, 10:18 PM, said:

Descendant Mia

You really think that's Mia?

[Toasty]

Drizzy Drake, on Jul 3 2009, 10:18 PM, said:

Descendant Mia is hotter than Jenna. Anybody like to agree? jeebus h christ, do i have to spell it out to you?

and wtf does the h stand for?

Probably holy, but I might be wrong.


And I dunno. I kinda prefer longer haired ladies, and I liked Jenna better than Mia, so I'd probably have to disagree with you.

More importantly, why are we discussing this?

[Caael]

Guys, they're pixels.

Interesting news, I hope they do go with the prologue thing. Seeing as at the end of the first game they pretty much explained what they needed to do in the second so I'm guessing this'll just be a revamp of that part.

[Drizzy Drake]

Darksword, on Jul 4 2009, 01:19 AM, said:

You really think that's Mia?

No. I think it's Mia's descendant. Hence the descendant Mia.

Toasty, on Jul 4 2009, 04:16 AM, said:

Probably holy, but I might be wrong.
And I dunno. I kinda prefer longer haired ladies, and I liked Jenna better than Mia, so I'd probably have to disagree with you.

More importantly, why are we discussing this?

Best suggestion yet.

Jenna>Mia anyday. Chick on cover who might be Mia's descendant>Jenna.

Because we're men.

[Kaj]

Seriously, what the hell are you talking about.


Ontopic: I doubt if the character in the down left corner is Isaac. According to the magazine it is, but who says we can trust that? We're not even 100% sure whether the descendants part is true (however, the screens with those three persons on it suggest otherwise). For as far as I'm concerned I'll stay sceptical until I'm absolutely sure what's real and what's not.
The article is quite vague, we still do not know more about the story than before. Like some of you have been discussing a prologue part with Isaac would be plausible, but there's just not enough real evidence to be sure.

[Drizzy Drake]

We`re talking about the all elusive species; the female. now I now it may be a long time since many of you have seen a girl, but they`re quite nice once you get to know them.

Nintendo Power is owned by Nintendo. The writers seem to have their finger on the pulse on the industry.

[TheEnglishman]

Drizzy Drake, on Jul 5 2009, 02:39 PM, said:

We`re talking about the all elusive species; the female. now I now it may be a long time since many of you have seen a girl, but they`re quite nice once you get to know them.

You do come up with some gems from time to time Skidz.
I don't really mind what sort of GS game is made really. Remake or continuation, it doesn't really matter to me.

[Split Infinity]

I'm guessing you're one of the people who really liked LeafGreen and FireRed?

[Randolph]

...as am I. But that was mostly 'cause I could have Charizard and Blaziken in the same place.

Back on topic, people will likely still buy it anyway, regardless of what it turns out to be.

[Drizzy Drake]

Split Infinity, on Jul 5 2009, 06:15 PM, said:

I'm guessing you're one of the people who really liked LeafGreen and FireRed?

I'm with Me11, but meh, FR and LG were aight. I`m good with my 151 Red though thanks.

[Lightning Star]

Hm, the prologue thing does seem to make sense, but *where* would they start it? Back at the beginning so new players can get all of the story, or in the middle after the Venus lighthouse? If those aren't the descendants, and actually Isaac, Mia and Garet, then WTF is Ivan? D:

Oh, and I have to agree, Mia's way hotter.

[Wojtas]

I guess what they called "original golden sun" was the lost age, and GS DS will start just after end of it. You know, after Isaac, Garret and rest came back to Vale.

[Mallick]

I like the way you think.

[Kaj]

I agree, seems plausible enough. But there would have to be a gap between the return to Vale and the Descendants part, unless Mia, Jenna and Sheba have been pregnant during TLA. Seeing as they didn't have big belly's in the artwork I don't believe that was the case.

[Toasty]

lolwat


They said it'd start just after the events of Venus Lighthouse. I imagine that they'll use the events between then and Jupiter lighthouse as some kind of prologue, and then start off the actualy game some time after the events of TLA.

That's what I hope they're doing at least.

[OtakuRPGamer]

You all didn't believe me when I said that they were Isaac, Garet and Mia!! I told you all!

But I was wrong about it being a remake. I'll take my lumps.

[Someone Else]

Nothing has been proven. If those are Isaac, Garet, and Mia, where's Ivan?

[Drizzy Drake]

That`s not Mia.

/discussion

[Split Infinity]

Ivan went on to pursue a successful career in gaming. Camelot decided that he had too much interesting backstory to be a suitable party member.

[Neon]

Split Infinity, on Jul 9 2009, 04:21 AM, said:

Ivan went on to pursue a successful career in gaming. Camelot decided that he had too much interesting backstory to be a suitable party member.

haha :(


I don't think they could make a very good plot out of just the parts we didn't see, and that's quite a long period of time for just a prologue, and it doesn't really set the scene for a sequal unless it includes the events at Mars Lighthouse...

But hey, they could always have some sort of revelation in Isaac's story, and then flash forward to the future and explain then that the lighthouses were lit and Alex now holds most of the power of the golden sun, and then whatever 'revelation' Isaac and co had will tie in with the overall GS story and that will be the plot/motivation for the new game.

They could learn something about the nature of alchemy. Or maybe they learned something about what happened when the lighthouses were made and why alchemy was really sealed away. "human conflict" is pretty broad, and that's all they told us in the first 2 games.

[Someone Else]

Neon, on Jul 10 2009, 01:38 AM, said:

But hey, they could always have some sort of revelation in Isaac's story, and then flash forward to the future and explain then that the lighthouses were lit and Alex now holds most of the power of the golden sun, and then whatever 'revelation' Isaac and co had will tie in with the overall GS story and that will be the plot/motivation for the new game.

Well, there you go.

I doubt a prologue is going to go everywhere between Venus Lighthouse and the rest of TLA, being a remake so to speak. This wouldn't even make sense because Felix is deemed the leader of TLA, not Isaac.

What's more likely is the GS1 party will explain, through gameplay, the whole situation of GS1 with Jenna being kidnapped, Felix's party having the elemental stars except for Mars, and that if the lighthouses are lit it'll be certain doom and crap.

Then fade to black, some text explains Felix's party traveling the world to light the lighthouses while Isaac's party pursues. But after Jupiter Lighthouse is lit, Felix's party manages to convince Isaac's party that Weyard is shrinking and that unless the last lighthouse (Mars) is lit, it will continue to shrink until nothing is left.

Then a cutscene is shown of Mars Lighthouse being lit and the whole ending of TLA. Then after that is finished, GS3 stuff starts.


That's how I think the prologue of GS3 will go in a nutshell. Sure, it'll probably be a long prologue, but a lot happened in GS1 and GS2 and these games were made six years ago. A fair amount of people who will play GS3 probably never played the other two games, so a long prologue would probably be needed.

[Drizzy Drake]

i can see the prologue being told to the descendants as like a fireside story or something. fitting into the story; not just prologue, now forget everything you just saw, heres the REAL game.

[Split Infinity]

Nah, I think Gordo's on the money with his idea. Sounds like something they'd do.

Neon, on Jul 10 2009, 06:38 PM, said:

But hey, they could always have some sort of revelation in Isaac's story, and then flash forward to the future and explain then that the lighthouses were lit and Alex now holds most of the power of the golden sun, and then whatever 'revelation' Isaac and co had will tie in with the overall GS story and that will be the plot/motivation for the new game.

Exactly! Wait... didn't I just say that?

[Neon]

yeah you did :D

Quote

i can see the prologue being told to the descendants as like a fireside story or something. fitting into the story; not just prologue, now forget everything you just saw, heres the REAL game.

Yeah I've been picturing something like that too. Kinda cheesy though.

[Max]

Again, if history is any indication: http://www.goldensun...t/tla/prologue/

Text screens to explain story, perhaps followed by a couple of "in-game" dialogue sequences (maybe with token player control), and then just a jump to the future/descendents' time.

[Fury]

Its about damn time. This should have happend years ago.

[Split Infinity]

How did you stay in the dark about this for over a month?

[Fury]

I've known about this for a couple weeks. I'm just glad its finally happening.

[Lukar]

(Sorry if this has already been discussed, I haven't read any of the posts)

Typically I'd believe this, but if so, then what's up with the older character designs? Plus, why haven't we seen Ivan yet in promotional art? I don't get it.

[Gio]

I got a late jump on this topic, but o well.

I guess I like the idea of the whole prologue thing, but to be honest I really just don't care how they do it. I am just going to have faith that they are going to pull off another great game, and even if they do have the timeline for the game take place from Isaac's perspective after the events at the Venus Lighthouse, I am sure they will still pull a good game out of their a$$

[Desche]

... Nintendo Magazine? I've never heard of that. Nintendo Power, but not Nintendo Magazine. I personally don't think that screenshot is legit. The page blur looks weird to me too, anyone else?

EDIT: Not to mention that the last issue of Nintendo Power said you played as Isaac's son.

Proof: http://www.nintendop...es/NP244_E3.jpg

EDIT 2: Found their website, it is a legit magazine... But no info on the game itself.

http://www.officialn...me.php?id=10648

[Lukar]

Desche, on Jul 21 2009, 05:52 PM, said:

... Nintendo Magazine? I've never heard of that. Nintendo Power, but not Nintendo Magazine. I personally don't think that screenshot is legit. The page blur looks weird to me too, anyone else?

EDIT: Not to mention that the last issue of Nintendo Power said you played as Isaac's son.

Proof: http://www.nintendop...es/NP244_E3.jpg

EDIT 2: Found their website, it is a legit magazine... But no info on the game itself.

http://www.officialn...me.php?id=10648

Lmao. Official Nintendo Magazine is the UK's version of Nintendo Power. I would think everyone here'd know that, lol.

[Toasty]

Not everyone here lives in the UK. =P

To be honest, I had no idea that Nintendo named their magazine differently between the US and the UK. I just thought they called it Nintendo Power everywhere.

[Someone Else]

I didn't know that either.

But it's starting to sound more and more like the information about GS3 starting with Isaac is pure BS written up by an under-informed writer who had some knowledge of the first GS games, saw the trailer, and just made up everything else.

[Desche]

I agree wholeheartedly

[Split Infinity]

If only you could put the same heart into that post...

I agree though, it did seem pretty bland coming from a supposedly official source. Maybe Camelot's just being skimpy on the info; I mean, this is probably going to be one of the last great games on the DS when it gets released. It makes sense to try and tease out some hype.

[Desche]

Quote

If only you could put the same heart into that post...

Afraid I don't follow.

Quote

I agree though, it did seem pretty bland coming from a supposedly official source. Maybe Camelot's just being skimpy on the info; I mean, this is probably going to be one of the last great games on the DS when it gets released. It makes sense to try and tease out some hype.

They've already stated (can't seem to find where, now that I need it) that details will show up much later, around late fall I believe. They aren't giving much information out at all.

http://www.camelot.co.jp/index.html

They have a blog post about E3, and that's it as far as I can tell.

[Someone Else]

Sort of a shame, actually. I was warming up to my prologue idea. :C

[Legolastom]

The UK Nintendo magazine is not to be trusted they just make up completel bull**** sometimes and the entire magazine is a massive pile of horse crap. Suits the direction nintendo is going in now days actually.

[Split Infinity]

Desche, on Jul 24 2009, 05:43 AM, said:

Afraid I don't follow.

There's a five word minimum. :B

[Desche]

Oooh, ok. Haha, sorry, didn't know about that. Will remember next time. o7

[Someone Else]

Some posts have been deleted. Bitches please stop being bitches. The five word limit rule is a very general guideline, it is not actually a rule.

[Drizzy Drake]

Can I just state for the record that I didn`t care about Split, it was a joke. Not that Split took it super cereal; we need only Toasty for that.

Sure.

[Split Infinity]

Lol, I didn't count on Toasty snowballing it like that.

Is there any other news on the game? I know some of you read Kotaku and such.

[water adept]

Well that sounds like a fine point to start off there was a bit of a gap there, but I do hope it skips ahead to after the events of TLA.

[Toasty]

Side note:

During my interview at GameStop today, I saw the currently released official art in a handbook thingy that contained a little bit about the kinds of people they're looking for when hiring (the pictures were ridiculous, but I'm sure that was their intention).

Dunno what else was in the handbook. The interview went really well though, so who knows, maybe I'll get to tell you guys about it soon.