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Parents' Guide to

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Outstanding RPG offers fine role models, great puzzles.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 12+

Another Classic; And I got mine for free.

I loved the original Golden Sun for the GBA and I was psyched when I heard this one was coming out. Something about that classic RPG feel and the puzzles that I've always loved in a good RPG game, and anyone who's played the first knows it's more then just a classic. Unfortunately it was impossible for me to be able to get this game for myself during its release, but then I ran into this thing called Prizerebel when I was searching on the web for a way to get it. It's this group that seriously gives you free video games for doing simple surveys! I was a bit skeptical about it too at first, but after googling around and finding out it wasn't a scam site, I decided to give it a try, and in no time I got myself a copy of Dark Dawn for my DS! I highly suggest anyone to give Prizerebel a shot. www.tinyurl.com/2falfwg
age 5+

Good for any one.

Played the first game when I was 6, first game I got and I still feel that game is the greatest game I have ever played. Appropriate for all ages.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

The third game in this beloved series of handheld role-playing games delivers a conventional -- but refined -- experience. The writing is concise and compelling, turn-based battles are quick yet demand strategy, and the puzzles -- the heart of the game -- are familiar but challenging. What's more, collecting those devilishly hard-to-find djinn -- magical creatures that can be assigned to characters to change their statistics, class, and powers -- is as habit-forming as it was in previous Golden Suns.

But while Dark Dawn may recall earlier games, it's not without innovation. One of its cleverest new features is an encyclopedia that can be accessed by tapping on words in the game's text dialogue, much as one would click a hyperlink on a web page. This action calls up an efficient description of the person, place, or thing referenced, and should prove an invaluable aid for players new to the series. Consequently, it matters not whether you've played previous games in the series; Dark Dawn can be great fun for anyone who enjoys role-playing, puzzles, and the occasional turn-based battle.

Game Details

  • Platforms: Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release date: November 29, 2010
  • Genre: Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating: E10+ for Mild Fantasy Violence
  • Last updated: August 30, 2016

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