Golden Sun is a tale, like many role-playing videogames, that begins with tragedy. The protagonist, Isaac, is woken from his comfy bed by his mother in urgency. Their hometown of Vale is under an imminent threat of disaster – A boulder from up above Mt Aleph following a violent thunderstorm. As you first take control of Isaac after being awoken, you’re asked by your mother if ready to leave, prompting many of Golden Sun’s attempts to make sure you’re paying attention. Like anyone woken up midsleep, I wasn’t ready, and yet answering as such triggers Isaac to be dragged out of the house anyway. As Isaac is separated from his own mother and father – we’re barely a minute in at this point – its up to Isaac to go and find urgent help. Naturally at this point it gives me plenty of time to wander into the villagers’ homes for any hidden goodies, raid their bookshelves for the useful references they bring to Isaac’s hometown historical secrets, until eventually losing his father, friend and friends parents to the boulder crashing through their home.
This is but the opening prologue of the first Golden Sun adventure, released this past week for the Game Boy Advance Switch online catalogue. Originally released in 2001, Golden Sun remains one of the highest points in handheld RPG’s. Retaining the look and feel of a two-dimensional Legend of Zelda on the surface, Golden Sun excels in its detailed environments, emotive, voiceless storytelling, fast, turn-based battles and a “back in my day” open door policy that’s as absorbing today as it was then. The big TV screens of today merely highlight its qualities to the finest detail, and, as one of the finest 2D RPG’s around, there is more than enough here to recommend to anyone unfamiliar. An impressive addition to the Switch Online catalogue, and I can’t wait to go through it again.
The (Game) pre-owned era is ending
Also this past week, UK videogame retailer is reportedly (and abruptly) ending its physical game trade-ins as of February 2024. Presumably to make way for yet more Lego sets, Game no longer make money from them. I’ll admit I cannot remember the last time I purchased any videogame, new or preowned, from Game in recent years, and maybe that is indicative of the market as a whole.
But it is a market that Game, or in its original incarnation Future Zone, really led the way with, particularly in the 1990’s-2000’s. As a teenager pre-owned games were much easier to budget for, as well as precuring in-store credit to spend from ones I was done with. Based on today’s valuations, most of them are regrettable trade-ins.
Hearing this news immediately evoked memories of one my first pre-owned purchases, Secret of Mana for the Super Nintendo. My local Future Zone at the time had just a small selection of second-hand products, all conveniently placed in a glass container near the entrance. It was a struggle to find Secret of Mana at all at this point, but there it was, nudged between copies Cool Spot and Mr Nutz. The box wasn’t squashed, nothing was ripped with just a little minor wear, for just £24.99. It also came complete with inserts and map as if it was new. It probably remains my biggest Super Nintendo bargain ever.
My biggest trade in win however was the unfortunate mistake of a Christmas temp. Moving into 2002, Future Zone stores had become Electronics Boutique, and the PS2 was the console to have, with Pro Evolution Soccer 2 the latest must-have footy sim. I had two titles to trade against the £39.99 new game, of which garnered £25 in trade in credit. The retailer took my old games, then handed me £25 in cash. This was the first red flag. I kept quiet (I was 21, don’t judge me), but I had my debit card in hand to pay the difference as the retailer then rang Pro Evo 2 through the till, bagged it up, complete with receipt, and wished me a good afternoon as he passed the game over the counter. I simply said, “thank you”, turned and walked out of the store, then ran for the bus when out of sight of the shop front. They literally paid me to play Pro Evolution Soccer 2, which was as unforgettable as the memory of acquiring it.
Should this be the end of pre-owned games at Game, its memories such as these that should be treasured. With rival retailers CEX using pre-owned media as their entire empire, this decision from Game is shame, but probably the right call.