A pitch for a new Golden Sun game
If you were not aware, the first two Golden Sun games are now available on the Switch. My personal stance is to abstain until an actual new game is made, but to help celebrate, here is a pitch for a new Golden Sun game.
This may be a bit unorthodox, but it would tell the second half of the story, but would radically differ from The Lost Age. And be warned, there are massive spoilers for the first two in this pitch.
Isaac and company battle Saturos and Menardi, but once the Fusion Dragon forms, Felix sneaks up and kills Isaac. The rest of the team kill Felix, but are wiped out by the Dragon. Once they separate, Saturos and Menardi also succumb to the effects of fusion, so they all end up dead as the Venus Lighthouse beacon is fired. Sheba still falls, but does not survive without Felix. Jenna and Kraden are swept away into the ocean and drown. Who does that leave us with?
And now a new team is needed. Hamma saw the future and combines forces with this possibly evil manipulator. So Mercury and Jupiter both have an adept on this new team. With no one to prove Piers is innocent, he is executed. The Great Gabomba spirit sees how the jewel came from a now dead man, and tells Akafubu that to atone for the death of the man who owned the jewel he used in the ceremony, Akafubu must take a new test: he must join the quest to become the witch doctor. Now we have a Mars adept.
Briggs made out well from the situation, escaping Alhafra to Champa with the boat, the food, and the money. But when he learns of Piers, Briggs agrees to join the quest to help as a navigator at sea. Maha from Garoh joins as an additional Jupiter support, and you team up with Susa to kill the serpent. Susa joins as your Venus adept.
The group still gets to Lemuria, but with no Piers it gets awkward. Piers uncle goes with you, in defiance of the senate. Second Mercury adept!
Karst and Agatio still appear, but they turn on Alex for letting Saturos and Mendardi die. Fighting ensues? And perhaps Maopa could join. He learns of your quest, and comes along to ensure the power of Anemos would be used wisely. Then parties could be 5 instead of 4 (always with one non-adept; Briggs or Maopa).
Reaching Prox, Karst and Agatio are missing (same fate as The Lost Age). You need help to find them and finish the quest. Puelle becomes your second Mars adept, and upon learning his son has died, Kyle also joins. Yeah, in this version, no parent abduction because their kids are already dead!!!
Now you have 8 adepts, many of whom are severely under-powered non-fighters (Pier's Uncle, Pulle, Kyle) plus two non-adepts susceptible to the elements. And with no Doom Dragon, your final boss?
The Wise One! You are no match, but at a critical moment it is possible for Alex to warp away. Instead, Alex stays and willingly gets wrecked by The Wise One (as is tradition) who then…willingly backs off? The Wise One allows Alex to light the last beacon and heals this united band of misfits. Because The Wise One has seen who they have become on this journey:
-Alex realizing that there is more than power, and he legitimately wants to help Weyard now.
-Akafubu becoming a strong leader to his people, worthy of the title of Witch Doctor.
-Maha transforming from a hermit to an ambassador for Beastmen across the world, and allowing Beastmen to be open in the world.
-Piers' Uncle and Kyle complete what their relatives died trying to do and can return home to honor their memories.
-Maopa reestablishes open and good relations between the people of Atteka and Hespiria.
-Susa becomes a better equipped leader for Izumo, more capable than just they guy who stabbed an already dying serpent.
-Puelle gets better character development, and becomes the actual hero of Prox.
-Hamma completes what Ivan was supposed to have done, and can now focus on the return of the Anemos to honor her fallen brother and restore her people's heritage.
-Briggs gets booty. Both treasure and Chaucha. He's a pirate, what do you expect? Some things don't change too much.
Everyone gets character growth and the stakes are high since both parties are gone. But all in all it is a satisfying experience, made up by a group even more fragmented and desperate than the Lost Age crew, but just as noble.
Now, obviously this would never happen due to tone alone, but I hope this outline demonstrates not only the interesting possibilities in the scenario of "what would happen if everyone you play as completely died" but also its feasibility as a game. It would follow The Lost Age in terms of geography and would use the same mechanics, but with changes to story and unexpected character moments this would be a unique game. No doubt about it, perhaps a little too unique and controversial.
Of course, even better than this would be a 4th Golden Sun game. So what are you waiting for Camelot?
