Golden Sun as a series does a great job capturing a sense of adventure, and the aesthetic elements are among the best on the GBA. Some of the puzzles and dungeons are on par with Zelda or Lufia II. However: as much as I love the overall feel of this game, it really doesn't respect my time. Backtracking is an integral part of both the overall plot and individual puzzles, which results in excessive, dull random battles. Although the cutscenes are often funny, they are way too long-winded, often circling the same plot point several times before moving on. The story of this sequel doesn't feel very strongly connected to the high stakes of the first game, which made these first few hours feel pretty aimless. Overall the pace is just too slow to keep me engaged. Stopped at the Gabomba Statue.