While other developers focused on cutscenes and polygon counts, the original Golden Sun brought us back to the lost age of 16-bit RPGs. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn has the same effect, even though it has 3D graphics.

Nintendo put out a new pair of trailers for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn ahead of its November 29th release.

This week’s sales chart looks nice and healthy. Diverse, too. Oh, and there’s a PlayStation 2 game in it.

That’s Matthew, the protagonist of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. Matthew, like a ton of his party members, is related to someone from the original Golden Sun — he’s the son of the original’s protagonist, Isaac.

Because it’s Nintendo’s next first party DS title for Japan.

Just like the other Golden Sun games, players can use Psyenergy powers in the field to solve puzzles.

When Nintendo said “this holiday season” for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn they meant it. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn will be in stores on November 29.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn wasn’t on Nintendo of America’s September to November schedule, but Camelot will be done with development before 2011.

While the characters I played with — Matthew, Karis, and Terrell — were new, battles felt familiar. Djinn and psyenergy, elements from past Golden Sun games returned in Golden Sun: Dark Dawn.

Stylus controls, cel-shaded art and top-down view with turn-based battles.

Golden Sun DS has a unique visual style. The world is in 3D, but the models look like sprites. It’s a happy medium I hope more RPGs embrace.