Welcome to Gaia! ::

As well as the luscious 3D graphics, new gameplay features include the ability to respond with different emotional reactions to various scenarios in the game, with your choice of emotion having an impact on the replies you receive from other characters you meet. If you choose a “gutsy” reply for Matthew during a tense moment, other characters may get annoyed that you’re not taking the situation seriously. Choose an “angry” reply, though, and you might find that they respond confrontationally in turn…

A new Weapon Mastery feature allows characters to gain expertise with specific weapons by using them more frequently and you can also now combine your team’s powers to advance through the story. New Psynergies are available to characters, adding new depth to puzzles, and an optional Touch Screen command system allows for intuitive gameplay, enabling certain Psynergies to be directed using the Touch Screen and stylus. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn also contains a comprehensive encyclopaedia, allowing the player to become fully immersed in the mythology of Golden Sun.

"Thirty years after Weyard was saved from planetary collapse, a new generation of elemental warriors struggles to survive in a radically changed world. Black holes now drain the life from the land, while kings clash across the continent. Apocalypse is coming—and only you can stop it! ~ Unleash your Djinn: Collect over 80 elemental creatures that grant your warriors additional spells, plus the ability to summon deities into battle to cause immense damage. Each Djinni also has its own unique attack or effect, so the more you have, the more options you’ll have in battle. ~ Experience a planet-sized epic journey across a vast continent, through many cities and ancient ruins, following an epic tale about rising empires and dead civilizations. As you grow from lowly apprentices to powerful masters, you’ll fight through hordes of monsters, ferocious bosses, and fierce military generals—and ultimately try to stop the devastation of the planet itself. ~ Wield the power of Psynergy: Cast dozens of elemental Psynergy spells to blast fire, air, earth, and water at your enemies during battles. You can also use many of these spells to get through puzzling dungeons, flinging fireballs to burn obstacles in your way, freezing water to raise platforms, and throwing whirlwinds to create a suspension bridge from floating objects."

Hm. It looks like we will, in fact, be confined to Angara again.

Experience a planet-sized epic journey across a vast continent

That said, the encyclopaedia has me jumping up and down with ten different kinds of joy.