Camelot最初的计划是开发单部《黄金太阳》,而非所见现在的系列;在项目的早期阶段,他们本计划将《黄金太阳》设计到任天堂64上,但当任天堂64将被任天堂GameCube取代的迹象出现时,Camelot便集中精力将游戏开发于掌机Game Boy Advance平台[42];但直到此时,《开启的封印》仍然只打算设计成一部。由于Game Boy Advance的容量有限,加之开发者亦有设计成两部之意,游戏终以《黄金太阳 开启的封印》和《黄金太阳 失落的时代》两作的形式面世。在编剧高桥宏之和监制高桥秀五设计的《光明力量III》中,游戏将通过“正”“反”两个视角看待世界,由于是个衔接剧情的有效方法,因而在黄金太阳系列的设计上也是如此,即让玩家在《开启的封印》中控制“正派”,在《失落的时代》中控制“反派”[43]。
在2001年,《开启的封印》获得任天堂力量奖之年度最佳Game Boy Advance游戏。游戏亦排到IGN读者票选游戏前100的第94位[59]。在2007年,GBA寿终正寝之时,游戏获得IGN最佳Game Boy Advance游戏排名的第24名[60];因为“惊人的视觉和音效,以及至少30小时的通关时间”,该网站也将黄金太阳系列评为2003年4月的月度游戏[61]。在由任天堂力量举办的全任任天堂主机游戏TOP 200中,游戏排名第31[62]。
Camelot. Golden Sun: The Lost Age. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2003-04-14 (英语). Male villager: The huge waterfall at the edge of the world is known as Gaia Falls.
Camelot. Golden Sun: The Lost Age. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2003-04-14 (英语). Old male villager: Well, at least Gaia Falls will put an end to a few silly arguments. After all, if it's got an edge and you can fall off it, the world is clearly FLAT!
Camelot. Golden Sun: The Lost Age. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2003-04-14 (英语). In-game text: Ages ago, or so the stories tell, the power of Alchemy ruled over the world of Weyard. Alchemy wrought the base elements of humanity into thriving civilizations, like lead into gold. But in time, man's dreams gave birth to untold strife. Dreams of endless riches, of eternal life, of dominion over all that lived... Dreams of conquest and war.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Menardi: How could we have anticipated Sol Sanctum would unleash such fury? / Saturos: It's a miracle that even the two of us were spared. / Menardi: That switch... It must have been a trap. / Saturos: But to think it could conjure up a storm this powerful! / Menardi:...Another demonstration of the awesome powers of Alchemy. / Saturos: Regardless, we must not fail the next time we challenge Sol Sanctum.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Dora: Where do you all plan to go today? / Garet: We're going to Mt. Aleph with Kraden. / Dora: Mountain climbing with Kraden, eh? Kids and their games... / Jenna: No! It's part of our studies... / Dora: Ah, yes... Alchemy.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Felix: I know I've caused you much grief, Jenna. It was a miracle that I survived that day... / Saturos: We are the ones who saved him. / Menardi: We saw him floating unconscious in the river as we passed. / Felix: I've been with them ever since... I've experienced a lot.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Saturos: You heard us... If you wish to save your friends, then give us the Elemental Stars! / Menardi: Do you accept our terms? / Isaac: Yes. / Kraden: No, Isaac! You must not give them the Elemental Stars! / Saturos: Why would you deny us? Don't you want your friends to be safe?
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). The Wise One: The volcano will erupt... Without the power of the Elemental Stars to contain it, the magma flows freely once again, and this chamber is collapsing.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Saturos: Forget about them. They won't make it out alive. / Menardi: But Saturos, there's still a chance they might survive. / Saturos: Anything is possible... So what do you suggest we do? / Alex: We take this "Jenna" with us... If they survive, they will want her back. And if they want her back, they will bring us the Star.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). The Wise One: The world will be exposed to the threat of Alchemy. / Garet: Alchemy? A threat? / The Wise One: It can be a dangerous power if it is misused... If the Elemental Stars ignite the flames of the four lighthouses, that power will be released. As long as the four lighthouses remain unlit...
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Ivan: Your quest has been on my mind ever since I left Vault. Remember? I read everything that happened in your minds. I couldn't just leave, not with all these terrible things happening. If I can't rescue Master Hammet, then I want to help you... Please, allow me to join your quest.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Garet: It's too late! The lighthouse has already been lit! / Mia: It... It can't be! The beacon cannot be lit without the Mercury Star...
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Iodem: There were seven? Is this the same group you were following before? / Soldier 2: I'm certain of it. One of them must have been...Sheba. / Iodem: Sheba, you say... Is this true!? / Soldier 1: The scholar Kraden was protecting her. I'm sure it was Sheba... / Iodem: Did you hear that, Isaac? What do they want with Sheba?
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Saturos: I hope you don't think you've finished us off. / Mia: You may not be finished, but you can barely stand. / Menardi: Right now, yes... But we'll be back on our feet... as soon as we do THIS! / Saturos: (Throws the Venus Star into the Venus Lighthouse well) / Ivan: Oh, no! He threw the Elemental Star into the lighthouse! / Mia: How could this happen... We couldn't keep them from lighting the beacon! / Saturos: That's not all... The energy of the beacon will restore our power.
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Saturos: Heh heh... Felix is the least of your worries right now. / Mia: Oh my-they're glowing! / Menardi: It's time you learned what true power is! / Ivan: Their Psynergy is overflowing! / Saturos: Hya ha ha! It's too late to run! / Garet: Uh-oh... They're fusing! / Ivan: They've merged into one another! Everyone get back!
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Saturos: How... How... did we lose? / Menardi: We are superior in every way, but still we were defeated...
Camelot. Golden Sun. Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. 2001-11-11 (英语). Garet: We did it! We won! / Ivan: We beat them...but have we really won? / Isaac: Yes. / Ivan: Even though we couldn't stop the beacon from being lit? / Garet: What are you talking about? We did everything we could! Sure we couldn't save the Venus Lighthouse, but... We beat them! They're gone! You saw them fall down into the pit... So we don't have to worry about any more beacons being lit! / Mia: But Felix is gone, and he's taken Sheba...