When Sea of Stars was first released in 2023, it wowed with its gorgeous pixel art graphics, wonderful characters, exciting story, and addictive gameplay. So much so that it became my Game of the Year choice. With Sabotage Studio and Playdigious bringing the retro-inspired JRPG to mobile devices, I had to drop in and see how it translated onto my iPad Pro.
From the moment the title screen comes up, and you see the familiar fireplace, deserted for now, the visuals never fall short of what memory makes them out to be. The colors pop, the animation is smooth, and the world always feels vibrant and alive. Even the time-manipulation effect that lets the player shift the setting from day to night and back loses none of its luster here. Shadows lengthen, and hues change with the dancing light, retaining all of the beauty of the original release.
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Sea of Stars pairs its gorgeous visuals with the same snappy 8-bit style music I remembered.
Sea of Stars pairs its gorgeous visuals with the same snappy 8-bit style music I remembered. All the familiar beats sound just as rich and charming as when I first heard them. From the welcoming sounds of “Mountain Trail” to the energy of “Dance of a 1,000 Suns,” the music sounded crisp and smooth on my mobile device.
The most likely concern for many when approaching this port will be the controls. Sea of Stars featured timing-sensitive responses to its turn-based actions, requiring precision if players want to get the most out of their attacks and mitigate incoming damage. Happily, the port provides consistent feedback for your touch inputs. It took me a little time to learn just how hard I needed to tap to get a response. In early battles, I was a bit too light on the screen, but once I found it, the rest fell into place smoothly.
How does the save-and-pause system adapt on mobile platforms?
Also important to note is that Sea of Stars’ App Store entry also mentions that it supports controllers, though I was unable to test out the functionality.
Further helping the transition to smaller mobile devices is the enhanced star flair that can be activated to let the player know when they have properly timed their input. While it was useful in the original release, I can see it becoming even more helpful for players who may have trouble spotting subtler cues on their smartphones.
Another important element in how Sea of Stars adapts to mobile platforms is its save-and-pause system. As a game not designed for on-the-go or bite-sized play, it could be very counterintuitive to have it on a device where that is often the most likely way someone will play it. This port does a good job of addressing concerns about losing progress due to sudden stops or other distractions.
One glaring omission holds Sea of Stars back.
I tested exiting the game several times, even in the middle of a battle, and then reopening it. As long as no other major applications were running, the game always displayed the pause menu. No progress lost, I could pick up right where I left off. Even when more significant breaks in the game caused it to restart, a generous quick-save function ensured I didn’t have to retread too much ground.
With all this praise, you may think that Sea of Stars‘ mobile port is the equal of its earlier release. Well, there is one glaring omission that holds it back. Last year, Sabotage Studio released a free DLC to the game, Throes of the Watchmaker. Delivering a standalone adventure, the add-on gave players another great adventure to go with the Solstice Twins. However, that content is not available with this release. When I reached out to PR about it, I was told there is a chance it could come later, but nothing has been decided. So if you think you will want the full experience, going elsewhere will be your safest bet if you have that option.
Sea of Stars looks and plays great on mobile. And with a ten-dollar price tag, the game offers more than enough content to merit a purchase. Whether it’s your first time fighting the Fleshmancer or if you are just looking for an excuse to return for another run, this game feels like an easy grab.
Sea of Stars is available now on Apple and Android devices.
