I still remember the first time I stumbled upon a hidden Starry in Fortune Gems Jili—it was tucked away behind a glowing crystal formation that I almost walked right past. That moment of discovery hooked me completely, and since then I've spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny of this fascinating game. What makes Fortune Gems Jili so special isn't just the main objectives—it's those hidden treasures that reward your curiosity. The game designers have cleverly scattered these Starries throughout each stage, some awarded for completing levels while others require genuine detective work to uncover. I've developed this habit of moving through new stages at a snail's pace, scanning every corner and testing every suspicious-looking wall. Just last week, I found three Starries hidden in what appeared to be ordinary background elements—a shimmering patch on a cave wall, a slightly different colored flower, and one concealed beneath what looked like random debris.

The progression system here follows Nintendo's classic approach—your Starry count directly impacts how much of the game you can access. While some players might find this restrictive, I actually appreciate how it encourages thorough exploration. There were moments when I found myself just two Starries short of unlocking the next world, which sent me back to previous stages with fresh eyes. This revisiting process often revealed secrets I'd missed initially—like the time I discovered an entire hidden pathway behind a waterfall that contained not one, but two Starries and a handful of those precious Starry coins. The game does an excellent job of making these return trips feel rewarding rather than repetitive, as you'll often notice environmental details that escaped your attention during the first playthrough.

For those times when you're genuinely stuck—and believe me, we all get there—the game offers a clever solution through the Waddle-Dee characters. There's this particular Waddle-Dee in your home base who essentially acts as your personal treasure hunting assistant. I've visited him maybe a dozen times when I was at my wit's end, and his hints are always just vague enough to point you in the right direction without completely spoiling the discovery. He might say something like "perhaps check where the light dances differently" or "some treasures prefer high places," which sends you re-examining familiar areas with new perspectives. It's this balance between challenge and assistance that makes the hunting process so satisfying.

Then there's the other Waddle-Dee who brings back the gacha mechanic, and I have to admit I've probably spent more Starry coins on this than I should have. The thrill of unlocking those miniature trophies—crystalized versions of enemies you've defeated and tiny replicas of the game's stunning environments—is surprisingly addictive. I've collected about 47 of them so far, though my friend who's equally obsessed claims there are at least 80 to discover. These collectibles don't just sit in your inventory either—they decorate your home base, creating this personalized museum of your adventures. I particularly love the crystalized versions of the forest sprites—they sparkle with this ethereal light that makes all that coin-grinding feel worthwhile.

What continues to impress me about Fortune Gems Jili is how it balances different play styles. If you're the type who just wants to breeze through the main story, you can do that—though you'll need to collect a reasonable number of Starries to progress. But if you're like me and enjoy completionist runs, there's this incredibly rich layer of content waiting to be uncovered. I've replayed the Crystal Caverns stage at least eight times, and on my most recent run I still found a hidden Starry I'd previously missed—it was cleverly disguised as part of a crystal cluster near the starting area. These moments of discovery are what keep the game fresh even after dozens of hours of gameplay.

The economy of Starry coins feels well-balanced too—you'll naturally accumulate them while hunting for Starries, but there's always that temptation to spend them on the gacha system. I've developed my own strategy of saving up until I have about 200 coins, then doing a bulk purchase of gacha pulls. This approach has served me well, though sometimes the randomization can be frustrating—I've gotten three identical crystalized bats when what I really wanted was the mountain peak trophy. But that's part of the charm, I suppose—the unpredictability keeps you coming back for just one more pull.

As I write this, I'm planning my next gaming session to tackle the newly unlocked Volcanic Region, which requires 85 Starries to access. I'm sitting at 83 currently, which means I need to revisit some earlier stages to find those last two elusive treasures. Rather than feeling like a chore, this actually excites me—it's like knowing there are still presents left to unwrap in places I thought I knew inside out. That's the magic of Fortune Gems Jili—it turns what could be mundane collection tasks into genuine adventures, rewarding both thorough exploration and creative thinking. Whether you're a casual player or a dedicated completionist, there's something here to capture your imagination and keep you coming back for just one more Starry.