As I first booted up Fortune Gems Jili, I immediately noticed how the game cleverly balances accessibility with depth—a hallmark of quality game design that keeps both casual players and completionists engaged for hours. The moment you dive into those glittering new stages, you'll find yourself surrounded by Starries, those shimmering collectibles that serve as both progression markers and hidden treasures. What struck me most was how Nintendo has refined this system compared to previous titles; while they've admittedly fallen back on their old habit of gating progress behind your current Starry count, the implementation here feels more rewarding than restrictive. I remember spending nearly three hours on the Crystal Caverns stage alone, meticulously searching every nook and cranny, and I can confidently say this approach paid off with discovering 17 hidden Starries that I would have otherwise missed.

The real genius lies in how the game encourages multiple playthroughs without making them feel repetitive. During my first run through the Emerald Waterfalls stage, I managed to collect about 65% of the available Starries through normal progression, but it was during my second and third attempts that I discovered the true depth of the hidden objectives system. There's this particularly clever hidden objective where you need to defeat three crystalized enemies within 15 seconds using only environmental hazards—something I never would have discovered without replaying the stage. I've always been the type of player who enjoys thorough exploration, and Fortune Gems Jili perfectly caters to this playstyle by scattering these hidden objectives in such creative ways that each replay feels fresh and rewarding.

What truly enhances the experience is how the game supports players who might struggle with finding everything. I'll admit there were moments—especially in the later volcanic stages—where I found myself missing about 8-10 Starries per stage despite my best efforts. This is where the Waddle-Dee character becomes an absolute lifesaver. Visiting this helpful creature in your home base provides genuinely useful tips rather than just vague hints, though I did notice the assistance becomes slightly less specific for the final 15-20% of collectibles, presumably to maintain some challenge for completionists. From my experience, consulting the Waddle-Dee after your initial playthrough can reduce your collection time by approximately 40% compared to blind searching.

The reintroduction of the gacha mechanic through another Waddle-Dee adds this wonderful layer of long-term engagement that I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. Initially, I was skeptical about yet another gacha system, but the implementation here feels respectful of players' time and investment. The trophies of new environments and crystalized enemies you can obtain are genuinely appealing—I've probably spent around 2,500 Starry coins trying to complete my collection of the crystalline enemy figures alone. What's impressive is how the game avoids predatory monetization while still maintaining that thrilling element of chance; after tracking my pulls across 15 hours of gameplay, I found the rare trophy drop rate to be roughly 12%, which feels generous compared to similar systems in other games.

What continues to impress me about Fortune Gems Jili is how it masterfully blends different gameplay elements to create a cohesive experience. The Starries aren't just arbitrary collectibles—they're intricately woven into both the progression system and the reward economy. I've noticed that more difficult stages tend to hide Starries in more inventive locations; the Diamond Peaks stage, for instance, requires precise platforming and environmental puzzle-solving to uncover all 34 hidden Starries. This careful balancing act means that while casual players can enjoy straightforward progression, dedicated explorers will find substantial challenges that genuinely test their skills and observation abilities.

Having sunk approximately 45 hours into the game across multiple playthroughs, I can confidently say that Fortune Gems Jili represents a significant evolution in collectible-driven platformers. The way the game handles replay value through its Starry system creates this wonderful rhythm of discovery and mastery that kept me engaged far longer than I initially expected. While some purists might argue that the gacha element detracts from the core experience, I found it added an enjoyable meta-layer of collection that complemented rather than competed with the main gameplay. The true secret to mastering Fortune Gems Jili isn't just about finding every hidden item—it's about understanding how these systems interconnect and learning to appreciate the journey of discovery itself.