This Free DLC Finally Made Me Try One of the Best JRPGs Out There
Classic JRPG with a dash of whimsy and spectacle.
Sabotage Studios just released a free DLC called Throes of the Watchmaker for Sea of Stars. The DLC adds 8-10 hours of free content in the middle of the storyline, and it is impressive that a JRPG like Sea of Stars could get an update as big as this.
Sea of Stars already has a very positive review (89%) on Steam, and it is safe to say that almost everyone who played the game generally enjoyed the experience.
Those players probably would’ve been willing to spend a couple of dollars for extra content, but people get it for free instead. This is the kind of gesture I will always support.
What Drew Me Closer to Playing Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars has been on my radar since it came out in 2023. I grew up playing some classic JRPGs and watched the genre evolve for decade after decade.
I started playing JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII, Golden Sun, Suikoden, and Legends of Legaia. As I grew older, I started playing less of them. Persona 5 is still one of my favorite games of all time. However, I never had enough time to play these JRPGs.
Although I know these are great games, I couldn’t finish games like Nier: Automata, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Ni no Kuni, and great JRPGs. I have always hesitated to buy these games now, and Sea of Stars was one of the few games I had never played.
The moment I find the time to play a JRPG, it’s never enough. If I get to play a long session and end up playing it again in two weeks, the experience changes. However, I got the opportunity to play Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker early, and I just had to take it.
I’ve followed their progress since their Kickstarter campaign, even though I never planned on playing the game. Now I have an excuse to play it.
Playing Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker Without Playing the Base Game
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker builds on a fascinating and complex character, the Watchmaker. As someone almost clueless about anything in the game apart from common JRPG elements, the additional content doesn’t seem to affect anything in the main game.
It builds on the history of the creation of the Clockwork Castle, a deal the Watchmaker made with the Fleshmancer.
Even so, the content is rich and engaging as the Solstice Warriors and crew embark on an adventure into the world of Horloge. As a new player, it is more beneficial to play Sea of Stars because you get to learn the ropes before experiencing the DLC, which will be extremely difficult if you skip to it.
Everything feels more… fleshed out when you play a fresh game. The DLC adds more bosses, fun mini-games, dungeons, puzzles, and a kickass soundtrack. There are also new playable classes for Valere and Zale as the Solstice Warriors learns to adapt to the world of Horloge.
Artificer also becomes a playable character, and couch co-op is also available with the DLC content. If you haven’t played Sea of Stars and you are a fan of classic JRPGs, Sea of Stars’ Throes of the Watchmaker DLC release makes it the perfect start for new players to enjoy this future timeless classic.
