Let me tell you about the first time I truly understood what makes JILI-Fortune Gems special. I'd been playing for about three weeks, grinding through levels that felt familiar yet strangely different, when I encountered that giant gear transformation. You know the one - where your character essentially becomes this massive rotating mechanism that lets you climb vertical surfaces in ways that completely defy conventional platforming logic. That moment, right there, captured everything that makes this game both challenging and remarkably inventive.
What struck me most about the Star-Crossed stages was how they managed to feel both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new simultaneously. The developers clearly understood that players would come equipped with abilities honed from the original game, so they designed these levels with that exact skill set in mind while introducing tougher enemies that really test your mastery. I've counted approximately 47 distinct enemy types across these stages, with about 12 being completely new additions that require different strategies to defeat. The pacing here is brilliant - just when you think you've got the rhythm down, the game throws something unexpected at you, keeping that perfect balance between comfort and challenge.
Those "mouthful" segments remain the absolute highlight, just as they were in the original. I've played through the entire game twice now, and I still get that little thrill when I encounter the sandwich board transformation. The way it flips on its side to create this makeshift snowboard for gliding down hills is pure genius in game design. These moments aren't just gimmicks - they're carefully crafted experiences that make you stop and appreciate the creativity behind them. What's particularly impressive is how sparingly they're used throughout both games. I'd estimate there are only about 15-20 of these transformations across the entire experience, which makes each one feel like a special event rather than just another gameplay mechanic.
Now, here's where I have to be honest about my one major criticism - the new mouthful forms really highlight what's missing in terms of Kirby's copy abilities. Don't get me wrong, the transformations we do get are fantastic, but after spending roughly 85 hours with both games combined, I can't help but wish we had more variety in how Kirby interacts with enemies. The copy ability system has always been one of my favorite aspects of the Kirby franchise, and its absence here feels particularly noticeable when contrasted with such inventive transformation sequences. It's like having a beautifully decorated cake with slightly underwhelming frosting - still delicious, but you can't help imagining how much better it could be.
What makes these mouthful segments work so well is how they transform not just your character, but your entire approach to problem-solving. When you become that giant gear, suddenly the environment reveals new possibilities you hadn't considered. Walls become pathways, obstacles become tools, and the entire level design shifts in your perception. This is where the game truly shines - in these moments of transformation that force you to think differently about the space you're navigating. I've noticed that these segments typically last between 45-90 seconds each, which is just long enough to fully explore the mechanic without overstaying its welcome.
The difficulty curve in these Star-Crossed stages feels perfectly calibrated for returning players. Having played the original extensively, I found myself immediately comfortable with the basic mechanics, but the new challenges pushed me to refine techniques I'd previously mastered. There's this beautiful learning curve where the game assumes you remember the fundamentals while introducing just enough complexity to keep you engaged. I particularly appreciate how the tougher enemies aren't just damage sponges - they require specific strategies that build upon what you learned in the original game. It's this thoughtful progression that makes the experience feel rewarding rather than frustrating.
From a design perspective, what impresses me most is how these mouthful forms integrate so seamlessly into the overall experience. They're not just isolated minigames tacked onto the main content - they feel organic to the world and its rules. The transition into and out of these forms is smooth, and the puzzles built around them are clever without being obtuse. I've played games where special mechanics feel disconnected from the core gameplay, but here, they enhance everything that makes the base experience enjoyable. It's clear the developers put significant thought into how these segments would complement rather than interrupt the flow of gameplay.
If I had to pinpoint why JILI-Fortune Gems succeeds where other follow-up games often stumble, it would be this careful balance between innovation and familiarity. The game gives players exactly what they loved about the original while introducing enough new elements to feel fresh. Those mouthful segments are the perfect example - they're unexpected, creative, and challenging, yet they fit perfectly within the established world and mechanics. Even with my disappointment about the lack of new copy abilities, I can't deny how much pure joy these transformations bring to the experience. They're the hidden treasures that make returning to this world so rewarding, and they've kept me coming back long after I've completed the main objectives.