Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth centers on a deep, turn-based tactical system that unfolds over 40 missions across the continent of Mardias. You command Fazz, the game’s reluctant hero, and his eclectic band of mercenaries as they move on a grid, positioning units to flank enemies, seize objectives, and trigger environmental hazards. Each battle feels like a carefully choreographed dance, where one wrong move can leave your party vulnerable to the Valaimian forces arrayed against you.

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The devotion system lets you align each character with one of six elemental spirits—fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, and light—granting unique buffs and unlocking specialized abilities. Experimenting with different devotion combinations becomes critical as you face tougher foes; a water-aligned mage might suppress enemy speed, while an earth-aligned warrior can shrug off hits that would fell other classes. This layer of strategic depth ensures no two playthroughs feel identical.

Complementing devotion is the coinfeigm system, which lets you collect magical coins dropped by defeated enemies. By channeling experience into these coins, you can unlock powerful spells, stat boosts, and passive effects. Planning which coins to level and when to equip them can turn the tide of battle. Meanwhile, the RAP (Ready for Action Points) system governs everything you do—moving, attacking, casting spells—so you must budget your RAP carefully. Hogging too many actions early can leave you overextended later in the turn, adding a thrilling tension to each decision.

Graphics

Despite its age, Hoshigami sports a vibrant 3D world that brings Mardias to life in crisp, colorful detail. Battle maps range from windswept plains to dense forests and imposing fortresses, each environment featuring distinctive palettes and atmospheric effects. Spells light up the battlefield with elemental flares, and weather transitions—rain, fog, clear skies—add visual variety to the tactical grid.

Character models are well-proportioned and animated with care, though polygon counts and textures reveal their era. Each mercenary boasts unique costumes and weapon designs, helping you identify allies at a glance. Enemy designs scale nicely in variety and complexity, from basic foot soldiers to colossal beasts guarding strategic chokepoints. Cutscenes blend pre-rendered stills with in-engine dialogue sequences, offering narrative clarity even if they lack modern polish.

The user interface strikes a balance between clarity and information density. Health bars, RAP gauges, and elemental icons are cleanly displayed, and menus handle devotion and coinfeigm customization without feeling cluttered. Occasional slowdowns may occur during spell-heavy battles on older hardware, but these moments are brief and never break the flow of combat.

Story

Hoshigami weaves a tale of political intrigue and divine power centered on the Hoshigami, mysterious elemental giants whose allegiance could tip the balance of power. You follow Fazz, a young mercenary haunted by a dark past, as he unites disparate allies to thwart the expansionist Valaimian Empire. Over 40 missions, loyalties shift, betrayals are revealed, and the true nature of the Hoshigami is slowly uncovered.

Character development is one of the game’s strong suits. Each companion has personal motivations that intertwine with the main plot—an exiled noble seeking redemption, a stoic swordswoman bound by duty, and a roguish thief with ties to the empire, to name a few. Side conversations and optional battles flesh out these backstories, rewarding players who invest time in exploration and dialogue.

While some narrative beats feel familiar—empire vs. freedom fighters, the burden of destiny—the lavish lore of Mardias and its elemental pantheon lend the story a unique flavor. Subtitles and translations occasionally read awkwardly, but the core themes of sacrifice, trust, and power resonate through memorable cutscenes and in-battle voice calls.

Overall Experience

Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth is a rewarding but demanding tactical RPG that excels at delivering deep strategic systems wrapped in a compelling fantasy narrative. The learning curve can be steep—early battles may leave you wondering how to balance RAP usage or which devotion spirit to choose—but the included tutorial missions do a solid job of easing players into the complexity.

Replay value is high thanks to branching devotion paths and coinfeigm builds. Tackling the same mission with different elemental alignments or focusing on alternative coin upgrades can completely change your approach. Hidden side missions and optional bosses provide extra challenges for completionists, while new players can follow the main story at a reasonable pace.

Though it shows its age in some graphical and interface elements, the core gameplay loop remains engaging and fresh. Fans of classic tactical RPGs who crave deep customization and a story that unfolds over dozens of varied missions will find Hoshigami to be a hidden gem. Its blend of elemental mysticism, political drama, and tactical combat promises dozens of hours of thoughtful, rewarding gameplay.

Retro Replay Score

6/10