Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker

Throes of the Watchmaker is a solid piece of DLC for Sea of Stars. If you enjoyed the main game, you will enjoy this too! If the original wasn't your bottle of seltzer, maybe pass on it.

Throes of the Watchmaker is a wonderful addition to an already fantastic package. While I’m not one hundred percent sold on the complete reset of skills, it does at least make narrative sense and allow for an admittedly needed power reset going into the new content, given that the expansion cannot be accessed until you’ve bested the mandatory content from the base game. That minor gripe aside, Throes of the Watchmaker is an exceptional package that highlights and builds upon what was so enjoyable within the base game. The new dungeons and biome are a treat to explore, stuffed with puzzles and engaging combat encounters that rival, and in many cases surpass, the quality already established by the base game, and if this is to be the last we see of Sea of Stars until what is hopefully an inevitable sequel, then this is a hell of a way to bow out.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a beautiful gift for all fans of the original game, delivering everything they wanted from it while also offering a few subtle changes.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a great DLC for those who were already hooked on the base game and crave more, though it may leave others wanting. New classes and a new party member don’t make up for the lack of character development for our main duo, and I did not appreciate having my party shrunk and helpful skills removed. A gorgeous and bombastic ride seems to be Sea of Stars’ goal here, and on that note, they do not disappoint. If you were craving more Sea of Stars or have been away from the game, this free DLC awaits a brave Solstice Warrior or three to mete out justice once again.

You can't argue against the value of free DLC that expands on an already classic RPG. With more inventive, enjoyable combat and a compelling additional story, Throes of the Watchmaker is tougher, perhaps a tad short, but just as entertaining as the main campaign.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker isn't a massive story DLC, but it offers nearly ten hours of gameplay packed with surprises, clever design, and a compelling atmosphere. The new mechanics, the focus on the fascinating watchmaker, and the many small improvements make this DLC a real treat.

Much like the base game, I can't say there's anything inherently wrong with Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker. It's not quite as immaculate as that modern-day classic, but it isn't trying to be. It's meant to be a fun little bit of post-game content that keeps players occupied for about 8-10 hours. Most of the mechanics, presentation, and lore carry over, so if you like Sea of Stars, then you'll almost certainly like Throes of the Watchmaker. It won't change your opinion of the base game, but if you're okay with then, you'll get along well with it.

The highlight of the DLC is how it tries to give more personality to the protagonists, Zale and Valere. While it succeeds in doing so in isolation, it still feels like sugarcoating an unfixable problem. If you miss Sea of Stars, try Throes of the Watchmaker. Otherwise, it might not be worth your time

Since everything in the DLC is completely separate from the base game and is taken away from you the second you step out of the DLC region, it feels superfluous. That being said, it’s a very unique concept of storytelling and deserves the time if you enjoyed the base game.

Throes of The Watchmaker is only a few degrees away from being a stand-alone offering with its unique experience with fresh mechanics, original story and a vibrant new world to explore. Sabotage Studios sidesteps all of the common issues with DLC such as the lack of quality and value. To begin with, The Throes of The Watchmaker is completely free, if you own the base game. There is no memory needed for the existing lands of Sea of Stars because The Throes of The Watchmaker takes place in an entirely new realm. You don’t have to remember how to use any of your special skills, because each character is given completely new ones. Then you throw in all kinds of new puzzle mechanics, enemies and more of the stunning pixel art from Sabotage Studio and Throes of The Watchmaker is easily one of the best free DLC’s ever.