Hoshi wo Sagashite... (Searching for the Stars, known as Story of Mio in a fan translation) is an Adventure Game for the Sega Master System released in 1988. In it, you play as Roy, a pilot who returns to his home planet and buys an egg from a shady guy as a gift for his girlfriend Lila. Not long after she receives the gift, the egg breaks, revealing a bear-like creature with wings that's part of the seemingly extinct mio species. This begins a journey from planet to planet to discover what it's about.
The game's interface consists of a graphics window in the top-left corner, eight commands in the top-right (Move, Look, Talk, Take, Hit, Eat, Item), and a text box with a small portrait of the speaking character in the bottom-right.
This game provides examples of:
- Blush Sticker: The fruit vendor has noticeable pink circles on her cheeks.
- Does Not Like Spam: According to Roy, Lila hates Illum pickles.
- Double Entendre: Use the Eat command on a woman and she'll think Roy wants to "eat her up". Mari says "Ready to eat 🤍", Roy then thinks "I already have a girlfriend..."
- I Was Quite the Looker: The woman in the forest comments she used to be quite a peach if the "Eat" command is used on her.
- Male Gaze: In-universe with Roy. If he tries to look at Lila's chest rather than her face, she'll say it's embarrassing and tell him not to stare like that.
- Multiple Endings: Outside of the Game Overs, there's a slight variation to the ending dialogue depending on whether Roy manages to keep the Neo Crystal with him.
- Password Save: The game is saved on an 18-character password shown after pressing "Quit Game".
- Say It with Hearts: Female characters tend to use a heart when speaking.
- Shout-Out:
- Two women selling space tour tickets mentions the planets Motavia and Palma.
- Talking to the painting in Lila's house has Roy mention that he still hasn't beaten Loretta's Portrait.
- Single-Target Sexuality: If Roy looks at another girl, even some of the prettier ones like Chao at the bar, he may comment that Lila is cuter.
- Third-Person Person: Mari in the market states "Mari remembers" if Roy talks to her after being there once.
- Video Game Cruelty Potential: You can use the Hit command on just about anyone. Sometimes Roy won't do it, though.
- Wouldn't Hit a Girl: In most cases, trying to use the Hit command on a female character makes Roy comment that he couldn't hit a girl.
