In the vast expanse of online casinos, one game has stood out for its simplicity, excitement, and rewards – NetEnt’s Starburst. Since its release in 2012, this slot machine has become a favorite among gamblers, offering an unparalleled experience that is both easy to grasp and challenging to master. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Starburst, exploring its captivating theme, engaging visual design, and enticing features.
Exploring the Cosmic Theme
Starburst’s game universe revolves around the stars, evoking a sense of space exploration and adventure. The background is set against a deep blue sky Play Starburst on starburst-site with twinkling stars, immersing players in an otherworldly experience. Symbols on the reels are intricately designed to reflect this cosmic theme – gold bars, diamonds, red sevens, green seven BARs, and wild symbols resembling shooting stars. Each symbol has its own unique design and style, making it easy for players to recognize and differentiate them during gameplay.
The game’s setting is reminiscent of classic sci-fi films, with bold colors and striking graphics creating an electrifying atmosphere. The background music complements the theme perfectly – a pulsating electronic track that adds to the excitement as you spin the reels. Whether you’re playing on desktop or mobile devices, Starburst ensures an immersive experience, transporting players to a world of limitless possibilities.
Visual Design: A Cosmic Spectacle
Starburst’s visual design is a symphony of colors and textures that will captivate any player. The game features 5 reels with 3 rows each, giving you 243 ways to win on every spin. Symbols are designed in the style of classic fruit machines but with an astronomical twist – think glowing stars instead of lemons or grapes! Each symbol has a distinct animation when it lands on a winning line, adding to the game’s dynamic nature.
The reels themselves have been crafted with precision and care, ensuring that each symbol is visible at all times. NetEnt’s developers have expertly balanced design elements, so no element overpowers another – this attention to detail showcases their dedication to creating an exceptional gaming experience. To match the futuristic ambiance, text and logo animations are smooth and minimalist, further immersing you in Starburst’s intergalactic universe.
Symbols and Payouts: Unveiling the Rewards
In any game of chance, understanding payouts is crucial to winning big or breaking even. In this aspect, NetEnt has made it relatively simple for players new to slots – every symbol on the reels offers a payout when part of a successful combination.
The gold bar symbol serves as both Wild and Scatter; you’ll see why its presence matters in later sections. When landing two identical symbols adjacent to each other (except for wilds), you can activate either Free Spins or Re-Spins mode, but more on those below! Each winning combination is calculated by multiplying the line win with your stake.
Here’s a breakdown of all payouts:
- Red 7: x5
- Green Seven BAR: x2x3x4x5
- Diamonds: x10x20x30x40x50
Each symbol offers higher or lower value, which might seem too simple at first glance but makes gameplay accessible for casual players. Now that we’ve discussed basic payouts and visual design elements, it’s time to focus on what truly sets Starburst apart.
Wild Symbols: The Cosmic Connection
In most slot games, Wild symbols are used as substitutes for other symbols when creating winning combinations or during bonus rounds. However, in the case of NetEnt’s Starburst, there is a twist – Gold Bars double your win every time it completes a combination.
Here’s how you can use gold bars effectively:
- When 2 Gold Bars appear anywhere on Reels 1, 2, 3, and/or 4 in a non-winning combination within the main game, they trigger the ‘Expanding Wilds’ feature.
- If three or more are landed (on all five reels), you get a total of Free Spins.
As we approach free spins – one of Starburst’s most engaging features – remember how the presence of wild symbols was hinted at in this section. Their influence on gameplay and winning strategies can be substantial, especially with their ‘Expanding Wilds’ ability.
Scatter Symbols: Unleashing Free Spins
The term "scatter" usually implies that an element must appear more than once to trigger specific features. However, in the context of Starburst’s game rules and strategy guide – all you need is three Gold Bars scattered across reels 1, 2, or 3. But what happens next? Well, this special combination awards free spins.
Here’s a breakdown:
- You’ll be granted ten initial Free Spins with no additional bet applied on them.
- The Wild function remains active throughout the Free Spins round – creating an engaging opportunity for high rewards through the "Expanding Wilds" feature mentioned above!
- During these sessions, the chances of winning big grow significantly due to wild symbols appearing more frequently than usual.
Bonus Features and Re-Spins
In Starburst’s gameplay experience, two main bonus features interact with one another: Expanding Wilds (via gold bars) during regular spins or within Free Spins rounds. If three gold bar symbols appear anywhere on the first reel 1 through to third reel 3 within a non-winning combination – and they remain active even throughout Free Spins!
Free Spins and Strategy
Given that each free spin is separate from main game stakes (but with a wild expansion), think of them as an amplified version. This opens opportunities for creating combinations using more than one gold bar, often landing five or six consecutive bars to maximize payouts.
While strategy in Starburst mainly depends on adapting to changing winning combinations – focusing particularly on expanding Gold Bar sequences within those ‘expanding wilds’ Free Spins! No specific staking system applies as there isn’t much variability between bets; however maintaining the base bet allows full utilization of bonus opportunities which come into effect regularly due their randomness.
RTP and Volatility: Understanding Starburst’s Nature
Each game in online casinos has a Return to Player (RTP) percentage indicating its theoretical payout rate. Starburst comes with an impressive RTP of 96%, ensuring a relatively high return per session for players.
On the other hand, we have volatility – which represents how frequently and by what margins you might win during any particular gaming period. It would seem like this game falls into Medium-Volatile category since it combines elements from both extremes (regular rewards from expanding wilds with some unpredictability due to their triggers).