Despite some distinctly underwhelming reviews when it first came out in 2012, Starburst has gone on to defy its critics by becoming a true classic. It’s a traditional-style five reel, three-row video slot that was designed and devised by those giants in the world of online slots, NetEnt. Now it’s undoubtedly proved its true value and quality by winning fans of all ages who love having the opportunity to play a delightfully simple slot that may not have all the bells and whistles of some games, but that’s all part of its charm.
Amazing Design
Let’s start with the look of the game and the symbols that it uses. Even the relative slots novice will notice that the reels feature all the classic symbols like the 7’s and Bars which appeared on many an old-style fruit machine with mechanical workings. These are joined by some brilliantly sparkling gems which both give it a real arcade feel as well as making a nod to more contemporary video games – and they also offer just a hint of the riches you could win.
The Starburst slot has a great reputation among those in the online slots industry, therefore it is the go-to-game for the established companies as well as those that are just starting up. Roseslots are new to the online slots industry, they feature the hugely popular game on their site, with the intention of making a name for themselves within the industry. Starburst perfectly meets the needs of the predominantly female players, and it almost guarantees enjoyment.
Because it’s designed to appeal to a wide range of players from beginners who are just dabbling in the world of slots right up to experts, there are a wide number of wagers that you can place on each spin of the reels. These go from 10p right up to £100 and these can be placed per spin across up to all 10 paylines if that’s the way that you want to play. It’s also very easy and intuitive when it comes to setting the amount that you want to bet on each spin. Best of all, you can change your wager as and when you want to throughout the time that you’re playing. Who wouldn’t appreciate flexibility like that?
Wild Wilds
When you start to play you’ll soon discover that one of the most exciting features of the game is when the Starburst Expanding Wild feature is activated. This happens when one of special glittering stars appears anywhere on the second third or fourth reels. When it does, this immediately explodes dramatically, and magically, bursting out to cover the entire reel, and stays there while a re-spin is triggered, possibly leading to a big win for you.
When this special symbol appears it also stands in as a substitute for every other symbol too and there is also the very real possibility that it could trigger up to three re-spins every single time. As you might expect, this creates very many chances for you to win cash prizes. Another major highlight in this part of the game is that pay outs can be made in a number of different ways and this gives you even more opportunities to pick up some pretty considerable winnings along the way.
Big chances to win
Some people have noted that while Starburst features free spins there are no bonuses as such. But this is surely a trade-off that has been made to ensure that it’s so simple and straightforward to play. The fact that it also has a very high RTP of 96% – so for every £1 you bet you will get 96p back on average – means that statistically speaking it’s a very good game to play. So while you won’t go down in the record books for the size of your win you can be reasonably confident of winning little and often.
When you combine this more practical advantage with the sheer aesthetic appeal of playing a game with superbly sharp visual elements and a very satisfying smoothness to the animation of the reels as they spin, it certainly comes out as a winner in every department.
Then there’s the dual nature of the game to be taken into account. Playing it will surely stir some nostalgic memories of slots as they used to be, all flashing lights, exciting sound effects and a real sense of occasion when you make that big win. This is combined with a distinctly modern and futuristic feel.
Surely when NetEnt set about creating the game they may have felt this could have been a challenge for even their most talented designers but they have certainly pulled it off with style. But they’ve also managed something far more special than this too. They have created a slot that looks simple and appealing but also offers a real depth of playing experience. It’s certainly a slot that you’ll really have to try for yourself if you want to appreciate everything that it has to offer.
So it really is no big surprise that Starburst’s reputation has grown so much that it has become one of the most popular games amongst players of every kind. It’s also often the very first one that they turn to when they start playing online.
A Real Feelgood Game
The graphics are so brilliantly bright, sharp and colourful that they help to raise the mood the moment that you start to play. Then there’s the dramatic soundtrack which rises and falls along with the play perfectly matching the mood. Plus, when you do win, the triumphant fanfare acts as a true celebration as well as adding to the old-school arcade feel of the whole experience.
And, what the game may be lacking in not having any big bonus features, it more than makes up for with the exciting expanding wilds, the fact that you can win both ways and its generously high RTP of 96%. So if what you want from a slot is a steady stream of regular, but relatively low payouts, Starburst could well be the game for you. Then, when you’ve experienced it for yourself, it could spur you on to explore some other, more complex, games that have been designed and developed by NetEnt too.
