Starwins

Overview Starwins

Starwins is a relatively simple new game from the Prague-based games provider Mancala. The basic premise of this game is that you have been transported to a mystical fairyland (which is also somehow in space) and must overcome various duels and challenges to come home with the hidden treasure. The game feels like a hybrid of ‘Lord of The Rings’ and ‘Star Wars’ but is not nearly as detailed or interesting as either. The scantily clad fairy or alien for all we know, to the left of the reels, is quite disconcerting as she doesn’t do anything apart from float there silently judging your performance.

When it comes to features there isn’t too much to shout about, although there are a few that might pique the interest of gamers. These include the cascading wins feature which players will be familiar with if they have played almost any cluster pay slot. This feature triggers every time that a win is formed, the winning symbols are then removed from the board to be replaced by new ones from above. This gives you more chances to score multiple wins from the same spin. This game also has a wild symbol that behaves in the normal way which can land on all reels. The main action for this feature though is in the Multiplier Risk Game that we will explain further in the review.

Theme and Symbols

As Mancala often do, they have tried to come up with something original for this game when it comes to the theme. There seem to be plenty of different influences here from space exploration to mystical creatures to ancient Greece. What has emerged is some sort of ancient but also oddly futuristic exploration of space conducted by toga-wearing demigods. It’s a little confusing but the aesthetics work surprisingly well considering Mancala have tried to weave together many different threads from the fantasy and sci-fi genres.

The background for Starwins is an expansive space vista that displays galaxies, stars and an altogether hauntingly dark image which we believe is supposed to be mysterious and exciting. Scattered across this great galaxy of stars and astral clouds are also a few planets which you can see more clearly between cascades, as the symbols slide over each other in a new combination. Your constant companion in this journey as mentioned is the long-legged space pixie to the left of the reels. I think she was supposed to be your exciting guide to the universe but because of the expression on her face, you feel a little creeped out by her.
The board doesn’t have much substance, the symbols instead fall in their self-contained cubes. These cubes are quite clever though in that they are transparent so players can enjoy the beauty of the background without having to wait for too much of a break.

The symbols for Starwins comprise a collection of low-paying symbols as well as some more valuable symbols, followed by a couple of specials. The low paying symbols for this game are the 10, J, Q, K and A in card royals. These symbols are pretty cool as the letter or number is displayed in gold yet behind them is a zodiac star sign such as Taurus or Pisces. The detail involved in their design is exquisite. The higher paying symbols on the other hand are the Sun Dial, the Comets as well as the Horoscope reader disc. Again, the detail of these is superb. Lastly, the specials for Starwins are the wild symbol, which in this game is the question mark and the bonus multiplier scatter which is a scroll with x2 written on it.

Game Play

Starwins is played on a 5-reel, 3-row playing board with 10 active pay lines. To create winners in this game, players must match a minimum of 3 symbols across a pay line starting on reel 1. To change your betting level per spin, use the bet adjuster tool located at the bottom of the playing window. The betting range for Starwins is 10p to £90 per spin.

Further information regarding the slot, including a display of the paytable, can be accessed by clicking on the settings menu. The spin button is located underneath the centre of the reels. You can set up auto spins in the game’s menu.
The volatility for Starwins is rated in the low end of the spectrum. The return to player percentage for Tropicool is 95%, a little lower than average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 1,500x your total stake.

Features

Key to the gameplay for Starwins is this game’s cascading reels feature. As we briefly explained in the introduction, this feature is triggered when any winning combination is found. When this occurs, the winning symbols are removed from the reels and replaced by a fresh set from above. This process means players can trigger lots of wins from the same spin. The mechanic will only cease when a new set does not create a winning combination.
Next on the feature list is the wild symbol, which as we know is the question mark. This symbol can land on all of the reels and can step into the place of any regular symbols to help players create more winning combinations. However, unlike other games, the wild does not have any value when not part of a combination.

Lastly, players should be aware of the Multiplier Risk bonus feature, which is probably the most lucrative and exciting bonus in this game. This feature is triggered when players land a x2 multiplier scatter. The game will then take you to a new screen where you will be asked to choose a character or ‘champion’ to fight your duels. With every win that your character achieves over their opponent, the multiplier doubles in size. The idea here is to complete the multiplier trail to get the top prize. That being said, you can cash out at any time and take the current multiplier as your prize. However, if you lose before cashing out, you will take home nothing.

Conclusion

Mancala has clearly tried to do something different with this slot when it comes to its theme and presentation, and they should be commended for that. However, the game’s features apart from maybe the double or nothing feature are a bit flat. This in combination with the relatively low top prize and disappointing RTP makes for a slot that feels a little underwhelming overall.