Sizzling Moon

Sizzling Moon Overview

Created by the prolific provider Wazdan, this game represents their series's latest Hold and Win slot. Indeed, the popular Hold and Win format does not seem to be slowing in popularity, with every provider pushing out as many of these slots as possible before tastes change. The allure of these types of games is that once you enter the Hold and Win bonus feature, the bonus gives you the opportunity of winning some exciting, fixed jackpots that represent some tasty cash prizes. However, players first have to trigger this bonus which is easier said than done. This specific slot takes players to a self-destructing moon, adding to the drama and thrill of the game.

The features included here include the pay anywhere system, which, unlike other conventional games, grants players wins whenever between 8 and 16 matching symbols land anywhere on the reels. Another feature here is the wild icon which substitutes for other icons to help score more wins. The main feature here, though, as mentioned in the Hold and Win feature triggered when players land six or more of the bonus symbols on the reels. These bonus symbols remain stuck to the reels, with any more landed also becoming stuck. The idea is to try and fill the board with as many new bonus symbols as possible with limited re-spins. The more symbols landed, the bigger the payout. Special jackpot symbols that fall in this round can also lead to jackpot wins. All features will be explained in more detail later on in the review.

Theme and Symbols

The theme for this game is a nightmarish moon apocalypse. All players can see is lava flows, cracking rocks and a sky full of ash and debris. The entire moon on which this game takes place looks like the surface of a volcano roiling and bursting into flame. The apocalyptic setting and theme give the game a rushing sense of urgency which adds to the dynamic excitement of the game. Hold and Win games have a penchant for going with planet-based games, as spherical bonus symbols look especially pleasing on the reels; hence, why games of this nature are usually called something like Sun and Moon Hold and Win etc.

The background for this game is the terrifying moon which looks like Mordor, the fiery hellscape depicted in the Lord of The Rings. Indeed, the moon seems to be doing a lot more than just sizzling by the look of things. The moon is, in fact, close to a supervolcano type eruption with torrents of molten lava and rock rocketing through the air.

The playing board looks like a hardened block of magma with veins of blisteringly hot lava running through it.
The symbols for this game are split into low-paying, high-paying and special symbols. The low-paying symbols are the 9, 10, J, Q, K and A. The A is the most valuable of these paying out at 30x the stake for the top combination of 16 symbols. On the other hand, the more valuable icons are the golden star and the lucky 7. The 7 is the most valuable regular symbol in the game, paying out at 150x the stake for the top combination. Finally, the specials are the mystery icon, the bonus moon icon, and the wild.

Game Play

Sizzling Moon is played on a 4-reel, 4-row machine with a pay anywhere win dynamic. Players must land 8-16 matching symbols anywhere on the playing board to win combinations.
The betting range for Sizzling Moon is 1p to £1000 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players can toggle their stake up and down using the tool located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.
Further information, including a short tutorial and a display of the paytable, can be found via the menu button in the right-hand corner of the screen. The spin and auto spin buttons are located in the centre of the screen.
Volatility for this slot can be adjusted. The return to player percentage for Sizzling Moon is 96.14%, which is just above average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 2,500x your stake.

Features

The first real bonus in this game is the wild symbol which replaces other regular symbols to help players form more wins.
However, the main bonus here is the Hold and Win bonus. To trigger this game, you need to land six of the bonus symbols anywhere on the reels at the same time. The bonus symbols will then stay locked in place as you play three re-spins on a new table devoid of any other icons. Any new bonus symbols will also become stuck to the reels.

Each regular bonus icon comes with an attached value in the form of a multiplier in the range of 1x to 15x the stake. The feature will continue until you either run out of re-spins, or you fill the grid completely with non-blank symbols. When the feature ends, the total of the displayed values on the screen are paid out in one lump sum.
However, if you manage to fill the entire grid, you will trigger the grand jackpot prize worth 1,000x the stake.
You can also win a range of other jackpots by landing specific jackpot symbols. Land enough of the same symbol, and the corresponding jackpot will be paid out to you.

Finally, the last symbol involved here is the mystery symbols. These can transform either into random jackpot or multiplier symbols.

This game also has a bonus buy option; however, it is not available in the UK.

Conclusion

Hold and Win slots are a bit love them or hate them. For some, it is not worth the wait to try and trigger the feature, yet for others, the bonus represents a really exciting chance to win some great payouts. We would say that as Hold and Win slots go; this one is about average. The top win is probably the main thing that keeps it from being a really good slot.