Iconic, legendary, a pioneer. These are just a few words to define the true and original NetEnt slot game Starburst, released in 2013. This simple yet entertaining slot, tinged with the sparkle of galactic jewels, has been played by millions of people around the world and is still one of the most popular slots today, not least because it often comes with free spins.
In fact, it’s a wonder that Starburst hasn’t been the subject of a whole series of games for a long time. But now, this favourite of casino players has finally been joined by a next-level update called Starburst XXXtreme. Casinos old and new are sure to be buzzing with gamblers testing the game out in droves.
The layout of Starburst XXXtreme has a nice familiar feel and is not significantly different from the original Starburst.
The number of reels and lines still follows the classic 5 + 3 formula, but the number of paylines has been reduced by one. In the original Starburst, the special feature of the game was the two-way payout, which has now been dropped. The excitement has been increased by a huge amount, as Starburst XXXtreme has a very high volatility.
Winnings don’t tend to come at a very high frequency, but at their best they can be very hefty. The game’s top prize is as much as 200 000 times the stake! Wilds are a very important element of Starburst XXXtreme. Starburst wilds can expand, give re-spins and huge multipliers. There is also a random Random Wilds feature. And if you’re ready to up the ante, you can activate the XXXtreme Spins feature, which delivers sure-fire, win-boosting wilds for every spin.
How to play and the stakes
To get started with Starburst XXXtreme, place your bets by clicking on the coin bag symbol in the bottom bar and select your bet level (€0.10-50) from the menu that appears. It’s then time to tap the arrow button at the bottom centre to spin the reels, which will award one spin at a time. If you want to use the autoplay function instead, tap the smaller arrow button, select the appropriate number of spins and, if you wish, the criteria to automatically stop the function. Your bet size, balance and winnings are constantly updated at the bottom of the game view.
You can access the detailed game rules of Starburst XXXtreme by tapping the menu icon in the bottom left corner of the game view.
Theme and layout
Starburst XXXtreme upholds the traditions of the original Starburst. Its theme and look pay homage to the legendary original slot, which was all about space and glittering gems, but the quality of the graphics and the fluidity of the animations that accompany the game’s events have certainly come a long way since 2013. The timeless charm of Starburst XXXtreme is based on a combination of elements borrowed from traditional slot machines and a diamond gem. There’s also a certain glamour to the game, with a sleek and dark reddish-black background.
The soundtrack consists of a rather subdued and neutral instrumental music, creating a mood with its cosmic echoes. Of course, when victory is achieved, the air is filled with lively effects. The soundscape is by no means annoying, but you can of course mute it completely if you wish.
Symbols and winnings
Starburst XXXtreme follows the same symbols as the original Starburst. The theme of the game is sparkling gems, and there are also symbols familiar from traditional fruit games. Smaller wins include the purple amethyst, blue sapphire and orange-red gemstone. For a more lucrative account, mix in green emeralds, yellow diamonds, red sevens or golden BARs. The payout values for each symbol are shown in a table, which you can open by tapping the i symbol in the game’s bottom bar.
To win, you must get at least three matching symbols on any of the paylines. Unlike the original Starburst, the symbol combination must always start from the left edge. The more valuable the symbol and the more of them you get in a combo, the bigger the pile of coins you’ll win. Take note that the odds associated with the game’s special features can, at best, increase your winnings enormously.
Playing an important and highly lucrative role in Starburst XXXtreme is the Starburst Wild symbol, which is a multi-coloured star that only appears on reels 2, 3 and 4. As is typical of slots, it can substitute for any other symbol in a winning combination. In addition, this wild expands to cover the entire reel and awards a re-spin and a random multiplier of 2, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 or 150.Wilds are locked in place during respins.
If you receive multiple multipliers during the spin and re-spins, they are added together and the bet line wins are multiplied by the total multiplier thus obtained. Here lies the potential for some really crazy wins.
Return rate and volatility
Starburst XXXtreme has a payout percentage of 96.26 for normal play, which is the average long-term return to players of all the money wagered on the game. When the additional XXXtreme Spins are activated, the figure rises to 96.45%. Both percentages are well within the average for online casino slots.
The original Starburst is one of the low-average volatility slots. Starburst XXXtreme, on the other hand, is a high-risk slot that lives up to its name. With it, patience and restraint are required, as the payouts are not very frequent. On the other hand, if and when you get lucky with this game, it is possible to grab some very large pots at best.
Starburst XXXtreme special features
As already mentioned above, Starburst XXXtreme has a number of special features for the wilds. They are really the lifeblood of this easy to play and exciting slot and can, at their best, deliver some very hefty pots. As such, it’s unlikely that you’ll be disappointed that the free spins that many people love are completely absent from this slot – instead, you’ll get re-spins anyway, and with some very nice multipliers to boot.
The Random Wilds feature, which as the name suggests, can be triggered completely randomly after a normal spin or re-spin, adds variety and spice to the reels. When Random Wilds are triggered, between 1 and 3 Starburst Wild symbols will pop up on reels 2, 3 and 4 to boost your chances of winning.
On top of everything else, Starburst XXXtreme offers you a paid extra feature called XXXtreme Spins. At the bottom left you will see a box that says “Activate XXXtreme Spins”. When you click on it, you will be presented with two options:
- By wagering 10 times your base bet, you are guaranteed to get 1 sure wild on the reels every spin.
- If you bet 95 times your base bet, you are guaranteed 2 sure wilds on the reels every spin.
So this way you can chase your winnings more efficiently than usual. When XXXtreme Spins is activated, the game’s payback percentage reaches a maximum of 96.45. XXXtreme Spins will remain in effect until you click the button again to cancel the feature. Keep in mind, however, that there are no guaranteed wins with this feature either, and that you might as well get wilds with regular, no-fee spins or respins.
Verdict
A colourful and cool sequelThe overall look of the game doesn’t differ much from the first version, in fact they are very similar.
The game’s theme, symbols and soundscape are largely the same as the first version, only the graphics have a more modern look.
As a game, Starburst XXXtreme is simply ingenious, without any major gimmicks it’s an interesting and engaging game that you’ll enjoy playing for longer. It might not be the best slot but a very entertaining one to say the least.
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