Starburst XXXtreme Review
Starburst is a slot that needs no introduction. The game has defined the iGaming space, and it remains NetEnt’s most popular title. Other casino games come and go, but none have been able to dethrone the king.
Now, the developer is launching an improved version of Starburst, titled Starburst XXXtreme. With a myriad of new features, it hopes to deliver an improved Starburst experience. Will it succeed in doing so?
- High volatility with a 200,000x jackpot
- The number of paylines is down to nine from the original’s ten
- Available special features include Starburst Wilds, random Wilds and XXXtreme Spins
NetEnt’s latest walks a fine line between preserving existing graphics and improving them. The title is instantly recognisable at first glance.
However, it is also much more colourful. Visuals are not the only thing that the developer revamped. This release also has new and improved bonuses for us to enjoy.
Starburst Wilds, random Wilds and XXXtreme spins all offer ways to win big while playing this title. It also offers a magnificent 200,000x top prize. That should tell you just how volatile this slot is.
Theme, Graphics and Sounds
Starburst XXXtreme picks up where the original left off. It looks very similar at first, with the same symbol designs and background making an appearance.
Of course, everything is now higher definition. The visual improvements the software provider made to this game are not immediately noticeable.
That said there are plenty of animations added in for new mechanics. We especially like the meteor effect random Wilds create when they land on the board!
You play this NetEnt release on a five-reel, three-row board with nine fixed paylines. This is one less payline than the original Starburst had back in the day.
Wins are awarded following the same rules. Find three or more matching icons next to one another, following an active payline.
Winning combinations must start with the leftmost reel, otherwise the relevant cash prize will not be paid.
In-game features
Starburst Wilds retain all of their original behaviour. They can only land on reels two, three and four. When they land on a reel, they expand to cover that reel completely.
A re-spin is then played with all Starburst Wilds locked in position. If another Wild lands during the bonus, it also locks in place and one more re-spin is played.
However, Starburst XXXtreme adds new mechanics to these iconic Wilds. First, Starburst Wilds can appear with attached multipliers!
Multipliers can appear as 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 25x, 50x, 100x or 150x values. Each of the three Wilds can appear with a separate multiplier.
However, if more than one multiplier is present, they will be added together! This allows Starburst Wilds to boost your payout by 450x.
Every spin also has a chance of triggering random Wilds. This bonus adds between one to three Starburst Wilds to the playing field. Furthermore, these Wilds appear with a guaranteed multiplier value, ranging from 2x to 150x.
XXXtreme Spins allows casino members to buy guaranteed Starburst Wilds for cash. Pay 10x per spin, and you receive one guaranteed Starburst Wild.
Pay 95x per spin, and two Starburst Wilds are guaranteed to land every round. Once active, this special feature stays on until disabled.
This mechanic improves your RTP, but it can get quite pricey.
Where To Play Starburst XXXtreme?
RTP, bet sizes and volatility
The RTP for this slot is 96.26% under normal circumstances. If played with XXXtreme spins on, the RTP is increased to 96.45%. Both RTP values are better than the current industry average of 96%.
You can bet between $0.10 and $50 per spin.
The game comes with a much higher volatility than the original had. However, the top prize has also been bumped up to compensate.
If you are lucky, you can win a mouth-watering jackpot worth 200,000x your total stake. This fixed jackpot is one of the largest NetEnt has ever produced!
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Verdict
Sequels to popular releases can be hit or miss. However, we feel like Starburst XXXtreme has the potential to be a highly successful slot.
It gives us an opportunity to relive Starburst nostalgia, while chasing a massive top prize. New additions to special features keep things interesting.
Wilds appearing with multipliers, which can combine to further boost your payout is our favourite mechanic.
We rate this game 5 out of 5 stars. It might not take Starburst’s throne, but it will definitely be a blast to play!