Star Nova Slots
When it comes to traditional real cash slot machines, we envision fruits and bad graphics, usually with minimal variance and a whole lot of volatility; it’s not the most appealing of pictures. Thankfully, Novomatic has come along and tried to jazz up the dated aesthetics we keep seeing, giving us the 5 reels of Star Nova.
This 10-payline slot may not think too outside of the box, but it delivers just enough change to help make those normally put off by dated games, feel more at home. What is more, those who enjoy retro gaming get to maintain that experience, albeit with a pop of more color.
As is traditional for slots such as this, there’s no additional features to be unlocked, save for the wild, which will undoubtedly put some users off. Even though the diversity here is lacking, the dynamics of the gameplay are fluid and adaptable, making it a pleasure to engage with rather than a chore.
Precious Gems
As you’ve probably seen for yourself, the interface is covered in gemstones rather than mismatched fruit. That being said, there’s three symbols that stick out from the rest due to their unique appearance: the blasting sun of the BAR icon, the icy power of the red 7, and the explosive wild.
Unlike in previous titles you may have come across, where the red 7 steals the show with its impressive rewards, it’s the sun symbol of this matrix that hits hard with the cash prizes; as much as 250,000 credits can be yours. However, as little as 20 could also be your prize, and so there’s a lot of room in this game for equal amounts of success and disappointment. To ensure you get the top tier wins, you’ll need to part with more cash - a LOT more cash - which might not sit well for those of you on a tight budget. The minimum bet is 0.40, while the max is 100.00.
Blowing Up
Now that we know about the hurdles we’re facing even before we begin, let’s start talking about the wild icon, for it’s the most intriguing tile of the entire game. Seeing as there’s no scatters or other feature symbols, the wild can substitute all of the other icons that you see. This sounds rather dull, which we think most of you will agree, but then you have the extra kick of the wild being able to expand and trigger a single free spin. For that to happen though, the icons need to land on the second, third and fourth reels, which due to the difficulty of the gameplay, will prove hard for many. Luck may favor you, but don’t hold your breath whilst you wait.
Should you get the free spin(s), you’ll need to press the START button for the round to play, which we find annoying as it stops the flow of the gameplay.
What a Gamble
Anyone who has played with Novomatic before will be aware that 9 times out of 10, they’ll provide a gamble option for you to take advantage of; Star Nova is one of those titles that offers this.
Don’t go expecting anything fancy or innovative here, for not only won’t it happen, but it wouldn’t be in-keeping with the design of the game itself. Players will be given a choice between red and black, having to decide which of the two colors the next card will be.
When we tried our hand at this round, we got three wins out of the possible five, but sadly we lost all our cash because we fluffed up the fourth round. Unlike some slots that offer a collect half, that option isn’t given here, and so if you mess up you’re going to feel it.
Super Nova
For saying this is a bland game, Star Nova can hold its own against a lot of bigger and more well known titles. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that its simplicity is also its undoing - there’s not enough diversity to keep gamers coming back for more. Nonetheless, while the experience lasts, it’s a pleasant if not overwhelming one.
