Starscape Slot Machine
Microgaming’s Starscape is your ticket to intergalactic gambling adventures, and the journey will be full of surprises.
The game is played on a 5-reel, 25-payline slot setup, which gives players many possibilities to reach for the stars and land a nice cash price.
So prepare to jump to light speed as we take a look at what the Starscape universe has in store for us…
Retro Space Opera
There is an overwhelming retro feeling to Starscape that strikes the eye after a few seconds of playing. We are talking about a space-themed slot game indeed, but fans of the original Star Trek series will feel more at home than aficionados of the more recent sci-fi movie franchises.
The background is the compulsory starry night sky, on top of which are 5 reels covered in brightly coloured symbols, which makes for a nice contrast. The fonts used in the command switches at the bottom and around the slot are deliciously old-fashioned.
The player sitting at his or her desk will have the illusion of being in the cockpit of a spaceship, travelling around the galaxy and amassing prizes on the way. The design of Starscape is efficient and does a great job at transporting the player into a universe that is both nostalgic and futuristic.
Getting Acquainted with Our Ship
The commands of the Starscape interstellar vessel are much simpler than it may seem. Four main commands deserve your attention:
- Select Lines, to choose the number of game paylines to activate and bet on;
- Select Coins, to choose how many coins to bet on each activated payline;
- Max Bet, to spin the reels at the highest coin value and coins per line bet for the game;
- The (+) and (-) switches, to change the coin denomination before playing (from 0.01 to 1.00).
Once you have chosen your settings, you are good to go! Simply hit the red Spin button to let the reels loose – and cross your fingers!
Your main goal in the game is to get identical symbols to line up on an active payline in order to win the corresponding cash prize. Most winning combinations start with three symbols of a kind, paying from left to right. You can click the View Payout signs at the top right and left corners of the game screen in order to display the paytable and get a clear overview of the paylines, combinations and symbols.
The Cosmic Ballet Goes On
There are 13 celestial bodies in total in the Starscape universe, all of which worth a lot of coins. We start at the bottom of the paytable with a few symbols directly imported from a good old deck of cards and starting with the number 9, all the way up until the Ace. Those are the least valuable of all icons, but remember that winning combos can add up for larger wins so don’t let those slip either!
We continue our space trip and catch a glimpse of the Moon, a blue Comet, Mars, Saturn and its rings, and finally the Sun. All of these symbols keep the general retro vibe of the game, with flashy colours and candid designs. If retro isn't your thing but Space is - there are other options from Microgaming such as the fantastic Battlestar Galactica Slot.
The Final Touch
The two final symbols in Starscape deserve their own section. They are the keys to making your gaming experience take off and reach for the astronomical jackpot at stake!
First of all, the Spaceship symbol is full of surprises. It acts as a Scatter symbol at all times and combines with other Scatters even if they are not on a common payline. Should 3, 4 or 5 Spaceships appear on screen, and you will be transported to a Bonus game where you task will be to match four of the same symbols on a separate grid a win an extra cash prize. There’s a x3 Multiplier hidden in there as well, so keep an eye out for it too!
Lastly, the Starscape logo is the Wild card of the game: it can substitute any other symbol besides the Spaceship and in doing so, it doubles the cash prize triggered by the combination. Five logos on a payline are your key to the ultimate jackpot of the game!
To Infinity and Beyond
Starscape by Microgaming is a great example of sound and consistent graphic design put to good use to create a riveting gaming atmosphere. The stakes are high, but so is the level of fun – and the special symbols efficiently spice up the whole experience.
The absence of a gambling feature might be a downside to some adventurous players, but Starscape is overall a well-executed game that will seduce many.
