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22 July 2024 
Cygnus 2 Slot Demo Gameplay
Cygnus 2 Slot Review 2024
The stars have aligned as we look skyward towards a distant constellation in Cygnus 2 from ELK Studios!
The sky isn’t the limit if you’re reaching for the stars, and that’s exactly what ELK aims to do in their sequel to the popular Cygnus.
Cygnus 2 marks millennia since the first mention of the Cygnus society, which are obsessed with the stars and steadfast in their quest to uncover galactic mysteries. It’s been said that eternal riches will follow once these mysteries are solved, but does Cygnus 2 have the answers?
We remember the original Cygnus fondly, but it was released back in the days of ELK’s bet strategy mechanic, which they later ditched for the impressive X-iter feature. We’ve got a feeling that the inclusion of X-iter this time around will make it much more appealing than before, but we’ve got to explore the universe to find out.
Join us in this Cygnus 2 slot review, where we’ll explore a world beyond our own in an astrological adventure to remember.
Cygnus 2 – The Base Game and Features
Cygnus 2 is a 6-column, 4-row slot with dropping symbols.
The highest paying symbols are astrological star sign symbols, followed by red, green and blue gems. There’s also a Wild symbol, which substitutes for all except the bonus and multiplier symbols. The minimum bet here is £/€0.20 per spin, and the highest bet is £/€100 per spin.
Cygnus 2 is a ‘ways to win’ slot, which means you’ll form a win when you connect at least 3 symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left-most reel, regardless of their position on their respective reels.
All symbols which are part of a win will explode due to the avalanche feature, which leaves space for additional symbol drops. Gravity determines which ways the remaining symbols will fall, and their end position may result in more winning combinations.
As well as this, winning symbols add an extra row to the reels, up to a maximum of 8 rows. The Avalanche feature continues to add more rows as long as new winning combinations appear.
- 4 Rows – 4,096 Ways to Win
- 5 Rows – 15,625 Ways to Win
- 6 Rows – 46,656 Ways to Win
- 7 Rows – 117,649 Ways to Win
- 8 Rows – 262,144 Ways to Win
Cygnus 2 Rising Multipliers
Cygnus 2 sees the return of the Multiplier Symbols that were present in the original Cygnus.
This feature is initiated when one of the multiplier symbols reaches the left-most column. When it does, the active multiplier is increased.
If a multiplier ends up in the bottom row on columns 2-6, then it will be removed before being dropped down again in the column one step further to the left. The replacement of this symbol occurs at the end of the current avalanche cycle, but it will only happen once per cycle.
The Multiplier is reset before the start of the next spin in the Base Game.
Cygnus 2 Free Drops
Cygnus 2 and its bonus round is triggered in the same way that the original was, with a bonus symbol that needs to reach the left-most column.
When triggered, 7 Free Drops are awarded, and the current active multiplier persists into the bonus round.
Each new free drop starts with 4 rows and the current active multiplier, which persists throughout the bonus, and multiplier symbols may once again drop in if they reach the bottom of rows 2-6. The Cygnus 2 bonus game may also be re-triggered by delivering another bonus symbol to the left-most column.
This round may not seem too different from the Base Game, but the persistent multiplier makes all the difference.
Cygnus 2 – Xiter Feature
The X-iter Feature is essentially a bonus buy at any level, so it’s not available to those within the UK.
If you can make use of this feature, then there are some exciting options to choose from.
- Bonus Hunt – 1 Drop with more than double the chance to trigger the bonus game at the cost of 2x the selected bet
- Multiplier – 1 Drop with a guaranteed activated multiplier symbol at the cost of 10x the selected bet
- Multiplier Wilds – 1 Drop where the multiplier symbols are also Wild. This costs 25 x the selected bet, and the multiplier symbols remain until they are converted into regular Wild Symbols by reaching the left-most column
- Bonus – Guarantees entry into the bonus at the cost of 100x the selected bet
- Super Bonus – Guarantees entry into the bonus round where multiplier symbols are also wild at the cost of 500x the selected bet. Multiplier symbols remain until they are converted into regular Wild Symbols by reaching the left-most column
The theoretical RTP for all game modes in Cygnus 2 is 94%.
Cygnus 2 Slot – Our Verdict
Cygnus 2 is very much an improvement on the original in a lot of ways, including graphics and win potential. Visually, Cygnus 2 is a masterpiece compared to its predecessor, and a testament to how far ELK has evolved in terms of artistry.
Potential is exponentially higher too, with up to 50,000x up for grabs. It’s exactly 10 times more capable than the original, but we do wonder how viable it might be for players in the UK. Through no fault of ELK’s, the X-iter feature isn’t available to UK players. This locks away some of the exciting features, including super buys.
This wouldn’t be too bad if there was a way to trigger this organically, but there doesn’t seem to be a way. In their last few instalments, ELK has been quite good at making these bonuses possible for those outside of bonus buy jurisdiction, but in this instance, you may just have to settle for the regular bonus.
With this in mind, Cygnus 2 might just seem like Cygnus 1 but with better graphics. We’re not sure how much of the 50,000x potential is within reach to those that can’t buy, but we’re guessing it’s still substantially more capable than the original even without the super bonus.
Overall, Cygnus 2 is exciting and it’s substantially better than the original, but in terms of actual gameplay, not much is different. If you were expecting a brand new slot with features unlike anything you saw in the first game, then you might be disappointed.
If you’re looking for more of what made the original great though, then you’re in luck with Cygnus 2.
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