Star Clusters 2 Demo
Star Clusters 2 Slot Review
We’re seeing stars once again in Big Time Gaming’s ongoing sequel, Star Clusters 2!
The original Star Clusters Megaclusters had us completely starstruck for its unique angle on the hugely popular Megaways mechanic, among other features. Apart from bright bursts of colour, the original release gave us nothing to go on through its limited design.
To our surprise (and dismay), Big Time Gaming has kept Star Clusters 2 very much on the same page as its predecessor in terms of thematics. Yes, the graphics and sound effects are sharper and of a higher quality, but from a design aspect, it all looks a little too neat.
If Big Time Gaming has retained the same thematics, does this mean that gameplay has followed in its footsteps? If so, we’re in for quite a thrilling experience…
Where Star Clusters 2 fails to appeal in its design, it quickly makes up for it through the Megaclusters mechanic and a unique style of gameplay. As is the case with the original, Big Time Gaming do not rely on aesthetics to lure players in, knowing they’ve built something pretty lucrative.
With a fixed RTP of 96.63% and a high volatility score, this game can produce max win payouts up to 34,500x your bet. One thing we’ve always admired about Big Time Gaming is their generosity in selecting a maximum win potential for each of their releases, but is Star Clusters 2 truly capable of delivering such a figure? Let’s find out.
Base Game & Features
Star Clusters 2 is the latest release from Big Time Gaming, as part of an ongoing sequel, featuring 4 reels, 4 rows, and a Cluster Pays mechanic (Megaclusters). Wins occur when 5 or more matching symbols land horizontally or vertically adjacent on the grid.
In true BTG fashion, the highest-paying symbol is always the Purple Icon. In this case, the Purple Gem qualifies as the highest-paying symbol, awarding payouts between 0.8x and 88x your bet. The 6 remaining symbols, of varying Gems, reveal a fixed payout between 0.1x and 88x your bet for 5-25 matching symbols, respectively.
When a winning combination is awarded, all winning symbols will split and react via the Megaclusters mechanic, causing the reels and rows to expand up to 8×8 in size. The Avalanche Feature destroys all winning symbols, creating space for new symbols to drop in from above. At the start of a new spin, the grid returns to its original 4×4 state.
Wilds & Multiplier Wilds
During gameplay, regular Wilds (in the form of Stars) can appear in random positions, substituting for all symbols except Gold Wilds & Scatters. Please note that Gold Wilds substitute for all symbols except Scatters as part of a winning combination.
Additionally, when a Gold Wild hits, it will reveal a random Multiplier between x2 and x100. These multipliers are applied to all winning clusters they are a part of. Lastly, regular Wilds & Gold Wilds are subject to removal via the Avalanche Feature.
Star Clusters 2 Free Spins
Triggering the Free Spins mode is awarded when 4 or more Scatters land in the base game, awarding 10 Free Spins, plus an additional +1 Free Spin for every Scatter after the 4th. This mode guarantees a grid size of 8×8 for each spin.
During this mode, a special Global Multiplier becomes available, starting at x1. Each time a winning cluster occurs, the Global Multiplier increments by +x1, which applies to all winning clusters that occur during this time.
Finally, landing 4 or more Scatters awards an additional +4 Free Spins, plus a further +1 Free Spin for every Scatter after the 4th.
Bonus Buy
Players may purchase one of the following Bonus Buy options:
- 10 Free Spins: Direct access to the Free Spins mode for 60x your bet
- 18 Free Spins: Instantly triggers the Free Spins mode for 160x your bet
Each of the above Free Spins modes offers a fixed RTP of 96.63%.
Star Clusters 2 has a maximum win potential of 34,500x your bet. If a single game mode exceeds this, the current session ends, and the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount.
Our Honest Verdict
The original Star Clusters Megaclusters piqued the interest of players for its uplifting abilities and unique mechanics, which are closely connected to the popular Megaways mechanic.
The aesthetics and overall design are considered very basic, particularly for a BTG release, but it seems to be an ongoing trend with this sequel. We can only assume that Big Time Gaming deliberately did this, choosing to pool all their efforts into the charming features and mechanics, so there’s possibly no need for fancy visuals.
Our only issue, which is consistent with the original release, is that winning clusters, as they shrink to smaller sizes, become harder to pinpoint on the reels. Of course, you want the grid to shrink symbols and expand the area, but you’ll have to rely on the game to sort out winning combinations, rather than your eyesight.
While Star Clusters 2 offers extensive gameplay and rewarding potential, it doesn’t stray too far from the original. As far as we can tell, the game’s features and mechanics remain on par with its predecessor.
The only obvious difference is the game’s overall max win potential, which is set at a sizable 34,500x your bet. We’re not knocking Star Cluster Megaclusters’ 23,000x max win capabilities, but given that both games are symmetrically identical in terms of gameplay, you may as well aim for the higher max win payout, right?
All in all, Star Clusters 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, offering plenty of thrilling moments and rewarding spins to the tune of 34,500x your bet. Fans of the Megaways mechanic will be impressed with Big Time Gaming’s latest addition.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.
