In the build up to any World Cup there is going to be a myriad of themed marketing and naturally the online slot world is not going to be left behind. First cab off the rank is Microgaming’s Football Star. It is not exactly breaking new ground in the ingenious naming department, but how does it rank as a player on the gaming scales? We dig a little deeper to find out.
Game Play
Because the World Cup is like so many other vast corporate, image rights protected for the main sponsors’ events, you won’t find any specific mention of it in the game. We should probably not even be referring to it in this article but, come on, really…? Instead the online slot is presented with entirely generic symbols, among them jerseys, referees, players, football boots and stadiums. There is a standard 5 reel format but due to “all ways” winning configuration you are presented with up to 243 paylines. This is Microgaming’s way of getting rid of all the standard paylines and paying out wins as long as the symbols are on adjacent reels from left to right. The backdrop to the reels is a three-tiered stadium. There are 50 lines available, and each line uses 10 coins with values between $0.01 and $0.10. The bet ranges between $0.50 and $50, and thus the total jackpot is $12,500.
Scatter and Bonus Symbols
The Scatter is represented by the Football Boots reel symbol. You will need to get at least three of them in view anywhere on the screen and when you do, the free spins round will be triggered.
Wild Symbols – The Wild symbol is an expanding and stacked one so you can get both types spinning in which can and often will cover all of the reel positions on each reel they have appeared on.
Bonus Features and Bonus Game
Free Spins – Spinning three or more of the scatter symbol will see you being awarded with a set of 15 free spins and as they are playing off, the reels become Rolling Reels. This means multiple winning combinations can be repeatedly formed on each single free spins, and ever growing multiple that can get to as high as x5 will also be attached to the free spins.
Rolling Reels feature- Here the symbols in any win will disappear, allowing more to drop into their place. More wins can then be formed meaning that those too will disappear. Long win sequences can be formed in this manner.
Striking Wild
This is a random bonus which strikes at any time and will turn one of the middle three reels completely wild. If no win is forthcoming, the reels will spin again until you land a prize.
Verdict
To some extent the game’s greatest asset is also its weakness. It is simple and relatively rewarding to play and you don’t have to have any interest in Football or indeed the World Cup to enjoy playing it. But that leaves this player, who does have an interest in both wondering really what the point of it is. It is not a bad slot by any means. Microgaming doesn’t tend to make bad slots and we would not wish to dissuade anyone from trying their luck. We do rather anticipate though that one of the other producers might yet raise the bar.
- Software: Microgaming
- Type: Video Slot
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 243
- Min/Max Bet: $0.50 up to $50
- Jackpot: $12,500
- Bonus Round: Yes
- Free Spins/Multiplier: Yes
- Progressive: No
- Scatter Symbol: Yes
- Wild Symbol: Yes
- 3D: No
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