Starlight Princess Review 2024
Similar to how one would read a book, the majority of online slots award payouts for identical symbols that appear from left to right across the reels. While there are few deviations from the norm, developer Pragmatic Play has demonstrated the audacity to proceed in an unconventional manner. This was evident in the pay-anywhere antics of the Christmas iteration of Sweet Bonanza and, more recently, in Gates of Olympus. An anime/manga-themed video game with a comparable pay system is titled Starlight Princess. Be prepared to behold it once more. Although it may resemble a sequel to the classic Moon Princess by Play’n GO, Starlight Princess is an entirely Pragmatic Play production—it is an exact replica of Gates of Olympus.
Although it’s tempting to draw parallels between Moon Princess and any anime or manga game, this one comes extremely close. The current sequence of cascading victories is displayed in a box on the left, while the Starlight Princess, whose eyes are wide open, flailing her wings in midair on the right. Even the dance-oriented soundtrack is comparable, although the track “Starlight Princess” is more upbeat. The 6-reel, 5-row game panel is situated in the center of the screen and is adorned with insignia resembling those of the Moon Princess. The screen’s periphery features clouds, the moon, stars, and a tower. Everything is very dreamlike and fantastical, which should appeal to those who are into this aesthetic.
Due to the fact that Starlight Princess utilizes the identical machinery that drove Gates of Olympus, it generates the same set of numbers and statistics as its predecessor. This translates to an RTP of 96.5% by default; however, there are less generous variations that offer payouts of 95.51% or 94.50%. Volatility is high as usual; it has been officially rated 5 out of 5 by Pragmatic Play, which is the same as the previous rating but higher than the original Sweet Bonanza. A diverse selection of wagers is offered to accommodate the preferences of the majority of gamblers, ranging from 20 pence per line to €100 per turn. Similar to the other two, the Ante Bet feature is also accessible.
These Pragmatic Play games deviate from the norm in that they do not employ paylines. All pay symbols, in a narrative twist, function similarly to scatter symbols in that they award payouts from any location. While at least eight identical symbols remain visible, coins will be awarded to you. Following five pay symbols of varying shapes and sizes are four symbols depicting the sun, moon, stars, and hearts. When at least twelve of the four symbols with the highest value appear, the payouts can range from 12 to 50 times the initial wager. The fact that Starlight Princess employs untamed symbols might have caused confusion.
Starlight Princess: Features of the Slot
Although Starlight Princess lacks wild symbols, it does include a tumble feature, multiplier symbols, free spins, and the previously mentioned ante wager. Beginning with the tumble feature, all winning symbols vanish from the grid once winning combinations have been paid out. Empty positions are filled with symbols that fall to the bottom of the screen, while the remaining symbols are raised. There is no limit to the number of successful combinations that tumble until they no longer appear.
Winged hearts in green, blue, pink, and orange adorn all reels as multiplier symbols. Symbols with multipliers appear at random throughout all plays and from tumbles. The value it assumes upon landing varies at random between x2 and x500. The final prize value is determined by adding the values of all multiplier symbols on the screen to the cumulative win at the conclusion of the tumbling sequence.
After the appearance of four or more scatter symbols anywhere on the screen, fifteen free spins are granted. When a multiplier symbol appears during a winning turn during free spins, its value is added to the total multiplier that is displayed in the upper left corner. Throughout the duration of the free spins, any wins generated by new multiplier symbols are augmented by the total multiplier value. If three or more scatter symbols appear during the round, an additional five free spins are granted.
Players have the option to activate the Ante Bet, which raises the total bet by 25%. This increases the likelihood of activating free spins by twofold.
Verdict for Starlight Princess
With the exception of shojo manga aficionados, Starlight Princess fails to significantly captivate. There are no significant concerns; however, the lack of remaining information as a clone of Gates of Olympus discourages further investigation. Having played the preceding games in the series, you will essentially be familiar with everything. A few lines of backstory are insufficient to imbue Starlight Princess with personality. That is, unless you genuinely enjoy the theme. Consequently, the gregarious, wide-eyed princess may very well win you over with the free spins and effusive shout-outs induced by her magical wand.
After all, not all participants have encountered Gates of Olympus. Certain individuals may have a penchant for anime, princesses, or fairies, in which case Starlight Princess could be of interest. Although paying in all positions is an uncommon method of cobbled victories, it pairs exceptionally well with multipliers and cascades. It was not uncommon for a round of free spins to pass without any action being taken, only to be abruptly terminated when a single successful turn accumulates a valuable win multiplier. While this is not always the case, you can become quite restless while accumulating a substantial multiplier, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to activate it.
As expected, accumulated multipliers significantly impacted the outcome of free spins. Early construction of a satisfactory outcome could expand into a respectable one, which was gratifying. Similar to Gates of Olympus, Starlight Princess does not present an exceedingly impracticable maximum prize amount, such as Sweet Bonanza’s +20,000. Starlight Princess maintains a more realistic atmosphere by maintaining Pragmatic Plays’ customary maximum win of 5,000 times the wager.
In terms of gameplay, Starlight Princess offers nothing that Gates of Olympus did not already provide. However, if you have a passion for manga and are interested in action that can be played from anywhere, this may be the only option that merges the two.