Star-Clusters-Megapays

The originalStar Clusters Megaclustershas been a pretty solid success for Big Time Gaming, but the coreMegaclusters™reactions mechanic has not quite been the game-changer their ‘big brother’Megawaysengine has been. It makes for a highly satisfying visual experience though, and now you get the added thrill of BTG’s progressive jackpot Megapays feature that can trigger at any given moment.
The top-tier Mega Jackpot seeds at €300,000, and a lucky player won €1,036,049 from it inWho Wants To Be A Millionaire Megapays. The core gameplay mechanic and the features are all the same in this Megapays version, but the math model has undergone some changes. The bonus round potential has been increased to27,050x, while the96.27 %RTP is a tad lower. Of course, a full 9.44 % of the RTP goes to feed the 4 progressive jackpots.
You win by landing5 to 25+ matching symbols in a cluster(adjacent horizontally and/or vertically), and the4 premium gemstonesall pay 50x your stake for 25+ of the same symbol in a cluster. Therainbow-colored star symbol is the Wild, and it steps in for all regular symbols to help complete winning clusters.
As you may know from the original game, theReaction mechanicis at the core of everything. Instead of winning symbols being removed, they are split into 4 smaller symbols, which gives you another chance to win. If you win with the smaller symbols, they are removed and symbols of the same size will drop down to fill the gaps. The reactions continue as long as you keep winning.
In addition to the regular wild, you can also land aGold Wildthat comes with a rainbow-colored background. TheGold Wild Multiplierstarts at x1, and it increases by+1 for each win at least one gold wild is part of. You can have 2 active gold wilds at any given time during base game play, and the gold wild multiplier resets between base game spins.
You need5+ consecutive Reactionsto trigger the Bonus Round, and this awards2 free spins and +1 extra spin on top of that per additional Reactionabove the minimum of 5. Any racked upGold Wild Multiplieris carried over, and you get+2 extra spinseach time the multiplier increases by+10. Thebonus round grid is 8x8in size, which is double the base game size, and the Reactions mechanic can thus provide up to 256 small symbols at best.
TheMegapays jackpot featurecan trigger on any given spin, and1 low-pay symbol is chosen to be the special Megapays symbol. A streak respin feature plays out where the special symbol becomes locked in place when it lands, and each new instance of it awards another respin. This moves you up the Megapays jackpot ladder, and the feature ends when you don’t land any new Megapays symbols. It works as follows:
You get to see an initial base game Reaction win, before we run into a patch of dead spins that eventually triggers the Megapays jackpot feature. This happens around the 1-minute mark, and the feature plays out for the remainder of the 3-minute highlights video. You can check it all out for yourself by hitting the play button below.
Primarily, this Megapays version is for jackpot chasers, but BTG has made some significant changes that might appeal to regular high risk/reward punters as well. The base game potential has been reduced significantly, from 14,407x to only 1,340x your stake. At the same time, the bonus round potential has been increased from 23,960x to 27,050x your stake. This Megapays version is thus a far more volatile beast than the original ever was.
You also have to consider that outside of the jackpot feature, you’re dealing with an RTP of 86.83 %, while in the original game you get a solid overall RTP of96.54 %. It’s safe to say that this Megapays version is less forgiving than the original release, but on good days you can be rewarded far more handsomely via the bonus round and/or the jackpot game. If you just enjoy the core Megaclusters mechanic however, you’re better off playing the original version.
Pros
Cons
Bonanza Megapays- was the first one to get BTG’s Megapays treatment, and deservingly so when you consider how iconic the original release is. It broke their Megaways engine into the mainstream after all, and now you get the possibility to win 4 progressive jackpots as well as 12,000x your stake.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Megapays- is the jackpot-infused Megapays version of BTG’s popular original, and you get reaction wins and sliding top reel wilds. The Hot Seat free spins gamble round is a highlight, and the bonus round comes with an unlimited progressive multiplier for payouts up to 72,310x your stake.
Kluster Krystals Megaclusters- is a Relax Gaming effort with the licensed Megaclusters engine, and it’s done in a somewhat different way. Symbols land with 1 to 4 segments, and 8+ segments form a cluster win. Tumbles upgrade the adjacent symbol with extra segments though, and 6+ tumbles awards a modifier. There’s also a bonus round with a 9,921x potential.