Magic Stars 3 slot review

I came across Magic Stars 3 while filtering for three-reel slots and was curious to find out what the Wazdan studio was up to.

What I found was that there is an entire series of slots bearing the same title, where the number stands for the number of reels.

Even though my opinion of Magic Stars 3 is mixed, I still think it is the best game out of the entire series and you will soon find out why.

Theme and Graphics

Magic Stars 3 offers a stunning visual experience which is matched by very dynamic gameplay.

The title says it all; it is about stars in different shapes and colours, spinning on the reels against a deep and colourful space background. Both the music and the theme are relaxing but there is one gameplay feature that I feel is above the rest: the fast play option.

Features

It became clear right away, that the payout system in Magic Stars 3 is as simple as that of classic one-armed bandits. Wins are achieved when you land three matching symbols on a payline and that is it.

• Scatters and Respins?

  There are no scatters, bonus symbols or respins. If there weren’t a Wild symbol in place, I wouldn't have given Magic Stars 3 the benefit of a doubt. The wild substitutes for any and pays a pretty prize.

• Gamble Feature

  One more feature, if I can call it that, is the option to gamble your winnings. Following any winning outcome the game lets you choose whether to ‘pocket’ the winnings or gamble them. The gamble option is activated by pressing the x2 button on top of the Spin button.

  The objective of the gamble game is to select the ‘right’ star. Since there is no way of knowing which one is that, your choice is always going to be a leap into the unknown. Upon making a selection, the star that doesn’t implode takes you to the next round.

  Each good guess doubles the amount that has been won every previous round. If you think you’ve made enough good guesses and want to keep the winnings, press the palm button in order to make the next spin.

  I said I have mixed feelings about this game because on one hand, it is a three-reel slot without any extra features, but on the other, there are three things that keep things spicy: the gamble feature, the fast play option and the volatility switch.

• Fast Spins

  I made several spins with the speed set to the fastest (horse symbol), and have to say, wow, you can go halfway through your balance in a very short time. My advice to those who want to try the game is, to leave the turtle mode on if you want to enjoy the game longer.

Payouts

Wins with the wild provide the most lucrative prize - a 40x your bet, which I don't think is such a poor payout. Besides the Wild, there are two sets of symbols, I'll call them the extra shiny stars and the plain stars. The first set pays 8x your bet, when three of the same colour land on a payline, while the second set pays 4x according to the same logic.

Because there aren't any bonuses, Wazdan has struck a smart balance between that and potential win outcomes. I don't think 4x is a poor amount. The smallest bet of 10p can get you £ 0.40 with a matching win of four low-paying symbols. The high-paying stars can earn you £ 0.80. Take a moment to take into consideration, how many slots can pay these amounts with three symbols!

The option to set the volatility isn’t at all a common functionality in the majority of slots games. I find this option quite welcoming, since it lets you set the course ahead - play for low payouts and fewer dead spins, or go for the opposite hoping to hit the 40x sooner rather than later. The game’s theoretical return to player is above average, at 96.50%

Summary

This is a slot that grows on you. I have to say a big bravo to Wazdan for striking such a careful balance between the absence of extra features and how the payouts are structured, plus the option to choose the volatility.

In my opinion the strongest feature of Magic Stars 3 is its three prizes: 40x, 8x and 4x. This makes it very straightforward, since you won't be getting payouts that don't match your stake.

I would recommend the game to anyone, because of the above and because I find the theme and the graphics rather superbly executed. The players who aren’t going to enjoy the game are those who like playing slots with lots of extra features, which this game has none.