Jade Shuriken Review
Jade Shuriken has a mystical, almost Mortal Kombat kind of vibe. The game is set in the dead of night with ninja warriors doing their best to fight against the evil forces and bring players a wad of cash. At first glance, this title does seem a little overcomplicated.
But it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. And you soon realise that there are plenty of ways to fulfil your potential during this adventure.
40 paylines across the 5x4 grid give plenty of ways to land winning combos and the addition of many special symbols only adds to the excitement. Slingshot Studios don't have as much experience as some of the big boys in the industry.
But with the backing of Microgaming, it seems that they are set to have a very bright future. It's one of their highest quality slots to date and has plenty going on to keep fans more than satisfied.
Design
The game is set on a fairly nondescript background, which we presume is a lake with some mountains making an appearance for good measure. It's a deep purple scene representing the night time feel while all the rest of the colours are bright and pop out incredibly well.
This game is a vivid, visual treat and the soundtrack isn't too bad either. As the features kick in, everything builds up with a heightened tempo and the adrenaline definitely starts to pump.
There are some nice touches during the two epic features where the first and fifth reels are replaced by images of battling ninjas waiting to see what riches will fall between them. Fans of the Hearthstone game will love the nods to the original but may be disappointed that some of the characters don't make an appearance.
Gameplay
As with most slots, the majority of your time will be spent on the base game. However, unlike many other games, it isn't a case of simply waiting for a free spins round to break up the action a little. With Jade Shuriken, there's always something happening.
Thanks to the gauge running across the top of the screen, you're always on the lookout for the next feature to trigger. And it can happen quite regularly. Apart from choosing your bet total and selecting the type of free spins/multiplier prize you would like to aim for, there's nothing to worry about.
Win Potential
The game's symbols are made up of some fairly generic images. There are fans, teapots and others to keep the Japanese vibe going. The higher paying symbols are a mixture of red, green, purple and blue sevens.
And then we make our way up to the wilds which have a superb payout for 3, 4 or 5 of them (3x, 12.5x and 62.5x). Scatter symbols are also typically oriental showing the image of a gong.
The biggest payouts come your way from the shuriken symbols, as you would expect. Both the jade and gold stars are capable of hitting the massive 2,500x max payout. This is achieved by seeing a full set of 12 fill up the middle 3 rows during either of the epic features.
Our Verdict
There is plenty going on and a lot to talk about with this game. There's never a boring moment and the great thing is that it isn't as difficult as it first seems. The game has low volatility which means you'll see wins landing fairly regularly.
Most of them will be quite small but you will get the occasional big ones thrown in for good measure. Features trigger more often than with many other games and not only does this offer a great chance to win some cash but also holds the player’s attention for longer. It's a great effort from Slingshot Studios and we definitely recommend giving it a try.
Alyx has always loved slots and continuously follows their progress and development. She’s a big fan of gridded slots and music themes as well, so it makes sense that Def Leppard Hysteria is her absolute favourite. She can’t wait to see what’s next in the Play’n GO rock series.
Learn more about Alyx here