Yggdrasil keeps surprising us with their Gigablox series, and Suncatcher Gigablox is even more back-to-the-basics than the previousGator Gold Gigabloxinstallment. It makes you wonder what will be next, but this one is more or less a Starburst copycat job. This is not meant in a derogatory way however, as there is more than enough improvement here to justify the release.
The Gigablox are smaller than you might be used to, as 3×3 is the most you get here. The cosmic vibe is similar toStarburst, but we like how you can land expanding wilds on all 5 reels instead of only the 3 middle reels. This opens up for more consecutive respins, but the single spin max win is still 500x your stake. This one is more for fans of NetEnt’s iconic gemstone slot, than followers of the Gigablox series as such.
You get a random number of reels that combine into 1or 2 gigablox mega symbols per spin, and the gigablox break into matching regular sized 1×1 symbols when they land. You can switch on theGolden Bet featureif you wish. This will cost you 2x more per spin, but you also get 3x more diamond wilds present on the reel strips (it’s very noticable).
The diamond wilds expand to cover the full reel whenever they land, and this also triggers theWild Respin feature. The expanded wild, or wilds, remain frozen in place, and the remaining reels respin. Thepay-both-ways enginecomes in handy, as it makes it far easier to win with wilds wherever they land.
Unlike in Starburst,you can land expanding wilds on all 5 reelshere, not just the 3 middle reels. This means that up to 5 respins in a row are possible, as all new wilds you land also become sticky and award a new respin. The wilds pay 50x for 5 on a payline (both ways). Filling the screen with nothing but wilds awards 500x your stake, and this comes on top of your regular winnings from the wild respins feature. Landing the 500x top win effectively ends the respins feature.
We don’t mind a copycat job, just as long as some decent value and novelty has been added to the experience. This is certainly the case with Suncatcher Gigablox, and we had a pretty good time testing this game. Per usual, we’ve put together a brief and edited highlights video from our session, and you can check it all out by hitting the play button.
The Gigablox series from Yggdrasil has turned out to be a very unpredictable ride. The elaborate visual details you got in earlier installments, like Hades and Lucky Neko, are long gone in the game at hand. Suncatcher Gigablox is pretty much a reinvention of the Starburst concept, but in that regard it’s a pretty decent effort.
Allowing for expanding wilds on all 5 reels is a refreshing touch, but you need the Golden Bet turned on to avoid falling asleep between Respin triggers. The dreamy soundtrack doesn’t really help in that regard either, but it certainly fits the bill. Visually, it’s almost like a different studio made this one, and the same goes for the previous installment to be honest. Fans of Starburst have a good alternative in Suncatcher, but there is nothing here for the high risk/reward crowd.
Pros
Cons
Starburst- is NetEnt’s sparkling jewel that never gets old. Countless free spins have been awarded on this game in even more countless promo offers, and it’s all about the expanding sticky wild respins feature. Wilds can only land on the 3 middle reels here though.
Gator Gold Gigablox- is an African safari-themed installment in Yggdrasil’s dynamic reels series, and you can land gigablox up to 4×4. The bonus round comes with 2x and 3x multiplier wilds, and you can win up to 20,000x your stake.
Star Clusters Megaclusters- is visually somewhat similar to the game at hand, and it’s the game where BTG’s innovative Megaclusters engine got its debut. Winning symbols split into smaller symbols, and the increasing wild multiplier can lead to payouts up to 23,960x your stake.
The Gigablox series from Yggdrasil continues to impress us, and the Suncatcher Gigablox is a simpler version than the previous Gator Gold Gigablox. It’s a replica of Starburst, but with enough enhancements to make it worthwhile. The Gigablox are smaller than usual, with a maximum size of 3×3. The cosmic feel is akin to Starburst, but we appreciate the ability to land expanding wilds on all 5 reels, not just the middle 3. This allows for more consecutive respins, though the max single spin win remains at 500x your stake. It’s ideal for fans of NetEnt’s gemstone slot, rather than Gigablox enthusiasts. Each spin gives you a random number of reels that combine into 1 or 2 large symbols, which then break into regular 1×1 symbols when they land. The Golden Bet feature is optional and doubles your spin cost, but triples the diamond wilds on the reel strips. The wilds expand to cover the reel when they land and trigger the Wild Respin feature. The pay-both-ways engine is beneficial as it makes winning with wilds easier. Unlike Starburst, you can land expanding wilds on all 5 reels, allowing for up to 5 consecutive respins. Filling the screen with wilds gives you 500x your stake, plus regular winnings from the wild respins feature. The 500x top win ends the respins feature. We don’t mind a similar game as long as it adds value and novelty, which Suncatcher Gigablox does. We enjoyed testing this game and have created a brief video of our session. The Gigablox series from Yggdrasil has proven to be unpredictable. The detailed visuals of earlier games like Hades and Lucky Neko are missing in Suncatcher Gigablox, but it’s a good reinvention of the Starburst concept. The ability to expand wilds on all 5 reels is refreshing, but you need the Golden Bet feature to prevent boredom between Respin triggers. The dreamy soundtrack is a nice touch, but it doesn’t help keep the excitement. It’s visually distinct, almost as if a different studio created it. Starburst fans will enjoy Suncatcher, but it’s not for those seeking high risk/reward.