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Shaolin Master
Shaolin Master is an online slot by Hacksaw Gaming, and it is set to release in December 2024. This is a slot with a Chinese temple theme, interesting graphics, and a variety of features that we will talk about in this review.
A Brief Overview
Shaolin Master is a slot game with an ancient Chinese temple theme, and that can be seen as soon as players enter the game. The background consists of stonework and greenery, and there are two characters. One is the old master/teacher, while the other is a traditionally-dressed young student in a typical fighting position. The grid is in the center of the screen, and it is mostly brown with hues of other colors carried by the symbols. It looks like a huge wooden board, and has a 5×6 setup. The symbols range from wooden numbers 9 and 10, and letters K, Q, J, and A that resemble Chinese characters, to colorful pictures of the master, student, fist, and the purple and gold item. There are FS symbols, Wilds, and multipliers which also appear on the grid. On the right side of the screen players can find the play and replay button, while the left side is dedicated to the menu and the Buy Bonus option. At the bottom of the screen is balance and bet information. The whole game is followed by traditional Chinese music which lifts the atmosphere of the whole game.
This is a medium-volatility game with an RTP of 96.31%. The game has a 5×6 grid and it works as a cluster slot. The bets start at a minimum of €0.10 per spin, and go all the way up to a maximum of €100 per spin. The slot has a maximum win of 10,000 times the original bet.
The game has lower and higher paying symbols, and the lower paying symbols are the numbers 9 and 10, and letters K, Q, J, and A. The highs are represented by a fist, a purple item, a golden item, and the pictures of the master and the student. This is a cluster game, and the point is to match at least 5 symbols. When a cluster hits, the symbols that make up the winning combination are removed from the grid, and new symbols drop down to fill in the remaining spots. Wins continue until there are no more clusters. A 5 OAK pays 0.1 to 1 times the bet, while a cluster of 15 or more symbols pays 15 to 60 times the bet. Wilds are there to substitute any regular symbol on the grid.
Shaolin Master and the Features It Offers
Shaolin Master offers a variety of features to its future players. The features include Cascades, Chi Orbs, Student and Master Feature, and Buy Bonus.
Cascades
This is a feature that triggers the removal of symbols from the grid after a cluster win is achieved. It allows for new symbols to fall into the empty places on the grid, and it continues until there are no more wins.
Chi Orbs
This is a feature that offers symbols which function as Wild Multipliers and can multiply the value of cluster wins if they are a part of a winning combination. There are three types of Chi Orbs in the game:
- Blue Chi Orbs: This orb begins with a 1x multiplier, and increases by 1 each time it is a part of a win.
- Red Chi Orb: This orb starts with a 1x multiplier and increases by 1 for every symbol in the winning cluster.
- Balance Chi Orb: This orb can be seen only during cascades, and its multiplier is calculated from the combined multipliers of any Blue and Red Orbs that were on the grid, and then it disappears from the grid.
The Student
This feature is activated by landing 3 or 4 FS Scatter symbols, and it grants 10 or 12 Free Spins. During the Free Spins game, all standard symbols are involved, and there are also special symbols like the Green Chi Orb and the Green Gem multiplier modifier. The Green Gem is there to boost the multipliers that appear below each reel, and it can potentially multiply their values up to x10. The Green Chi orb has a task of activating the reel’s multiplier, and that can add to the cluster wins. Each activation awards 3 extra spins. Each reel can hold one Green Chi Orb, and the maximum achievable multiplier stands at 9,999x.
The Master
This is a feature that activates after landing 5 FS Scatter Symbols, and it triggers an additional game with three lives that can refill. In this round, the normal game symbols are replaced with Stone Block symbols, and it also adds multipliers above every reel. During this feature, Ice Blocks get smashed to make way for Multiplier Blocks. These blocks add up at the base of the grid and enhance multipliers. There is a Crusher Block that demolishes Multiplier Blocks and transforms into a Multiplier Block that takes the value of all destroyed multipliers. If a player lands Multiplier Block, Multiplier Modifier Block, or Crusher Block, the spins are reset to 3. This feature ends when there are no more lives left.
Bonus Buy
The game offers various Bonus Buy options, and it includes:
- Bonus Hunt Feature Spins: For 3x the bet, every spin enhances the chance of triggering a bonus by 5x.
- Enlightened Feature Spins: For 50x the bet, each spin is ensured to land on a Red Chi Orb, and is involved in at least 1 winning combination.
- The Student Feature: Allows players to enter the Student Feature for 100x the bet.
- The Master Feature: Allows players to enter the Mater Feature for 200x the bet.
Our Verdict
Shaolin Master is a fun and entertaining slot game that is yet to show its full potential to the world. The game has some amazing assets, including its high RTP standing at 96.31%. The game also has an innovative cluster system that will be interesting to the majority of players. Some small negatives are its complex bonus features and high Bonus Buy cost, but these are the options without which the game can still be enjoyed. For now, all that can be said is that the interested players can try the demo version of the game, and then they can see what this slot is all about, and that will prepare them for some serious gameplay once the game is officially released.
