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A Modern Twist on a Timeless Classic
Hacksaw Gaming has carved out a significant niche in the development sphere, renowned for its eclectic and often audacious themes. Their portfolio spans from post-apocalyptic landscapes and anime heroines to mischievous raccoons and anthropomorphic bananas. This creative flair has been instrumental in their meteoric rise from a modest scratchcard producer to an acclaimed software studio. By combining trailblazing mechanics with a signature visual style, seen in celebrated titles like the “Chaos Crew” series, Hacksaw Gaming has firmly established itself as a formidable contender in a fiercely competitive industry, consistently demonstrating a commitment to innovation and contemporary design.
While technology continually advances, it’s easy to lose sight of origins. Without the foundational era of vintage gaming, today’s sophisticated experiences would not exist. Perhaps with this in mind, the studio’s latest creation, “Superstar Sevens,” offers a nostalgic homage to a time when fruit symbols and lucky sevens reigned supreme. This title, built on a 6-reel, 5-row grid with a cluster-pays mechanism, is designed to evoke a sense of classic gaming nostalgia.
However, it is crucial to clarify that despite its retro-inspired facade—featuring a grid populated with classic icons against a minimalist blue backdrop—this game is far from a simple one-armed bandit. It cleverly integrates a fresh interpretation of cascading mechanics and a wealth of win multiplier opportunities, creating a “back to the future” ambiance for players. The game’s structure is underpinned by a medium volatility math model and features three distinct Free Spins bonus rounds. Key performance indicators include a maximum potential win of 10,000 times the stake and a default Return to Player (RTP) rate of 96.37%.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
Victories in Superstar Sevens are achieved by forming clusters of five or more identical symbols connected either horizontally or vertically anywhere on the game grid. The paytable consists of ten standard symbols, divided into lower-value royals and premium icons, including limes, dice, cherries, crowns, and diamonds. Payouts for these symbols range from 0.1x to 100x the bet for clusters of 5 to 13 symbols. Wild symbols are also present, substituting for any standard paying symbol to help form winning combinations.
The Super Cascade System
Upon securing a winning cluster, the game initiates a unique cascade. All symbols involved in the win, along with every other non-winning symbol of the same type on the grid, are removed. This allows new symbols to fall into the vacant positions, potentially creating subsequent wins. A “Total Win Bar” situated above the reels diligently collects the value of each cascade and any associated multipliers. The accumulated sum is awarded to the player at the conclusion of the game round.
Unlocking Multipliers with the Cascade Counter
The Cascade Counter feature is activated when a Lightning symbol appears on the grid during a round with a winning cluster. Once triggered, all non-winning symbols that are cleared during the Super Cascade phase are ingeniously converted into multiplier values and added to the Total Win Bar.
- Each collected low-paying symbol contributes a 1x multiplier per winning cluster.
- Each collected high-paying symbol adds a 2x multiplier.
At the round’s end, the total accumulated multiplier is applied to the total win for a final, enhanced payout. The excitement is further amplified by the potential appearance of an Epic Lightning symbol. If this special symbol lands during a winning spin, the total win is boosted by an additional random multiplier ranging from x5 to x100. Only a single Epic Lightning symbol can appear per spin. In a powerful base game twist, landing six scatter symbols in a single round instantly awards the game’s maximum prize of 10,000x the bet.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
Superstar Sevens includes three distinct Free Spins bonuses, each activated by landing a specific number of scatters within the same game round. All bonus modes begin with 10 free spins, with the possibility of earning an extra 2 or 4 spins by landing 2 or 3 scatters, respectively, during the feature.
The Free Spins Tiers
- Reel Charge: Triggered by 3 scatters, this round follows the base game rules but significantly increases the probability of landing both Lightning and Epic Lightning symbols.
- Lucky Strike: Activated by 4 scatters, this feature incorporates all the mechanics of Reel Charge but adds a crucial advantage: a Lightning symbol is guaranteed to land on every single spin.
- Juicy Joltz (Hidden Epic): Unlocked with 5 scatters, this top-tier bonus operates like Lucky Strike with one major enhancement. The Total Win Bar becomes progressive, meaning it accumulates value throughout the entire round and only pays out at the very end. To maintain balance, Epic Lightning symbols cannot appear during this feature.
Feature Purchase Options
For players who prefer to access the action directly, several purchase options are available to augment the gameplay experience:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins: For 3x the bet, each spin has a five times greater chance of triggering a bonus game (RTP 96.29%).
- Juiced! FeatureSpins: At a cost of 50x the bet, a spin is guaranteed to produce at least one win and one Lightning symbol (RTP 96.25%).
- Reel Charge: Direct entry into this bonus costs 100x the bet (RTP 96.26%).
- Lucky Strike: Access to this enhanced bonus is available for 250x the bet (RTP 96.33%).
Editor’s Final Thoughts
There is something undeniably refreshing about stepping back from the elaborate complexity of many modern games. A return to a simpler aesthetic can often heighten one’s appreciation for the technical sophistication we now enjoy. While Superstar Sevens doesn’t entirely reverse the clock, its visual presentation is a respectful compliment to classic slot design, featuring crisp pay symbols, an uncluttered background, and a more subdued soundtrack than many of the studio’s other offerings.
Beneath this seemingly straightforward exterior, however, lie the unmistakable hallmarks of Hacksaw Gaming’s design philosophy. The cluster-pays model is brilliantly augmented by the Super Cascade mechanic, progressive round totals, and dynamic multipliers. While similar concepts exist, the studio’s unique implementation—particularly the conversion of non-winning symbols into multipliers via the Lightning symbol—helps this title feel distinct and engaging. This core mechanic generates considerable excitement not only in the bonus rounds but during base game spins as well, a feeling that is magnified by the game-changing potential of the Epic Lightning symbol.
The tiered bonus rounds intelligently build upon these core values without overcomplicating the experience. Each level offers a tangible upgrade, from increased symbol chances in Reel Charge to the guaranteed action in Lucky Strike and the climactic progressive payout in Juicy Joltz. Ultimately, Superstar Sevens is a masterfully crafted “in-between” title that deftly combines classic allure with modern depth. By retaining immense potential, including the chance for a maximum win in the base game, Hacksaw Gaming has found an ideal formula that will surely resonate with a wide spectrum of players.
