Basketball Star on Fire is an online slot from Pulse 8 Studios, which previously released Carnaval Jackpot, Royal Wheel 777, and Lucky Twins Jackpot. It’s not the most innovative game developer yet, and they haven’t made a great impression so far. The slot we’re reviewing here is the successor to Microgaming’s Basketball Star, released in 2015 at non GamStop casinos. Non-GamStop sports betting sites often feature titles like this for players who enjoy basketball-themed games alongside real sports wagering. No real effort has been made to upgrade it. While the top prize has increased from 2,400 to 2,500 x the bet, the RTP has plummeted. While the original game’s RTP was still an excellent 96.45%, in Basketball Star of Fire, it’s 94.67%.
This time, there are four jackpots linked to the game, the highest paying out 1,000 times your bet. The game also features wilds, scatters, Wild Coins, the Hyper Hold Feature, and Free Spins. Most online slots in a casino without GamStop don’t have this many features.
Pros and Cons of Basketball Star on Fire
Advantages
Top prize of 2,500 x your stake
Jackpots
Free spins and respins
Disadvantages
RTP of 94.67%
How does the Basketball Star of Fire slot work?
The betting range you can choose from in Basketball Star on Fire is striking. Your options are very limited. You can place a bet of €0.25, €0.50, or €1. This makes it a true 1-cent slot. High rollers are definitely not in the right place here, which means the creator is appealing to a specific target group: those who genuinely want to play for fun.
Each spin in this 5×3 game features 25 active paylines, running from left to right. This means the original 243 Ways to Win has been phased out.
Symbols and Payouts in Basketball Star on Fire
The whistle, the planned tactics, the water bottles, the basketball shoes, and the medal are the first group of symbols in Basketball on Fire. The first three listed win you a “staggering” €0.20, and the other two €0.32. The other four are the basketball players who are fully engaged in the game. Three of these pay out a maximum of €0.60. The one in the red shirt pays out the best, with prizes up to €0.80. This isn’t the only slot with a sports theme. You can also play Football Superstar or Football Gladiators.
The Basketball Star on Fire logo is worth considerably more in comparison. At least, depending on how many you spin in one go. A 5-of-a-kind pays out ten times the value of a four-of-a-kind, up to €10. These wild symbols can also substitute for any symbol except the scatter and the coins. Only during Free Spins and Hyperhold is there an additional wild active, namely the Wild Coin.
Important to know: All amounts mentioned in this review are calculated based on the maximum bet of €1 per spin.
Bonus features of Basketball Star on Fire
This online slot features both free spins and respins. You can also win the Grand Jackpot, which pays out 1,000 times your stake at non GamStop casinos.
Free Spins
A scatter combination doesn’t win you any cash, but it does lead to Free Spins. You need 3, 4, or 5 of them anywhere on the reels. This opens up 10, 15, or 25 free spins, respectively. Throughout the entire feature, the 5th reel features a Stacked Wild (the Wild Coins). This not only creates better chances to form winning lines but also increases the chance of triggering the Hyperhold feature, as you’ll already have half the required number.
Winning a retrigger of the game is possible.
Hyperhold Feature
This is a Hold & Win feature, the kind we’ve been seeing a lot of lately. It’s become a real trend among game developers to incorporate it. Pulse8 has simply given it a different name. The principle remains unchanged at non GamStop casinos.
You need six basketball coins on the reels to enter the Hyperhold Feature. Coins already spun in the regular game carry over to this game, so you don’t have to start saving up from scratch.
You get three re-spins to spin as many new coins as possible. Each time you do, they remain sticky until the end of the game. This also resets the re-spin counter to three. The value per coin can range from 1 to 100 x your bet.
There are also special jackpots to be won in this Basketball on Fire bonus game, as follows:
You win 15 x your bet (Mini Jackpot) by spinning 1 Mini symbol
You win 20 x your bet (Minor Jackpot) by spinning 1 Minor symbol
You win 50 x your bet (Major Jackpot) by spinning 1 Major symbol
You win 100 x your bet (Mega Jackpot) by spinning 1 Mega symbol
The Grand Jackpot of 1,000 x your bet is won by filling all 15 symbol locations
The Hyperhold Feature ends when you run out of re-spins, or when you win the Grand Jackpot.
Conclusion
Comparing Basketball Star on Fire with the original slot machine, we struggle to determine by eye which is older at non GamStop casinos. And yet, there’s a whopping six years between the two productions. That’s practically a lifetime by online slot standards. The sound associated with spinning the reels also evokes nostalgic feelings. In terms of layout design, Pulse8 Studios generally performs poorly. It’s all a bit too bland and blurry.
Technically, it’s everything we’ve been bombarded with lately. That alone is why you really don’t need to play Basketball Star on Fire. We definitely don’t recommend paid play for this slot, due to the incredibly poor RTP. On top of that, the top prize is a very average one, which leads us to conclude that Basketball Star on Fire is truly worthless.