Outer space is the final frontier, a permanent source of wonder for human beings across the world. And now, you can access it through your home computer and harvest the many treasures that lie in the cosmos. Astronomical is a video slot game created by the Microgaming team back in 1999. We are dealing with a true old school game here and not just a game that tries to be vintage on purpose. And before you jump to a conclusion, it turns out that Astronomical aged rather well and can still be enjoyed by younger players looking for a fun and rewarding game. Read our full review if you want to know more about Astronomical and learn how to win big on its reels…
Astronomical Slot Machine [with Maximum Payout of 8,000 Coins] Reviewed
A VAST UNIVERSE
The layout of Astronomical resembles that of the traditional one-arm bandits that took over land-based casino floors several decades ago.
There is no need to exit the base game in order to view the payouts of winning combinations – the paytable is conveniently positioned within the main game screen. It contains information on the number of credits one is awarded for different symbol combinations when betting one, two, or three coins per spin.
The outer space theme is carried through onto the soundtrack as a sci-fi theme song plays in the background. This is a nice touch that compliments the graphical elements and other sound effects.
PAYTABLE EXPLAINED
Before setting out onto your space journey, let’s take a few moments to review the basic rules of the game so you know exactly how to make the best out of your zero-gravity experience.
To keep in line with its retro atmosphere, Astronomical only has 3 reels and a single payline running right across them, dead center. You can choose to bet either one, two or three coins per spin. Depending on your choice, a different section of the paytable will light up to show what sort of cash rewards you can hope to land. Use the command bar at the bottom of the game screen in order to adjust your bet settings, and once you are satisfied with them just click the spin button to take off and start your cosmic journey towards the jackpot.
The coin size ranges from 25 cents up to 5.00, and you can bet up to 3 coins per spin.
Use the bet max switch to go all-in with a single click and thus maximize your chance to score a big win.
Keep in mind that this non-progressive machine revolves around an old-school betting system that puts emphasis on the number of coins you bet per turn, as well as on the value of your wager itself. It might take a little getting used to if you are not accustomed to playing such games, but a little practice can go a long way.
There is a small blue button that reads “Expert” and by clicking it, you can unlock the Autoplay feature of Astronomical. There are not many options here. In fact, there you can play anywhere between 5 and 500 spins without interruption.
SPECIAL ICONS
- The Astronomical logo awards the largest payout of 8,000 credits for three matching symbols on the solitary payline. But it plays yet another important role, that of a wild which substitutes for all symbols with no exceptions. This “astronomical” wild can also quadruple profits as it comes with a 4x multiplier on winning combinations, consisting of two such symbols. If you land only one astronomical wild on the payline, your winnings will be doubled with a 2x multiplier.
REGULAR SYMBOLS
- Another great thing about this Microgaming offering is that it pays for two matches only – line up two cherries on the payline and you get even money for single-coin bets and a return of three coins when max betting.
- There are single, double, and triple BAR signs right after. They pay between 15 and 300 coins when three identical images drop on the reels.
- A Planet character is the highest paying one. If you manage to land at least one, you will be awarded 300 coins or 900 for three.
BONUS AND ADDITIONAL POSSIBILITIES
Since Astronomical is as old-school as it gets, you can hardly hope for an abundance of great extra features and bonus games. No such functionalities are present in this simplified slot except for the wild with the 2x and 4x multipliers, which is still something as it helps boost your wins and form more matches.
BEST CASINOS TO PLAY ASTRONOMICAL SLOT MACHINE AT
Are you ready to explore the universe in this classic pokie? Then, head over to four below-mentioned recommended betting locations.
- NordicBet is an online casino, established by BML Group in 2002. It has a Maltese license, offers reliable services, and provides access to entertainment 24/7. Customers can take advantage of a large library, quick withdrawals, and instant play.
- SekaBET offers versatile entertainment, has a sportsbook service, poker, and bingo rooms. It provides an opportunity for customers to make deposits with a range of popular payment methods, including Bitcoin and online payment systems.
- Frank & Fred is the website founded by PlayCherry Ltd in 2018. The brand primarily targets players from the Scandinavian region to whom it offers native language support and the option to use local currencies. It is dual licensed in Malta and Curacao. The site has a big choice of games, diverse promotions, and mobile play.
- Vinnarum is an online operator established in 2010 that runs on a multi-software platform offering games from a variety of suppliers. It is operated by Evoke Gaming Ltd and is registered under the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom, Malta, and Sweden.
MORE GAMES BY MICROGAMING
- In River of Riches, you will join an Indiana Jones-style adventurer on a quest for hidden treasure. The likeliest way to get your hands on the ancient Egyptian loot comes via the bonus feature that awards up to 20 free spins with sticky wilds. Head to the land of the Pharaohs from between 0.25 and 50 per spin.
- Ariana comes with 5 reels and 25 paylines. You can explore a hidden world in this aquatic adventure where the mermaid princess, Ariana, rules. Set in her underwater kingdom, you will see starfish scatters to majestic sea dragons and a lively Coral reef. You can play from as little as 0.25 to as much as 125 a spin.
- In Arctic Valor, you will be looking for stacked Valkyrie symbols, Bonus Scatters, and enormous Icicles, which can fall on any reel during any spin. Icicles will bring you Wilds and cash prizes, stacked Valkyries will secure big wins, while Bonus Scatters will trigger the Arctic Valor Free Spins feature.
WE RECOMMEND
If exploring the universe is your calling, you can start by checking the games we listed below.
- Plasma Fusion by Gaming1 propels you into outer space. There is the Super Game bonus round where you pay 1 super game ticket. There is the Super James wheel with 5 of the 6 possible winning outcomes, 2 of which can bring a jackpot. Also, you can get 10 free spins if 3 wild symbols are aligned in one of the 10 paylines.
- Space Arcade by Nolimit City comes complete with two powerful special features. If you land a Wild symbol and it transforms into a Winged Wild, you’ll receive re-spins as long as the Winged Wild stays on the screen. The other major feature is Increasing Multipliers. They get activated after every successful spin and continue to amplify the wins up to 6 times.
Space Invaders by Playtech is based on the original arcade video game which took the world by storm since its introduction in the late 70s. There is an Invaders Turn Wild feature where the cannon blasts away low value symbols and turns them into wilds. There is also a UFO Wild feature where the cannon shoots the UFO giving you a free re-spin with up to 9 wilds added to the reels.