Space Race Online Slot Review
From the moment you see the intro video; you can tell that there is something more to this slot than a few space-themed features. This comes in the form of a unique feature round, where you have to guide a rocket through a meteor storm. Space Race is a solid slot, which looks good without being the best I have seen from Play N Go. There is a free spins round, and plenty of opportunities to get some nice wins from the regular play.
Graphics are close to Earth, rather than significantly sci-fi. You’ll see the earth, moon and a spacewalking NASA type astronaut, along with the rocket, probe and those meteors. Bonus games have some significant animated sequences, though the play on the reels is more subdued, with just the occasional movement when you hit a winning combination with the main symbols. Sounds are clichéd space noises, with zaps and beeps. These are professionally produced and add to the game without being obtrusive.
I enjoyed the main break-out bonus on this game. While it is essentially a pick-em game it does add a new dimension to most slots by having multiple rounds where you try and avoid meteors.
Setup and Play for Space Race
Play N Go have opted for their 20 line setup for this game. You can choose any number of these that you like and also adjust the coin value and play up to 5 coins per line. This gives you a minimum / maximum spin of 20c / $18.75c for the full amount of lines. Auto play can be configured to stop after certain wins (or losses) or just go for a set number of spins.
The Space Race wild is has the single biggest prize attached, with 5000 coins paid for 5 on a line – plus any other combinations made with other symbols on adjacent lines. As usual this will not substitute for the scatter or bonus type features. That scatter is the meteor storm (red fireballs). These pay up to 300 times your total spin amount for 5 anywhere on the reels. There is a ‘warning’ symbol, which triggers the free spins bonus round, and a rocket which triggers the other bonus feature.
Of the regular symbols, the astronaut has the best prize, with 1000 coins for 5 of a kind. Next some the probe and the Earth, each paying 500. The moon makes up the rest of the unique symbols, with the playing cards adding many smaller wins to the game.
Space Race Bonus Features
If you hit 3 rockets, then the last one on the reels will take off – which means you have triggered the pick-em type bonus game. You will see an opening sequence with the Earth and meteors flying past in nice 3D. A sign then appears saying that your mission is to reach the moon, avoiding meteors.
Next a grid appears, and you choose a spot for your rocket. Meteors then crash into the grid. If they miss you, then you get a prize and go to the next round. If you get hit then you will survive the first strike (thanks to a shield) though not the second. Each round sees a smaller grid, and adds money to your total.
The other bonus is a free spins game. You need 3 of the red warning symbols to trigger this. Those same symbols become extra wilds during the spins, which can help make some more winning combinations. This particular free spins game cannot be retriggered.
Space Race – Conclusion
Even though it has a slightly retro feel, this is a very enjoyable game with one innovative bonus feature. The standard play on the reels is nothing special, though smoothly put together as you would expect from a Play N Go title. You will find the occasional bigger win, though I found plenty of smaller ones kept my bankroll ticking over nicely.
The pick-em game where you guide your rocket through the meteors is the stand out feature for this game. This includes some nice 3D graphics and is distinct enough from the main game to stay fresh, even after a few plays. Add to this free spins, wilds and scatters and you have a slot which is diverse enough to be worth returning too. This will not make it into my top lists, though I can see myself coming back for another spin now and again.
