Tons of Suns: Slot Overview
“Tons of Suns,” an online slot game by High Limit Studio, a collaborator with Games Global, takes players on a journey reminiscent of the grand Aztec civilization. Marking the studio’s sixth release, High Limit Studio’s portfolio includes games featuring 3 Link&Win and an Epic Strike, popular mechanics often seen in the Games Global family. Unlike its predecessors, “Tons of Suns” doesn’t lean on any high-profile gaming mechanics but offers a familiar set of features within a standard setting. Despite this, there’s an openness to being pleasantly surprised as we delve deeper into the game.
Visually, “Tons of Suns” presents a slightly unique layout. The backdrop features a brown stone wall, possibly an entrance to an ancient structure, adorned with plants. Interestingly, a step pyramid, disproportionate in size, is casually placed beside the actual gaming grid. This grid comprises 5 reels with 3 rows each, and atop it are displayed four prize values. While the visuals aren’t particularly striking or innovative, they are by no means poor. However, in the realm of Mesoamerican-themed slots, “Tons of Suns” doesn’t particularly distinguish itself in terms of optical appeal.
In the “Tons of Suns” slot game, players engage with a 5×3 grid that offers 243 ways to win. Winning combinations form from left to right, starting from the first reel. The game boasts a hit rate of 33.99% under a default Return to Player (RTP) rate of 96.01%, though it’s worth noting that three lower RTP values are also available. The game’s math model is characterized by high volatility. Players have the option to choose stakes ranging from 20 cents to $/€40 per spin, and there’s also the opportunity to purchase free spins.
The base game features eleven regular pay symbols. During free spins, however, low-paying symbols are removed from the reels. These low-value symbols are the 9 to A card ranks, offering a modest payout of 0.25 times the bet for a five-of-a-kind winning line. The high-value symbols are more thematic, featuring a toucan, a frog, a necklace, a character, and a two-headed snake. Landing a five-of-a-kind (5 OAK) win with these premium symbols pays between 0.3 to 0.75 times the bet. The game’s wilds are versatile, substituting for all symbols except for scatters, Pyramids, and Sun symbols, adding another layer of excitement to the gameplay.
Tons of Suns: Slot Features
In “Tons of Suns,” players encounter an array of features, including Sun symbols, a Pick Bonus, free spins, and a bonus buy option.
Sun Symbol Feature Sun symbols, which can land on any reel, play a pivotal role in the base game. When at least one Sun symbol appears, it can award either a cash prize (up to 25x the bet), a range of free spins (5, 10, 15, or 20), or trigger the Pick Bonus. In free spins rounds, Sun symbols exclusively offer cash prizes, again up to 25 times the bet.
Pick Bonus Activated through the Sun feature in the base game, this bonus involves matching three identical icons to win a prize. The prizes vary based on the type of icon matched: 5x the bet for the Mini, 25x for the Minor, 50x for the Major, and 250x for the Mega. Special symbols can enhance these values:
- Boost: Increases the Mega prize by 250x, the Major by 50x, the Minor by 25x, and the Mini by 5x.
- Ultra Boost: Elevates the Mega prize by 500x, the Major by 100x, the Minor by 50x, and the Mini by 10x.
- Epic Boost: Adds 750x to the Mega, 150x to the Major, 75x to the Minor, and 15x to the Mini prize.
- Win All: Awards all four prizes simultaneously.
Free Spins Free spins can also be won by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters in the base game, which grant 10 free spins and a payout of 2x, 10x, or 50x the bet, respectively. During free spins, Pyramids symbols (exclusive to this mode) advance the player along the Feature Trail. Reaching specific points on this trail activates win multipliers of x2, x3, x4, x5, x10, and x25. Additionally, reaching each multiplier awards +5 extra free spins. These extra spins and the increased multiplier take effect after the initial set of free spins. Notably, lower-paying royal symbols are removed from the reels during free spins.
Buy Feature Players have the option to directly purchase the free spins round for 60 times their current bet, providing a shortcut to this potentially lucrative feature.
Tons of Suns: Slot Verdict
Upon first encountering “Tons of Suns,” one might find themselves mulling over its familiar visuals and standard features, leading to speculation about High Limit Studio’s inspiration. There’s a fleeting impression that the game might be echoing aspects of Pragmatic Play, not in terms of directly replicating a specific game, but more so in the overall feel – such as the leaf animations between modes and the multiplier trail in the free spins feature. This might be a stretch, but it’s a thought that surfaces while engaging with the game.
The use of a common theme in “Tons of Suns” might contribute to this sense of familiarity. With many games exploring similar Mesoamerican concepts, it becomes challenging to stand out. While ELK Studios’ “Coba/Coba Reborn” and the “Gonzo” series have distinctly marked their territory in this genre, “Tons of Suns” may not leave as lasting an impression, potentially fading from memory like morning mist.
However, it’s commendable that High Limit Studio has diverged from the typical big-name mechanics within the Games Global portfolio, striving for some originality. The Sun symbols add a straightforward and potentially appealing twist, offering various rewards from cash prizes and free spins to launching the Pick Bonus, all with just a single symbol landing. Initially, the Pick Bonus may not seem particularly lucrative, but the inclusion of special symbols can potentially boost its appeal.
In terms of overall potential, “Tons of Suns” might not be a game-changer, offering a maximum win of 4,556.25 times the bet. This does provide a degree of excitement, albeit not groundbreaking.
Ultimately, “Tons of Suns” doesn’t venture into uncharted territory and might struggle to carve out a niche in the densely populated genre of Central/South American-themed slots. Its efforts at originality are noticeable but may not be enough to distinguish itself in a competitive field.