Shaolin Master: Slot Overview
Hacksaw Gaming channels its inner martial artist in Shaolin Master, an online slot that serves as a reskin of the intense and captivating Hand of Anubis. While Shaolin Kung Fu is a revered martial art requiring years of dedication to master, reskinning a slot is a much simpler task. Often, reskins don’t quite capture the excitement of the original, but given Hand of Anubis was a standout title, some of its magic might carry over to this iteration.
For many players, Shaolin Master is likely as exotic as Ancient Egypt, though its tone is far less ominous. On one side of the game board stands the master, exuding calm and focus, while the other side features his student striking an elaborate pose reminiscent of Daniel LaRusso’s iconic crane kick from the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. Unlike LaRusso’s controversial finishing move, there’s nothing divisive about Shaolin Master’s visuals. Set against a serene mountain backdrop, the game creates a tranquil kung fu-inspired atmosphere that pairs nicely with its gameplay.
The action in Shaolin Master unfolds on a 5-reel, 6-row grid using a cluster pays win system. Players can place wagers ranging from $0.10 to $100 per spin in the base game, with several bonus buy options available for those who prefer to jump straight into the action. Unlike the highly volatile Hand of Anubis, Shaolin Master features a medium volatility math model, offering a slightly more balanced gameplay experience. The game’s maximum RTP is 96.31%, a modest bump compared to its predecessor.
Cluster Pays and Cascading Wins
- Winning clusters are formed when 5 or more matching symbols connect horizontally or vertically.
- Winning symbols are removed, and new symbols cascade into the empty spaces, creating opportunities for additional wins.
- Cascades continue until no new clusters are formed.
Symbols and Payouts
- Low-Paying Symbols: 10-A royals, offering 0.1x to 1x the bet for a 5-symbol cluster, and up to 15x for clusters of 15 or more.
- High-Paying Symbols:
- A fist, a purple item, a golden item, the student, and the master.
- These symbols pay 0.3x to 1x the bet for a 5-symbol cluster, and up to 60x for clusters of 15 or more.
Wild Symbols
Wilds can substitute for any regular paying symbol, helping to form or enhance winning clusters and increasing the chances of triggering cascading wins.
With its cascading mechanics, dynamic cluster system, and striking kung fu theme, Shaolin Master delivers an engaging twist on Hacksaw Gaming’s tried-and-true formula.
Shaolin Master: Features and Mechanics
In Shaolin Master, the action revolves around renamed and reimagined features: Chi Orb wild multipliers, The Student Free Spins, The Master Bonus Round, and bonus buy options. Here’s how they work:
Chi Orbs (Wild Multipliers)
Chi Orbs serve as wild multipliers, boosting the value of winning clusters they’re part of. If multiple Chi Orbs contribute to the same win, their multipliers multiply with each other before being applied. Chi Orbs remain on the grid during cascades but are removed at the end of the round.
- Blue Chi Orb: Starts with a multiplier of x1, which increases by +1 each time it’s part of a win.
- Red Chi Orb: Starts with a multiplier of x1, which increases by +1 per symbol in the winning cluster, including Chi Orbs.
- Balance Chi Orb: Appears only during cascades and has a multiplier equal to the product of all active Red and Blue Chi Orb multipliers. If it contributes to a win, it applies its multiplier and is removed with the other winning symbols.
The Student Free Spins
Triggered by landing 3 or 4 scatters, awarding 10 or 12 free spins, respectively.
- Each reel displays a multiplier at its base, which increases by +1 per winning symbol on the corresponding reel when clusters form.
- Green Gem multiplier symbols can further multiply reel multipliers by values ranging from x2 to x10.
- Green Chi Orbs activate reel multipliers, combining their values and applying them to each winning cluster. Every activation grants +3 free spins.
- One Green Chi Orb can land per reel, with multipliers reaching a maximum value of x9,999.
The Master Bonus Round
Triggered by landing 5 scatters, awarding 3 refilling spins. Symbols from the base game are replaced by Stone Block symbols, with multipliers displayed above each reel.
- Multiplier Modifier Blocks:
- Blue Gem (Additive): Adds 2x to 10x to the reel multiplier.
- Green Gem (Multiplying): Multiplies the reel multiplier by x2 to x10.
- Epic Modifying Blocks: Affect all reel multipliers instead of just one.
- Ice Blocks: When crushed, they release a Multiplier Block that drops into the grid with a value equal to the reel multiplier above. Multiplier Blocks stick and stack at the bottom of the reels.
- Crusher Blocks: Fall through all blocks, destroying any Multiplier Blocks in their path. When they reach the bottom, they convert into a new Multiplier Block with a value equal to the sum of the blocks they destroyed.
- Every time a Multiplier Block, Modifier Block, or Crusher Block lands, the spin count resets to 3. Reel multipliers can reach a maximum of 9,999x.
Bonus Buy Options
Players can skip directly to the features with several bonus buy options:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x the bet): Spins have a 5x higher chance of triggering a bonus round.
- Enlightened FeatureSpins (50x the bet): Each spin guarantees a Red Chi Orb with at least one winning combination.
- The Student Free Spins (100x the bet).
- The Master Bonus Round (200x the bet).
With its unique Chi Orb mechanics and engaging bonus rounds, Shaolin Master offers a fresh, kung fu-inspired twist on Hacksaw Gaming’s signature high-energy gameplay.
Shaolin Master: Slot Verdict
While Shaolin Master brings its own flavor to the table, it doesn’t pack the same punch as its darker predecessor, Hand of Anubis. The theme of Shaolin kung fu is undeniably impressive, but the game lacks the atmospheric intensity and edge-of-your-seat dread that made Hand of Anubis so gripping. The visuals are polished and pleasant, but the emotional impact just isn’t as striking.
That said, when it comes to functionality, Shaolin Master delivers well. The mechanics work smoothly for the most part, though the execution feels slightly less refined in places. Hacksaw Gaming once again flexes its expertise with multipliers, scattering them across the base game, The Student free spins, and the Chaos Crew-esque Master bonus round. The reduced volatility, from high to medium, might tone down the explosive nature of the gameplay, but the slot still boasts impressive winning potential, offering payouts of up to 10,000x the bet across all modes.
To Hacksaw Gaming’s credit, they don’t rely heavily on reskins or clones compared to other providers. By revisiting an excellent slot like Hand of Anubis, they’ve reused strong foundations. However, Shaolin Master feels like a shadow of its predecessor—less intense, less impactful, and ultimately less memorable. For players who prefer a more balanced math model and a slightly less lethal vibe, this might be a more fitting choice.
That said, it’s hard to find compelling reasons to recommend Shaolin Master over Hand of Anubis. While it’s technically capable of delivering thrilling moments, it feels like a toned-down request: “Make it like the Anubis one, but less aggressive.” If Hand of Anubis was a knockout punch, Shaolin Master lands more like a controlled sparring session.