Orbital Mining Slot Machine
If you’re already a fan of their software, you’ll know by now that Octopus Gaming have a real reputation for innovation when it comes to programming video slots. If you’re new to the company’s work, however, may we recommend you check out Orbital Mining to see what they’re all about?
Set aboard a deep space mining vessel, Orbital Mining is a 5-reel, 25-fixed payline title that sees players attempt to uncover precious minerals and unlock prizes, while also hopefully triggering the Smuggled Goods Scan bonus round, which is one of the most rewarding mini-games we’ve seen.
Featuring futuristic reels that zap from left to right rather than spinning, the game is also incredibly quick to play, meaning you can fit in more turns per minute and potentially boost your bottom line.
Welcome To The Future
As mentioned above, the most instantly striking aspect of Orbital Mining is the way symbols fill the gameboard in a nano-second. This feature not only lends itself well to the game’s high-tech feel, it also significantly speeds up gameplay and allows seasoned slot players to get more bang for their buck – although novice gamers might initially be a little over-awed at how fast everything goes.
In terms of bankroll requirements, Orbital Mining can be played from as little as $0.25 per spin but offers players the chance to wager up to $125, meaning it is a game that can be enjoyed by beginners and high rollers alike. Payouts in the game begin at 5x your stake per line and spiral all the way up to 500x your bet, with wild symbols ensuring some form of win occurs virtually every turn.
The game also features an Atomic Scatter symbol which triggers the aforementioned bonus round – and while this doesn’t happen often, players can bag up to 33 spins and a 6x multiplier when it does.
Know Your Minerals
In terms of presentation, futuristic graphics and sounds are the name of the game in Orbital Mining. Played out to the backdrop of a space station overlooking the cosmos, the reels feature mineral deposits in place of the classic playing card symbols and the ship’s officers as the higher value icons.
The Space Guardian – an Iron Man-esque fellow in a red and gold facemask – is the game’s wild symbol and is greeted by a suitably dramatic sound effect whenever he appears, while the Atomic Scatter symbol is a glowing green icon depicting the complex particle structure found in an atom.
The music in Orbital Mining is also suitably space-age, with a background track reminiscent of classic space shooter Unreal Tournament playing throughout the regular game. This ambience is further enhanced by a range of high-tech blips, beeps and boops as the symbols flash into place, meaning Orbital Mining really is a video slot that is hugely consistent in all aspects of its look, sound and feel.
Engage The Hyperdrive
While Orbital Mining only features one bonus round, it is an extremely good one – which is just as well, as you can regularly go upwards of 100 spins without triggering it. Activated whenever three Atomic Scatter symbols appear anywhere on the gameboard, players are then transported to a special screen where they get to scan two planets, moons or crafts to uncover their bonus rewards.
With free spins and multipliers lurking within each scan-able object, players can find a maximum of 33 free spins and a 6x multiplier, which can provide an astronomical boost to their base game winnings. Best of all, even if you don’t uncover one of these higher-value prizes, all free spins come with a 2x multiplier by default, meaning you’ll always get a decent return on this feature regardless.
All winnings in Orbital Mining can also be gambled in a standard red or black picking game, but as the bonus feature doesn’t come around all that often, we’d recommend that players bank as much from their regular game winnings as possible to try and even out those long featureless streaks.
Mine Over Matter
With Orbital Mining, Octopus Gaming has again succeeded in creating a truly unique title that captures the imagination of players while also providing them with some substantial bonus rewards. Though not the easiest title for novice players to get to grips with at first, if you’re a regular slot player looking to fit in more spins per minute, this futuristic space slot will definitely be in your orbit.
