Lightning Wild Slot Review

Novomatic is an online casino software developer that has certainly been around the block a few times over the years. Since launching in 1980 it has gone on to become synonymous with industry on a whole.

Sadly, it does appear that the industry has been slightly unkind to this age-old developer, as it’s not been able to run off hit game after hit game as of late like it once was able to do in the past. It seems that the momentum just isn’t there for Novomatic right now, with each new release being an attempt to change the brand’s fortunes. Enter Lightning Wild, a game that is certainly looking to light the way for Novamatic, if you pardon the pun.

Featuring 5 reels, 3 rows, 20 paylines and a lot of the same features found in other Novomatic games, is Lightning Wild really going to give this developer the shot in the arm it needs? Sadly we think not and here’s why with we think that’s the case.

Like a Bolt from the Blue

Every online slot game of today includes a theme, or at least they should, sadly in the case of Lightning wild, the a theme (or even a sense of direction) is lacking. We aren’t kidding either; this game offers absolutely nothing on the design front, as it is more or less flat across the board. The backdrop appears to be a neon light of some description weaving through the night sky, but where it doesn’t appear to be reminiscent of lightning, we aren’t quite sure of its point.

The theme of this game is drab at the best of the times, with the symbols used certainly not helping matters. While we understand that this is a game with “classic” intentions, the lack of imagination is pretty clear. Lemons, stars, watermelons, oranges, and more are featured in the game, with each symbol seemingly being as boring as the last. All in all, very few players will find that this game’s visuals spark his or her interest enough to give it more than a second look.

Desperately out of Its Depth

From a gameplay standpoint, this game has beginner/starter release written all over it, with than not being a positive in this instance. Split across 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines, this slot game features a clear lack of depth that really does hurt its playability. In terms of its variance, Lightning Wild qualifies as a medium to high variance release.

Getting the Job Done

The core details of Lightning Wild are far from impressive, but if you’re a fan of classic slot games you could argue that they do enough to get the job done. Helping give this game some form of value. A treasure trove of extras isn’t, but at least the game does feature a wild symbol, a gamble round, and a free spins feature. You probably won’t need too many guesses to figure out how the wild symbol functions, as it will lead you to an easy as pie payout.

The main bonus feature is the free spins round, which is unlocked via the star scatter symbol. Land three stars and you’ll immediately double your stake, land four and you’ll boost your wager 40x, while if you’re really lucky and find 5 you’ll be cashing out with 500x your base line bet. If anything makes Lightning Wild playable its probably the fact that it has the power to payout big in certain circumstances.

More of the Same

In its controls Lightning Wild doesn’t spring any surprises, as Novomatic have kept with the tried and tested approach of previous titles. This means that the game is simple to navigate and generally easy to control. Just use the “+” and “-“ icons to adjust your bet, hit the big spin button, and watch the reels roll.

Lightning Wild Is Clearly Lacking!

Novomatic is an online casino software developer that is in dire need of a win, as its games have lacked any real purpose lately. Sadly, Lightning Wild isn’t the smash hit that this developer has been waiting for, as we found it to be severely lacking as a real money slots release.

Even as a classically styled online slots game it just doesn’t make the grade, so (much like us) players may want to place it on the “one to miss” list.