Hazakura Ways Slot Review – Relax Gaming
Hazakura Ways is an elegant and visually captivating online slot from Relax Gaming, released in 2021. With its serene, nature-inspired theme and innovative Ways to Win mechanic, the game provides an immersive experience for players. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese cherry blossom season (sakura), Hazakura Ways offers a tranquil yet exciting adventure with a blend of simple mechanics and rewarding features.
In this extensive review, we will explore all aspects of Hazakura Ways, from its design and gameplay mechanics to its bonus features, win potential, and overall experience.
Game Overview
- Developer: Relax Gaming
- Release Date: 2021
- Reels/Rows: 6×6 grid
- Ways to Win: 46,656 ways
- RTP: 96.2%
- Volatility: High
- Maximum Win: 20,000x the bet
- Bet Range: €0.10 to €100 per spin
Theme and Visuals
The theme of Hazakura Ways is inspired by the Japanese cherry blossom festival, known as sakura. The game captures the serene beauty of Japan’s iconic springtime tradition, with its soft pink hues, delicate cherry blossoms, and tranquil atmosphere. The 6×6 grid is set against a picturesque backdrop of blooming cherry trees with petals drifting in the wind and distant mountains painted in the soft glow of dusk.
The symbols on the reels are a reflection of this tranquil and nature-filled theme. The lower-paying symbols include traditional A, K, Q, J, and 10 card symbols, designed to fit with the overall aesthetic, while the higher-paying symbols feature lotus flowers, bonsai trees, koi fish, and other items associated with Japanese culture and nature. The wild symbol is a glowing cherry blossom, and the scatter symbol is represented by a sakura flower that plays a crucial role in unlocking bonus features.
The visuals are smooth, with vibrant, high-quality animations that make the game feel immersive. As you spin the reels, you’ll see the cherry blossoms gently sway and petals float across the screen, adding a relaxing touch to the gameplay. The soft traditional Japanese soundtrack featuring koto music further complements the serene vibe, making the game an enjoyable experience both visually and aurally.
Gameplay Mechanics
Hazakura Ways operates on a 6×6 grid with the Ways to Win mechanic, which means players don’t need traditional paylines to win. Instead, wins are formed by landing at least three matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. With 46,656 ways to win, the game offers numerous opportunities for players to form combinations across the reels.
Each spin of the game triggers a Cascading Reels feature. After every winning combination, the symbols involved in the win disappear, and new symbols cascade down to potentially create more winning combinations. This feature can lead to consecutive wins within a single spin, keeping the gameplay dynamic and exciting.
The high volatility of Hazakura Ways means that payouts can be infrequent but potentially substantial when they do happen. This makes it ideal for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay. The RTP of 96.2% is fairly standard, but the volatility adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience, especially for those chasing larger wins.
The betting range varies from €0.10 to €100 per spin, catering to both casual players and high-rollers. This flexibility allows players to choose their preferred bet size, making the game accessible to a wide audience.
Symbols and Payouts
Low-Paying Symbols:
The low-paying symbols in Hazakura Ways are represented by traditional A, K, Q, J, and 10 card symbols, all designed in a simple yet elegant style that fits the overall theme. While these symbols don’t offer large payouts, they appear often enough to provide smaller, frequent wins, helping to keep the action moving.
High-Paying Symbols:
The high-paying symbols include lotus flowers, bonsai trees, koi fish, and other nature-inspired icons. These symbols are designed with a lot of attention to detail and contribute to the overall peaceful, yet rewarding, atmosphere of the game. The lotus flower is the most valuable of the high-paying symbols, offering the highest payouts when landing in clusters.
- Lotus Flower: The highest-paying symbol.
- Bonsai Tree: Offers medium-high payouts.
- Koi Fish: Also a medium-high value symbol.
- Cherry Blossom: Often appears as part of the Wild or Scatter symbol.
Special Symbols:
- Wild Symbol: The Wild symbol is represented by a glowing cherry blossom and can substitute for all other symbols (except for the scatter) to help form winning combinations. The wild is a key element in the game’s strategy, increasing the chances of landing larger clusters of matching symbols.
- Scatter Symbol: The Scatter symbol in Hazakura Ways is represented by a sakura flower, and landing three or more scatter symbols triggers the Free Spins feature, where the game’s winning potential can be maximized.
Special Features
Cascading Reels
Hazakura Ways utilizes the Cascading Reels mechanic, which means that after a winning combination is formed, the winning symbols are removed from the grid, and new symbols cascade down from above to replace them. This can create additional wins in a single spin, as the cascading symbols continue to fall until no new winning combinations are formed. The Cascading Reels feature is central to the game’s dynamic nature and adds a layer of excitement as players hope for more consecutive wins with each cascade.
Free Spins Feature
The Free Spins feature is triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. When this happens, players are awarded 10 free spins, with the potential for more spins if additional Scatters land during the feature. The Free Spins round is where Hazakura Ways can truly shine, as it increases the chances of landing larger clusters of high-paying symbols and wilds, which can significantly boost your payout.
The Free Spins feature also comes with a special twist: during the bonus round, Wilds can appear stacked, and Cascading Reels continue to play out. If new winning combinations are created, the cascading effect can trigger further wins. This can lead to potentially massive payouts during the Free Spins round.
Additionally, during the Free Spins, extra Wilds can be added to the grid, further increasing the chances of hitting big clusters. As the Cascading Reels feature continues, wins can build up rapidly, especially when stacked Wilds and high-value symbols are involved.
Multiplier Feature
While Hazakura Ways doesn’t have an explicit multiplier mechanic, the Cascading Reels feature effectively serves as a multiplier. Each new cascade that leads to a win increases the overall payout for the spin, especially if it results in larger clusters of higher-paying symbols or Wilds. The multiplier effect is not fixed but increases based on the number of consecutive cascades and wins in a single round.
RTP and Volatility
Hazakura Ways has an RTP of 96.2%, which is in line with many other slots but slightly above the average for high-volatility games. The high volatility means that payouts can be less frequent, but when wins do occur, they can be substantial. For players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay, Hazakura Ways offers the potential for big payouts, particularly during the Free Spins feature.
The maximum win of 20,000x your bet is another draw, especially for players chasing big wins. While reaching this payout is certainly difficult, it provides an exciting potential for massive rewards, particularly if you trigger multiple cascades during the Free Spins round with stacked Wilds.
Graphics and Sound Design
The graphics in Hazakura Ways are elegant and stunning, capturing the beauty of the Japanese cherry blossom season. The 6×6 grid design is clean and easy to follow, with vibrant neon pinks, purples, and whites that evoke the softness and delicacy of blooming flowers. The symbols are beautifully designed, featuring intricate details that enhance the game’s aesthetic appeal.
The animations are smooth and soothing, with petals drifting down the screen during cascades and glowing Wilds creating a sense of magic and wonder. Each winning combination feels satisfying, with subtle animations that celebrate the achievement.
The soundtrack features traditional Japanese koto music that provides a relaxing, almost meditative atmosphere. The soft instrumental melodies accompany the gameplay, helping to maintain a calm and serene vibe. When significant wins occur or the Free Spins feature is triggered, the music intensifies slightly, building excitement without detracting from the overall tranquil feel of the game.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Elegant Theme: The Japanese cherry blossom theme is both visually stunning and serene, offering a peaceful yet engaging experience.
- Cascading Reels: The Cascading Reels mechanic keeps the gameplay dynamic and rewarding, with multiple wins potentially occurring during a single spin.
- **Free Spins with Stacked Wild
s**: The Free Spins feature with stacked Wilds and Cascading Reels offers significant win potential and an engaging bonus experience. 4. High Maximum Win: The potential for a 20,000x payout makes the game appealing for players seeking big rewards. 5. Relaxing Sound and Visuals: The soft soundtrack and blooming visuals create a relaxing atmosphere, which contrasts nicely with the high volatility and potential for big wins.
Weaknesses:
- High Volatility: The high volatility may not be suitable for players who prefer more frequent, smaller wins.
- Low RTP: The 96.2% RTP is slightly below the average for high-volatility slots, which could be a deterrent for some players.
- Bonus Features Can Be Rare: The Free Spins feature can be difficult to trigger, requiring three scatter symbols, which may lead to some frustration for players seeking quick rewards.
Conclusion
Hazakura Ways from Relax Gaming is a beautifully designed, high-volatility slot that offers a unique blend of serene visuals, exciting features, and the potential for big wins. The Cascading Reels, Free Spins with stacked Wilds, and 46,656 ways to win make for a highly dynamic gameplay experience, while the peaceful Japanese cherry blossom theme provides a relaxing atmosphere throughout.
If you enjoy slots with high volatility, cluster-pays mechanics, and big win potential, Hazakura Ways is definitely worth exploring. The game’s aesthetic appeal, coupled with its innovative features, makes it a standout title for players who enjoy both the tranquility of the theme and the excitement of high-risk gameplay.