Sakura Wind

Platipus Gaming’s Sakura Wind demonstrates many of the charms of modern slot gaming. This simple five-reel, three-column slot is structured around a lovely Japanese theme, with its name simply translating to ‘cherry blossom Wind.’ The famous pinkish blooms are paired with a handsome set of bonuses to form an enjoyable play experience.

Theme

This serene wind features circling birds of prey and imposing rock cliffs, as cherry blossoms festoon the left border of the reels. Gaming symbols include an older man with a tremendous beard, a younger character wielding a sword, a glamorous courtesan, and kittens, carp, and dragons, rendered in the style of anime; the playing card values ace through ten provide lower-value symbols. A purple and gold wild symbol helps to form winning combinations on reels 2-5, while an imposing samurai mask scatter awards free spins. The soundtrack does its best to invoke traditional Japanese tones with traditional instruments and simple, pentatonic scales. Overall, the bright color palette and smooth gameplay make this slot a pleasure to play.

Betting Options and Functions

In terms of attention to detail in design, this is one of Platipus Gaming’s very best offerings. There are 20 fixed paylines, all paying from left to right only. Bet per line can be set from 0.02–10.00, for an overall per-spin bet range of 0.40–200.00 times the betting currency. Autoplay is available for up to 1000 spins at a time, though players should exercise caution before choosing this option, as there are no optional loss limits available. A menu offers players sound options, paytable information, detailed game info, and hand history. Quick spin is also on offer for players who prefer a faster game tempo. The theoretical RTP sits below the industry average, at 94.96%.

Features

The Platipus design team has gone the extra mile with this slot’s free spin feature. The features is triggered by the appearance of three or more scatter symbols on consecutive reels, which awards 10, 20, or 30 free spins, as well as a cash prize of 5, 10, or 25 total bets.

What’s more, another bonus feature is present that is available on any spin. A stack of any three symbols on the first reel triggers two automatic respins, with all occurrences of the originally stacked symbol (as well as wilds) sticking to the reels. In practice, this feature is designed to increase the chances for massive four- and five-of-a-kind wins across multiple paylines. The downside the only chance to win here is with combinations of the symbol whose stack triggered the respins in the first place.

Our Take

Sakura Wind offers much more than pretty blossoms. Though RTP is not on par with the competition, winning design and excellent bonuses make this title worth a look – it might even be a favorite among players with a love of Japan.