Crystal Sun – Some Background Information

First launched under the name Starblast, the original Crystal Sun looked so much like Starburst that NetEnt chose to issue Play’n GO a cease and desist, which we later covered in a follow-up piece. As a result, Starblast was removed from the upcoming release schedule and then vanished without leaving any trace. Neither NetEnt nor Play’n GO have released any official comments about the situation, but we know for certain that Play’n GO backed off because NetEnt applied pressure.

Roughly 3 weeks later, Starblast has resurfaced with the new title Crystal Sun, and the stars have been swapped for planets. The features and math model are identical—only the symbols and the logo were changed. If you want to see what the first version looked like, we’ve included images of the base game and the free spins feature. There’s also a video of Starblast.

Crystal Sun (Play’n GO): Review

Crystal Sun is essentially Play’n GO’s response to NetEnt’s legendary blockbuster Starburst. Released in 2012, Starburst is still among the most played online slots available, partly because it has served as the go-to free spins slot at countless casinos. That said, as one reader noted in the comments, Starburst itself closely resembles Novomatic’s Power Stars from 2008—so NetEnt can’t exactly claim they invented the concept.

The core setup is the same: 5 reels, 3 rows and 10 paylines that pay both ways. Bets begin at 0.10 and can go as high as 100 Eur per spin. It’s delivered to casinos with a default RTP of 96.6%, though it can be reduced to 94.5% to help cover the costs tied to operating in regulated jurisdictions.

The theme is deep space, with interstellar dust clouds (Nebulae, as they’re commonly called), planets, and stars filling the background. There’s also a Moon Princess-style storyline layered on top, calling out “Double Respin” and other key moments. On the reels, five differently coloured planets make up most of the symbols. You’ll also see lucky 7’s and diamonds, with diamonds being the top payer at 16 times your stake for 5 across a full payline. The wild is a star and it can land as a x1, x2, and x3 multiplier wild.

Crystal Sun (Play’n GO): Features

Crystal Sun keeps things straightforward. The main focus is the wilds, which only appear on the three middle reels. When a wild lands, it expands to cover the entire reel and triggers a Respin, with that wild reel staying locked for the re-spin.

If another wild lands during the Respin, it also expands and locks, and another Respin is awarded with two wild reels held in place. Altogether, you can end up with 3 fully stacked wild reels with combined multipliers reaching x9, which can ultimately lead to a maximum win of 4000 times your stake.

Crystal Sun (Play’n GO): Verdict

Info: we have decided to stick to our original verdict of the game.

It has to be said: Play’n GO showed serious nerve releasing such an obvious Starburst lookalike, and they hardly even changed the name. We’re not lawyers, but if this doesn’t look like trademark infringement, it’s hard to see what would.

Ethically, it’s clearly debatable, even in an industry with a long tradition of “borrowing” ideas. Still, most players won’t care—and as much as we hate to admit it, Crystal Sun is actually the stronger game. In many ways, it’s what Starburst arguably should have been. NetEnt’s original wins on visuals, but the higher win potential alone makes Crystal Sun a much more tempting slot to play.