The word ‘Sakura’ is the anglicized version of the Japanese word for ‘cherry blossom’. Every year across Japan, cherry blossom trees explode with color and millions of people visit Sakura groves to sit beneath the blossoms and enjoy the view.
Interestingly, in Japanese culture, cherry blossoms represent the passage of time and the brevity of life and beauty, a concept also described as ‘mono no aware’. In this way, cherry blossoms are similar to how Western cultures use skulls, skeletons and hourglasses to demonstrate the passage of time.
Sakura Fortune II is, as you might expect, the second iteration of the Sakura Fortune game from Quickspin. Sakura Fortune II was launched in 2021 and is one of the newer games available on Quickspin’s list of premium game titles.
Gamers who have played the Sakura Fortune slot game will recognize the aesthetic and soundscape along with some of the symbols and bonuses. However, the game has been improved overall and has really been finetuned and taken to the next level. It is hard to imagine someone having the option to play both versions and not choosing the latest iteration.
The soundscape of the game is very peaceful and clearly inspired by the sounds which you might experience in a Zen Garden. The background depicts what appears to be the entrance of a Shinto temple surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees.
While there is nothing truly unique about the Sakura Fortune II features, there are more than enough to keep avid gamers occupied. Some of the features are unavailable in specific countries, such as the Bonus Buy feature, but the RTP value for all the stakes offered consistently hovers around 96%.
Wilds
During base game play, the Sakura Wild Respins will keep gamblers going, but it is possible to win larger payouts due to the impressive 576 paylines. Due to the interesting 3-4-4-3 setup of the reels and rows, there are a number of different results which are somewhat surprising. The Sakura Wild can land on reels two, three and four and can substitute for all regular pay symbols to create winning combinations.
Features
The Fortune Free Spins feature is activated when a player lands three sword scatter symbols on the middle reels only. This triggers the outer reels to spin again and gives the player an opportunity to upgrade the resulting bonus round with a few additional scatter symbols.
There are three primary results from the Fortune Free Spins feature. One result is that there will be three scatters that are triggered, which will award nine free spins, while four scatter symbols will award the player with 10 free spins and one sticky Sakura Wild. Finally, if five scatters are triggered, the player will receive 11 free spins and two sticky Sakura Wild symbols.
The sticky Sakura Wild is particularly useful because it will fill up the entire reel it lands on and cause all subsequent Sakura Wilds which land to be pulled into place and become sticky themselves until the feature has ended. When the three middle reels have been completely filled with sticky Sakura Wilds, the wins are then boosted with a 3x multiplier.
Bonuses
There are a number of different bonuses available to players at different points. Players can gain free spins on Sakura Fortune II more easily than on the previous version of the game and most other online slot games.
Sakura Fortune II VIP Rating
With a high volatility rating, this is certainly not a game for beginners or the faint of heart. However, those who enjoy a slot game with high volatility and a number of fun and interesting features will appreciate Sakura Fortune II.
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The RTP for Sakura Fortune II is 94.11% which is well within the industry average range. That being said, Sakura Fortune II also has an option available for customizable RTP ranges, which some gamers will certainly appreciate.
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There is a free spins mode available on Sakura Fortune II and players can get up to 11 free spins when they have locked in two expanded Sakura Wilds. If a player has three Sakura Wilds locked in place, then all the wins are boosted with a 3x multiplier.
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This is a high volatility game and only gamblers who can handle and prefer high volatility games should try this game out. New gamers who are unsure of their volatility preference are better off starting out with low volatility games and moving on from there.
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There are two different ways in which Sakura Fortune II can be played. The game can be played for real money, and it can be played for free via the demo version. Players who like to try out games before betting real money will appreciate the demo version but, of course, it is not possible to win money from any wins attained on the demo version.
