Explainer
Aloha! Cluster Pays: Substitution Symbols and Symbol Drop
The short answer
Aloha! Cluster Pays uses connected symbol groups, substitution symbols and a free-spin feature with Symbol Drop. Three to six Free Spin symbols initially award nine to twelve spins. During the feature, Symbol Drop removes lower-paying symbols from the set, changing which symbols remain available for subsequent spins.
In this article
Aloha Cluster Pays and substitution symbols
The NetEnt rules summary describes a six-by-five grid. A substitution symbol transforms into an adjacent symbol that forms the highest eligible winning cluster. Its role is therefore tied to neighboring groups and the completed evaluation of the grid.
For a useful sketch, mark groups by symbol letter and circle the substitution position. The question is which neighboring group the game identifies when resolving that screen. Reading the highlighted cluster is more informative than assuming the substitution always copies the symbol with the highest standalone paytable value.
Free-spin entry and additional spins
| Entry symbols | Initial free spins |
|---|---|
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 10 |
| 5 | 11 |
| 6 | 12 |
NetEnt also specifies additional-spin allocations during the feature. The entry and retrigger tables serve different moments, so use the heading on the current help screen when reading a counter increase. That small distinction explains why an entry of three symbols and a later appearance of three symbols can change the counter by different amounts.
To document a sequence, write down the initial allocation, spins used and each additional allocation. An illustrative entry of nine, with three used and one subsequently added, leaves seven. You have then recorded ten spins granted and three used, rather than changing the original entry value.
What Symbol Drop changes
The provider describes removal of lower-paying symbols during free spins. That changes the set of symbols participating in subsequent screens. When reviewing a demonstration, note which symbol is removed and which remain in the information display.
This is a different kind of change from a multiplier. A multiplier applies a factor to an eligible award; Symbol Drop changes a symbol-set condition within the feature. Recording the two concepts in separate columns is useful when comparing Aloha with a title built around growing factors.
A worked example of award units
Imagine a hypothetical completed round credits $4.80 from a $0.30 wager. Its award equals sixteen times the wager. If the display showed several clusters during the sequence, the final credit remains the reference for that round’s full award.
For a more detailed account, list the labeled component awards and check whether the displayed total is cumulative. This example explains accounting only; the chosen dollar values are illustrative and do not describe a typical Aloha result.
Quick questions
Does a substitution symbol replace a Free Spin symbol? NetEnt expressly excludes Free Spin symbols from its substitution role. Is the remaining symbol set the same as a cash award? It describes the feature’s state; the resulting winning clusters and paytable establish the credited amount.
Continue with scatter and Wild symbols for special-symbol roles, or slot payout versus net result for consistently labeled award calculations.
