Buffalo Rising Megaways
It’s always somewhat strange when slot games distance themselves from the traditional themes that are usually associated with the genre - whether it be Las Vegas or some kind of popular TV show. Alas, when it does happen, there’s always the chance for something distinctly unique to rise up and make an impact in this line of gaming: and today, we’re going to take a look at how Megaways’ Buffalo Rising attempts to do just that.
Screenshots
Graphics
Sound
Entertainment
Bonus rounds
Set out in the gorgeous North American wilderness, BR explores the tradition of these herds travelling across great distances with one another in search of new beginnings.
Beyond the concept, though, we want to find out if it’s a legitimately positive step in the right direction for Megaways.
Game Details
As the sun sits delicately in the backdrop, which is positioned against the back of the Grand Canyon, players are invited to explore this gorgeous world that could so easily be confused for the beauty of the African plains. The gameplay keeps up a solid pace and moves along nicely from spin to spin, with the graphics alone being enough of a reason to keep on plugging away.
There are six reels to be found across the entire board which is actually set up quite nicely, mainly because you aren’t destined to the same number of symbols popping up on the reels every single time. That’s because the symbols sometimes split up into smaller sub-symbols, and with the middle four reels having an extra spot at the top of the board, you can’t argue against the idea that Buffalo Rising likes to mix things up.
You aren’t likely to get bored in a hurry with a game like this, either, as there are an unbelievable 117,649 ways to win.
RTP & Payouts
If you want to get a rough idea of what sort of experience you’re going to get with any given slot, having a quick check of the RTP is always a good step in the right direction. When it comes to Buffalo Rising, the actual figure varies depending on the source – but it is believed to be situated between 96.43% and 97.01%. By all accounts, this is viewed as a pretty decent figure, and it’s above the industry average – which goes hand in hand with the volatility which is estimated to be between medium and high.
The entertainment value from this slot starts off with a generous minimum stake of 0.10, with a somewhat surprisingly low maximum of 10. Then again, it may not seem so low when you measure the maximum winnings, which is believed to be 10,000x your initial stake or 250,000 coins – so don’t give up, because one lucky spin could be all it takes to change your life.
Symbols
The steady beat of The Lion King-esque soundtrack gives us life, and it adds an underlying sense of adventure to an already impressive slot. The design of the layout really has been done well, and while you’ll have to search for the true elements of North American culture, they’re certainly there hidden beneath the surface.
The standard playcards are on display from 9 all the way through to the almighty ace, before we move on to some of the more intimidating symbols aka animals that you could be likely to come across if you visit Colorado anytime soon. Those are the elks, wolves and brown bears, and of course, the buffalo.
Bonus Game & Jackpot
Without any high quality bonus games to enjoy, a seemingly world class slot can easily fall down the ladder of success quicker than most of us realise. Thankfully for BR, they’ve got a few tricks up their sleeve to keep us occupied.
There is a mystery symbol feature that has the potential to be very profitable for the punters, and that symbol is the landscape scene of a mountain range. When this symbol hits it can transform other symbols that are next to it – including the wild, but not the scatter. After a winner connects a chain reaction takes place with successful symbols being blasted away, inviting new symbols to come in their place for as long as a winning combination is formed.
The wild is a golden buffalo whereas the diamond is a rare scatter, and if you can land four or more of these on the same spin, the Free Spins feature will be triggered. A handful of combinations will then be offered, and those selections are as follows – with the multplier going up by one after every symbol drop reaction triumph.
- 15 free spins with a multiplier beginning at 1x
- 10 free spins with a multiplier beginning at 5x
- 5 free spins with a multiplier starting at 10x
The jackpot isn’t progressive, but there’s still a whole lot to like from what we’ve already laid out.
Mobile Compatibility
The game is played under the HTML5 format and can therefore transition over to any and all mobile or tablet devices. Some players may not fully appreciate the magnitude of the design work unless you’re able to get a bigger screen, but from our experience, there are no lasting problems with ‘lag’ for those that worry about playing a slot that brings on high levels of frustration.
Verdict
Megaways as a provider has a history of being fairly hit or miss with their top products and their not-so-top products, but Buffalo Rising really does showcase the best of the best in regards to what this company is capable of.
With a positive RTP and a whole lot of money on the table to be won, there’s a lot to like about this slot. The design work is strong, a lot of work has gone into the story and everything that comes with it, and there are easily some spinoffs that could stem from this.
They’ve only scratched the surface with BR, and yet whenever we start playing, we find it’s difficult to turn away.
You should play in moderation, but you should also play just to marvel at what they’ve created.