Invaders Takeover: Slot Overview
“Invaders Takeover,” the latest online slot from game provider Light & Wonder, might not be a groundbreaking release, especially following their notable slot “300 Shields Mighty Ways.” It appears to be a reskinned version of the moderately successful slot “Wild Outlaws,” which might not make a significant impact in the gaming world.
Set in the vast expanse of space, the game unfolds on the bridge of a spaceship, with a view of a glowing orange planet that varies depending on the screen size. Interestingly, the alien invasion theme doesn’t seem to be centered around Earth this time, allowing players to breathe a sigh of relief or perhaps wonder if this is just a stopover for the extraterrestrials en route to Earth.
While players have the freedom to let their imagination interpret the storyline, the audiovisual aspects of “Invaders Takeover” are somewhat average and might not spark a great deal of imaginative thinking. However, the game does have its moments of excitement, particularly with features like destroying planets to determine the number of free spins awarded and a UFO battle in the bonus round, adding a touch of fun to the gameplay. Despite its lack of novelty, “Invaders Takeover” offers a unique space adventure that some players might find enjoyable.
In “Invaders Takeover,” players find themselves in the midst of a space-themed adventure, playing on a 6-reel, 4-row grid matrix that offers 4,096 ways to win instead of traditional paylines. The game is set in the middle of a spaceship’s viewport, enhancing the interstellar experience. Players have the option to choose their stakes, ranging from 20 cents to $/€10 per spin, and they also have the opportunity to engage with additional features like the Premium Play function and the Gamble feature, which add more depth to the gameplay. These features will be explored further in the subsequent section of the review.
The game operates on a highly volatile mathematical model and offers a default Return to Player (RTP) of 96.1%. However, it’s important to note that lower RTP values might be available depending on the market.
As for the pay symbols, the game includes the lower-value 9 to A card ranks, along with higher-value symbols like a cow, an alien, a scientist, and the game’s logo. A win with six matching low-value symbols yields a reward ranging from 0.4 to 1 times the bet. In contrast, landing six premium symbols can pay out between 1.5 to 10 times the bet. Additionally, “Invaders Takeover” features a wild symbol, which appears on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5, and can substitute for any regular pay symbol, enhancing the potential for winning combinations.
Invaders Takeover: Slot Features
“Invaders Takeover” borrows and renames several features from its precursor, “Wild Outlaws,” including the Alien Attack bonus, free spins, Premium Play, and the Gamble extra, adding its own unique spin to these elements.
Alien Attack Bonus: This feature has a chance of being activated when 2 scatter symbols land in either the base game or during free spins. If the onboard computer displays ‘Threat Detected’, the bonus is triggered, turning the scatter symbols into wilds. Additionally, a laser gun transforms other symbols into wilds, potentially creating wilds on both the leftmost and rightmost reels. This bonus adds 3 to 5 wilds to the grid, but it’s important to note that the Alien Attack Bonus and free spins cannot be triggered on the same spin.
Free Spins: Landing 3 or more scatter symbols initiates the free spins round. Each scatter symbol lets players choose one of three planets, which, when selected, explode to reveal the number of free spins awarded. The round features 4 extra reel positions above reels 2 to 5, which are activated when wilds land on these reels. These wilds then move up to the special position for the next spin and remain locked for the duration of the free spins. If multiple wilds are awarded per reel, they display a multiplier indicating the number of locked wilds per reel, and these multipliers can combine for larger wins. Additional free spins can be awarded if 3 or more scatters appear during this round.
Premium Play: Activating Premium Play increases the stake by 50% while maintaining an RTP of 96.1%. This feature triggers the Space Wheel bonus in the base game following a win of more than 1.6x the Premium Play bet. The Space Wheel can award multipliers or free spins. If both the Space Wheel bonus and the Gamble feature are awarded on the same spin, the Space Wheel is played first. Free spins can trigger the Gamble feature, but free spins won via Gamble don’t retrigger the feature.
Gamble: This feature activates when players win 5x the bet or 2.5x the Premium Bet, offering a chance to gamble the win on a wheel with green (win) and red (lose) segments. Players can choose to gamble for free spins entry or a cash value. This adds an element of risk and potential reward to the gameplay, enhancing the overall excitement of the slot.
Invaders Takeover: Slot Verdict
Although “Invaders Takeover” shifts its setting from the Western-themed “Wild Outlaws” to a more intergalactic milieu, the overall impact of the game remains somewhat lukewarm. The slot does possess a certain simplistic cartoon appeal, which might resonate with some players, but its audiovisual quality seems somewhat lackluster, especially when compared to other recent sci-fi/space-themed slots. Titles like “Money Train 4,” “6 In the Chamber,” and “Cygnus 4” have set high standards in this genre, making “Invaders Takeover” appear slightly outdated in contrast.
The features in “Invaders Takeover,” while potentially offering wins up to 14,596x the bet, also don’t quite stir up a high level of excitement. Technically, they are competent, but they lack dynamism compared to other slots in the genre. The optional gamble feature will appeal to those who enjoy an added layer of risk, and the Alien Attack bonus, which simply adds wilds to the reels if a threat is detected, is straightforward yet effective. The free spins feature focuses on stacking wilds with multipliers, which is a decent mechanism but doesn’t necessarily elevate the game to new heights.
“Invaders Takeover” may have benefitted from a more robust and immersive presentation. As it stands, the game gives off a vibe of harking back to an earlier era of gaming, reminiscent of old movies where the special effects were clearly visible and less sophisticated. This retro charm might have its appeal, but in a market where players are accustomed to high-quality graphics and innovative features, “Invaders Takeover” risks being overshadowed by more advanced and visually stunning games.