Animals Strike: Slot Overview
Inspiration for slot games often comes from unique and unexpected sources, and it seems AvatarUX found theirs in South American history when creating Animals Strike. At first glance, the game might appear to be an eclectic mix of animals and a tropical beach, leaving some players puzzled. But thanks to the Internet, unraveling the thematic mystery is just a few clicks away. After a bit of research, Animals Strike reveals itself as a game with a fascinating backstory, paired with exciting features like grid expansions, a global multiplier, symbol upgrades, and free spins.
At first, Animals Strike felt like a thematic enigma. A beach setting, sultry tunes (reminiscent of Nine to Five, perhaps?), and reels populated by animals—what’s the connection? Thankfully, AvatarUX provided a clue: the game is inspired by jogo do bicho, a Brazilian gambling game that dates back to the 19th century. This game originated at the Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden, where visitors could guess which animal was hidden behind a curtain to win prizes. Despite being technically illegal, jogo do bicho remains a cultural phenomenon in Brazil.
With that bit of historical trivia, Animals Strike suddenly makes sense. Its combination of animals, Brazilian roots, and gambling pays homage to this unique tradition, giving the game a meaningful backstory to complement its vibrant visuals and innovative features.
Animals Strike: Gameplay Overview
While the backdrop of Animals Strike exudes a laid-back vibe, the gaming area is a flurry of activity. It features active rows, blocked rows, an additional blocked row exclusive to the bonus game, a symbol upgrade trail, a ways counter, and a win multiplier—all packed into the same screen. At its default 6×3 grid size, the game offers 729 ways to win, but this can expand to an impressive 46,656 ways when the reels are fully unlocked. The slot supports bets ranging from $0.10 to $50 and runs on a medium volatility math model with a 96% RTP. Several bonus buy options are also available to enhance the gameplay experience.
Symbols and Payouts
The symbols in Animals Strike consist of:
- Low-Paying Symbols: 9-A card ranks, awarding 1.6x to 2.4x the bet for six-of-a-kind wins.
- High-Paying Symbols: Six animals—bunny, donkey, crocodile, buffalo, tiger, and lion—paying 3.2x to 8x the bet for six-of-a-kind wins.
Notably, Animals Strike does not include wild symbols. Instead, it utilizes cascading wins, where winning symbols are removed from the grid, and new symbols drop down to fill the gaps. This process continues as long as new winning combinations are formed.
With its dynamic grid expansions, cascading wins, and multiple bonus features, Animals Strike creates a bustling and engaging slot experience, perfect for players who enjoy layered mechanics and evolving gameplay.
Animals Strike: Features Overview
Animals Strike delivers an action-packed gameplay experience, featuring grid expansions, a persistent bonus round with upgraded symbols and a win multiplier, a gamble feature, and multiple bonus buy options.
Grid Unlock
The base game starts with a 6×3 grid, which can expand to 6×5 by unlocking section blockers at the bottom.
- Unlocking Mechanics:
- Each cascade on a winning spin unlocks a blocked section, progressing from right to left, top to bottom.
- Unlocked sections may reveal rewards, such as multipliers and High Symbol Upgrades.
- Multiplier Rewards:
- Multiplier values from section blockers are added to the global multiplier, which starts at x1 and resets between base game spins.
- Individual multipliers can reach up to +20 in the base game.
High Symbol Upgrade
High Symbol Upgrades can enhance gameplay by removing lower-value high symbols:
- Base Game:
- Upgrades can trigger randomly on any spin, removing 1 to 5 high symbols from the reels.
- Only unremoved high symbols are allowed to land.
- Triggering from Section Blockers:
- Unlocking a section blocker with an Upgrade symbol triggers a High Symbol Upgrade.
- High symbols are removed in ascending order of value.
- Bonus Round:
- High Symbol Upgrades are persistent, carrying over between spins.
Bonus Round (Free Spins)
Landing 3 scatter symbols triggers the free spins bonus round:
- Expanded Grid:
- The 6th row is unlocked, expanding the grid to a 6×6 size.
- Fully unlocking the grid grants +2 additional free spins.
- Persistent Multiplier:
- The global multiplier does not reset between spins.
- Multipliers from section blockers can go up to +25.
Gamble Wheel
Before starting the bonus round, players can gamble for more free spins:
- Starting Spins: Players begin with 6 free spins.
- Gamble Rewards:
- Winning the first gamble increases spins to 9.
- Winning the second gamble boosts spins to 12.
- A golden field on the wheel offers a chance to win up to 15 free spins on the second gamble.
- Risk: Losing the gamble returns players to the base game.
Xpress Bonus Buys
Players can use the Xpress feature to purchase specific game states:
- Loaded Up: All section blockers contain rewards for 5x the bet.
- Gamble Wheel: Spin the gamble wheel for up to 15 free spins for 60x the bet.
- Bonus: Start with 6 free spins for 60x the bet.
- Bonus Max: Jump straight to 15 free spins for 500x the bet.
Animals Strike combines dynamic grid mechanics, cascading wins, and progressive features to create an engaging slot experience. With its persistent bonuses and customizable options, it appeals to players who enjoy strategic gameplay and big-win potential.
Animals Strike: Slot Verdict
They say knowledge is power, but it can also enrich our lives in unexpected ways. Whether it’s learning about family history, local culture, or the lore of your favorite game, understanding adds depth and appreciation. This sentiment applies to Animals Strike, which initially felt a bit disjointed. The combination of animals on the reels and a hip beach setting seemed like two unrelated concepts awkwardly mashed together. However, discovering its connection to jogo do bicho—a Brazilian gambling tradition—helped tie the theme together. What first felt like a playful troll by AvatarUX transformed into an educational nod to history, making the game feel more meaningful.
That said, even with this newfound context, Animals Strike didn’t deliver overwhelming entertainment. The game had a slightly clunky rhythm that’s hard to define—a contrast to the fast-paced fluidity often seen in AvatarUX’s PopWins slots. The constrained starting grid may have contributed to this feeling. However, the gameplay picks up when section blockers are removed, revealing multipliers or symbol upgrades, and it truly comes alive during the bonus round, where persistent features like multipliers and upgraded symbols amplify the action.
Still, the fact that section blockers aren’t always permanently removed can be a slight letdown, as removing them is how features are unlocked. That said, once the free spins begin, the potential for a big multiplier combined with reduced high-pay symbols can create genuinely exciting moments.
In the end, Animals Strike is an intriguing slot with interconnected features, solid mechanics, and a respectable winning potential of up to 10,000x the bet. While it may not have the instant allure of some of AvatarUX’s other titles, it’s a game that rewards those who take the time to engage with its theme and mechanics. For players willing to dive in, there’s plenty to appreciate, even if it takes a bit more effort to fall for.