The enigmatic Kraken has become a familiar presence, and few game developers have encountered these mythical sea creatures quite as frequently as Pragmatic Play. This prominent studio has crafted a mini-series dedicated to the Kraken, featuring titles like “Release the Kraken” and “Release the Kraken 2.” Today, we embark on a thrilling journey into the world of “Sky Bounty.” While this game may not be a direct sequel, it echoes the Kraken theme with tentacled creatures and the word ‘Kraken’ in its title. All three games also share a fascination with wild-related features, and Sky Bounty is no exception. So, if you’re ready to take to the skies and explore this captivating release, let’s delve into the depths of the game’s features and intricacies.
Krakens in the Skies: A Unique Twist
You might be wondering, “Aren’t Krakens creatures of the sea?” Typically, yes, but the Kraken in this narrative has taken to the skies, commandeering a flying ship to plunder the heavens for treasure. To fully enjoy Sky Bounty, one must suspend disbelief momentarily and embrace this imaginative twist on the Kraken mythos. Sailing through the skies aboard a tentacled pirate ship provides a refreshing departure from the usual underwater settings. It’s worth noting that Pragmatic Play, while introducing a fascinating concept, seems to have stopped short of fully exploring the potential of this captivating theme.
A Unconventional Grid
Sky Bounty’s grid structure is also unique, consisting of 6 reels and 6 rows of symbols. Unlike cluster pay or pay-anywhere slots, it offers 50 fixed paylines for evaluating wins. A deeper examination of the game reveals a highly volatile mathematical model with varying RTP values. The default RTP is 96.05% for regular betting, 96.06% with the Ante Bet enabled, and 96.07% when purchasing free spins. Players can choose a base bet ranging from 25 pence/cents to £/€250, depending on their preferred method.
Symbols and Payouts
The game features seven differently colored and shaped gemstones as lower-paying symbols, while higher-value picture symbols include a bottle of rum, a ship’s wheel, a cannon, and crossed swords. Landing a 6-of-a-kind low-paying combination yields a payout of 2 to 3 times the bet, whereas high-paying symbols can deliver wins ranging from 6 to 20 times the bet. Wilds play a significant role in Sky Bounty, particularly during the bonus game. They can appear on any reel, substituting for any paying symbol and awarding up to 20 times the stake for a six-wild combination.
Sky Bounty’s Exciting Features
Sky Bounty elevates the base game experience by introducing a Random Expanding Wild feature, which is also utilized in the free spins round. Here’s how it works:
Random Expanding Wild Feature
This feature can trigger randomly in the base game. When activated, a frame of 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, or 6×6 appears over random symbols. If a wild symbol lands within the frame on that spin, it expands to match the frame’s size. If multiple wilds land within the frame, the expanded wild is assigned a multiplier equal to the number of wilds present. This multiplier applies to all wins involving the expanded wild.
Free Spins
Triggered by landing at least three scatter symbols, Sky Bounty’s free spins round grants six free spins. During free spins, a frame remains on the grid, shifting positions between each spin. It initially measures 2×2, with any wilds within it expanding, just like in the base game. Collecting scatter symbols is crucial in the free spins round. Accumulating three scatter symbols increases the frame size to 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, and finally 6×6, awarding an additional two free spins with each size increment. After the fourth increment, scatter symbols no longer appear on the reels. If the feature is triggered with four, five, or six scatter symbols, it begins with one, two, or three scatter symbols collected, respectively.
Ante Bet & Buy Free Spins
Activating the Ante Bet option adds more scatter symbols to the reels but raises the stake by 20%. Players can also purchase free spins for 100 times the bet, with the bought free spins requiring 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols to initiate the feature.
A Satisfactory Gaming Experience
In summary, Sky Bounty delivers a satisfying gaming experience that encompasses many of the pros and cons commonly associated with Pragmatic Play’s releases. While the overall impression is positive, there’s a lingering sense that with a bit more development time and creative exploration, Sky Bounty could have ascended from merely above-average to something truly exceptional. Despite this, Pragmatic Play continues to release games at an astonishing pace, even if only a few of them achieve classic status.
While quantity may be Pragmatic Play’s forte, the quality of their games remains remarkably high. Sky Bounty is a prime example, featuring innovative concepts such as skyfaring Krakens and mesmerizing gameplay elements. The Random Expanding Wild feature, in particular, showcases the studio’s commitment to innovation. It introduces an intriguing symbiotic relationship between bonus symbol collection and frame expansion, offering players the chance to land massive wild symbols, potentially covering the entire screen and accompanied by multipliers. This feature also helps balance the unconventional reel and payline setup while offering a winning potential of up to 5,000 times the bet, making it Sky Bounty’s win cap.
Final Thoughts
Sky Bounty possesses numerous commendable qualities, but it follows a recurring pattern in Pragmatic Play’s slots. It brings players to the brink of an exciting gaming experience, only to leave them yearning for more. While this trait can be desirable in storytelling, it occasionally leaves slot enthusiasts craving a more fulfilling gaming experience. Despite this, Sky Bounty remains a captivating Kraken-themed game with the potential for additional refinement.
FAQs
What is the theme of Pragmatic Play’s Sky Bounty slot?
Sky Bounty features a unique theme where the Kraken, typically associated with the sea, takes to the skies in a quest for treasure on a flying pirate ship.
How is Sky Bounty’s grid set up?
The game’s grid consists of 6 reels and 6 rows, offering 50 fixed paylines for evaluating wins.
What are the RTP values for Sky Bounty?
Sky Bounty has different RTP values depending on the play mode: 96.05% for regular betting, 96.06% with the Ante Bet, and 96.07% when buying free spins.
What are the low-paying and high-paying symbols in Sky Bounty?
Low-paying symbols in the game include variously colored gemstones, while high-paying symbols include a bottle of rum, a ship’s wheel, a cannon, and crossed swords.
How do wilds function in Sky Bounty?
Wilds in Sky Bounty can land on any reel and substitute for any paying symbol. They can award up to 20 times the stake for a six-wild combination.
What is the Random Expanding Wild feature in Sky Bounty?
The Random Expanding Wild feature randomly triggers in the base game, creating a frame of 2×2 to 6×6 over random symbols. If a wild symbol lands within the frame, it expands and may receive a multiplier based on the number of wilds within the frame.
How are free spins triggered in Sky Bounty?
Free spins in Sky Bounty are activated when at least three scatter symbols land on the reels, granting six free spins.
What is the Ante Bet feature in Sky Bounty?
The Ante Bet feature increases the stake by 20% and adds more scatter symbols to the reels, enhancing the chances of triggering the free spins feature.
Can players purchase free spins in Sky Bounty?
Yes, players have the option to buy free spins for 100 times the bet, with the number of scatter symbols required to trigger the feature determined by the purchase.
What is the maximum win potential in Sky Bounty?
Sky Bounty’s maximum win potential is up to 5,000 times the bet, serving as the game’s win cap.