PRAGMATIC PLAY
Of all the adrenaline-pumping rodeo sports out there today, bull riding stands out as one of the most spectacular. Few would dare to share a pen with those snorting behemoths, yet brave riders strap themselves on and aim to last a heart-pounding 8 seconds without getting bucked off. Some of those bulls can really put up a fight, and it takes a special kind of courage to even consider riding one. Similarly, it takes a particular kind of thrill-seeker to dive into Black Bull, an online slot from software developer Pragmatic Play. This game transports players to the rugged American wilderness, teeming with wild animals, picturesque landscapes, and an exciting money symbol collection feature.
If you've ever tried your hand at Pragmatic Play's slot Treasure Wild, then you'll find yourself right at home with the features and mechanics of Black Bull, as they're more or less the same. Thematically, Black Bull embodies the spirit of the Wild West, with vast prairies stretching as far as the eye can see. If you're familiar with games like Wolf Gold, you'll feel right at home with Black Bull's setting. The game features a 5-reel, 4-row, 20-payline grid set against the backdrop of a sprawling prairie or desert landscape, where birds call out and the sky blazes with the colors of sunrise or sunset. It's all fairly conventional stuff, but what really sets the mood in Black Bull is its lively, rock-infused soundtrack that adds an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.
Riding a bucking bull is undoubtedly an experience filled with volatility, much like the Black Bull slot from Pragmatic Play, which earns a 4 out of 5 rating in terms of volatility. The game's RTP varies, with a maximum default value of 96.51% and a minimum of 94.24%, depending on the market. Players can choose stakes ranging from 20 pence/cents to $/€100, and they can enjoy the adrenaline rush on any device they prefer.
One of the standout features of Black Bull is its money symbol collection mechanic, which becomes even more thrilling during free spins thanks to a progressive element. Until then, players can also earn coins by landing line wins consisting of three to five matching symbols. All pay symbols reward on adjacent reels, from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel. The lower-paying symbols include Jack to Ace card royals, which pay out 2 times the bet for landing a five-of-a-kind win. Moving up the ladder, players will encounter lizards, a horned creature, an eagle, a wolf, and the black bull, which is the most valuable symbol in the game. Landing a five-of-a-kind premium win can result in a payout of 4 to 25 times the stake.
In Black Bull, two key symbols players should keep an eye out for are the wild symbol and the money symbol. When money symbols land on the reels, they display a random value ranging from 0.5 to 50 times the total bet. Whenever wild symbols appear on the reels simultaneously with money symbols, each wild symbol collects the value displayed on every money symbol in view. Additionally, wild symbols can substitute for all regular pay symbols and hold the same value as the black bull premium symbol when forming winning combinations.
During the Free Spins feature, the number of money symbols that land determines the number of free spins awarded. Landing 6 to 11 money symbols grants 6 free spins, while 12 to 17 money symbols award 8 free spins. If players are lucky enough to land 18 to 20 money symbols, they'll trigger 10 free spins. Before the Free Spins round begins, the values displayed on the triggering money symbols are collected and stored as the starting value for the progressive feature within the bonus round.
Throughout the Free Spins round, each money symbol that lands adds its value to the collected amount. Furthermore, whenever wild symbols land, they award the current collected value. Additionally, for every set of 6 money symbols that land during the bonus round, players receive an additional 2 free spins.
For players who prefer not to wait for 6 or more money symbols to land naturally, there's the option to buy free spins. This feature allows players to purchase free spins for a cost equivalent to 75 times the stake. It's worth noting that the RTP when buying free spins increases to 96.69%.
Feature | Black Bull | Wild West Bull | Raging Bull Rush | Bullion Bonanza |
---|---|---|---|---|
Description | Western-themed slot | Western-themed slot | Western-themed slot | Western-themed slot |
RTP | 96.4% | 95.8% | 95.6% | 96.0% |
Volatility | Medium | Medium-high | Medium | High |
Welcome to the rugged wilderness, where untamed creatures roam and fortunes await. “Black Bull,” the latest creation by Pragmatic Play, invites players to step into the heart of the ranch. In this blog post, we’ll explore the game design, mechanics, and features that make “Black Bull” a thrilling addition to the world of online slots.
The ranch comes alive in “Black Bull.” The sun-kissed plains, cacti, and majestic bulls set the stage for an adrenaline-fueled adventure. Pragmatic Play’s attention to detail shines through in the well-crafted symbols, rustic animations, and overall quality. As the reels spin, you’ll encounter eagles, wolves, lizards, and other wildlife, all vying for your attention.
Viewed as a whole, Black Bull represents a significant improvement over Treasure Wild, which fell short in many aspects. Black Bull breathes more life into the gameplay, and not just because of its high-paying animal symbols. While the theme may be clichéd, it has been executed well, as expected from Pragmatic Play's expertise in designing slots set in the North American outdoors. Visually, it hits the mark, but it's the music that truly elevates the game. Close your eyes, and you can almost smell steaks sizzling on a BBQ, hear a neighbor tossing out cans of root beer from an icebox, witness fireworks exploding in the distance, all while Old Glory flutters in a warm July breeze. It's a quintessential American scene, and the game captures it perfectly.
However, if you mute the game, Black Bull loses some of its luster, as its gameplay isn't particularly strong. While the base game follows a standard money symbol collection formula, things can heat up during free spins, thanks to the progressive aspect. It's intriguing to have a decent amount of money sitting in the pot, waiting to be doled out whenever a wild symbol hits. Like its predecessor, Treasure Wild, Black Bull has a win cap of 4,500 times the bet. However, Black Bull boasts a much more favorable maximum win probability of 1 in 1,140,698.
Compared to much of the competition, these odds are quite reasonable. Additionally, Black Bull's other statistics, such as RTP, are solid. When you add in the catchy tunes and appealing visuals, there's a certain level of entertainment value for the right audience here. Pragmatic Play has put the features to better use this time around, and Black Bull might appeal to players seeking an alternative to Big Bass Bonanza or those who have had their fill of fish-themed slots.