Firebird Spirit

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Firebird Spirit: Slot Overview

Pragmatic Play teams up with Wild Streak Gaming to venture into the wilderness with Firebird Spirit, an online slot that introduces a fresh Connect & Collect feature. While it might seem like a fancy term cooked up by the marketing team to describe a hold 'n win type event, it's actually quite distinct. Let's delve into this and everything else Firebird Spirit brings to the table in this review, if you're up for exploring the wild with us.

Firstly, it's safe to assume that Firebird Spirit follows an Aztec or Mayan theme. Given that Wild Streak Gaming has already dabbled in Mayan culture with their Mayan Ruby slot, let's lean toward an Aztec theme this time. The game certainly looks the part, featuring a 6-reel active panel adorned with vines and encased by intricately carved stonework, with what appears to be a step pyramid looming in the background. Adjacent to the grid stands a female character, possibly a priestess, queen, or warrior, clutching a radiant orb. While the visuals may not be overwhelmingly atmospheric, they serve their purpose adequately.

In Firebird Spirit, the game features 6 reels, with regular symbols landing on the first five reels and special symbols reserved exclusively for the sixth reel. Regarding regular wins, reels 1, 2, 4, and 5 accommodate five symbols each, while three pay symbols can appear on reel 3. This setup provides players with 1,875 ways to win, triggered when three to five matching pay symbols align on consecutive reels starting from the first reel. Rated as highly volatile (with a 5 out of 5 rating), Firebird Spirit offers three RTP models – 94%, 95%, and 95%, with the highest level maintaining consistency even when purchasing free spins.

Players can place bets ranging from 25 p/c to $/€125 per spin. The game features a total of ten regular pay symbols, consisting of 6 lower-paying symbols represented by the 9-A card ranks, offering payouts of 0.2 to 0.32 times the stake for a five-of-a-kind win. The premiums include three jeweled animals and a female character, with a five-of-a-kind premium win awarding 0.4-2 times the stake. The Firebird symbol acts as the wild symbol, appearing on the first five reels during both the base and bonus games. Wilds substitute for all symbols except the Connect & Collect tile.

Firebird Spirit: Slot Features

The Connect & Collect symbols can land on reels 1-5 in any non-special positions, with special positions being the top and bottom cells on the third reel. When Connect & Collect symbols land consecutively from the first reel onwards, touching vertically or adjacently, and connecting to a symbol on the sixth reel or the special positions, they trigger various rewards. Here's what the symbols on the sixth reel or the special positions can offer:

1. Quick Collect – This symbol can land on the special cells on reel 3. When it appears, Connect & Collect symbols are added to reels 4 and 5, connecting to a prize on reel 6.
2. Respin – Also landing on the special cells on reel 3, this symbol awards five respins where any Connect & Collect symbols that hit become sticky. Once the respins end, any connections are awarded.
3. Money Value – These symbols offer prize values ranging from 2x to 800x the bet.
4. Minor, Major, or Grand prizes – These symbols award 50x, 200x, or 4,000x the bet, respectively.
5. Add Wilds – This symbol adds wild symbols randomly on reels 2, 3, 4, or 5.
6. Free Spins – This symbol awards 2x the bet plus 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, or 25 free spins.

During the Free Spins round, the Connect & Collect feature remains active with similar rules to the base game. However, there's a difference: reels 1 and 2 synchronize their symbols, as do reels 4 and 5 when they stop. Additional free spins can be won by connecting with the free spins symbol, and eligible players can also purchase free spins for 100x the total bet.

Comparison with Other Games

Game Design of Firebird Spirit

“Firebird Spirit” invites players to navigate treacherous waters, explore sunken ships, and seek out legendary loot. The game features captivating visuals, immersive soundscapes, and exciting gameplay. But what lies beneath the waves? Let’s uncover the game’s design and features.

Visuals and Atmosphere

• Caribbean Vibes: The backdrop transports players to the sun-kissed Caribbean seas, where azure waters meet rugged coastlines. Palm trees sway, and distant islands beckon. The game’s design captures the essence of adventure and danger.
• Symbols: Expect to encounter classic pirate imagery—skeletons, cutlasses, doubloons, and treasure maps—all rendered with attention to detail.

Game Mechanics

• Grid Structure: “Firebird Spirit” features a 5-reel, 4-row layout with 20 fixed paylines. Winning combinations form when matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right.
• Symbol Hierarchy: The game includes J-A card royals as lower-paying symbols, while thematic symbols like bombs, anchors, parrots, and fierce pirates offer higher payouts.
• Wilds: The grinning skull in a pirate hat serves as the wild symbol, substituting for all regular pay symbols except the bonus symbol. Wilds can also form winning lines on their own.

Firebird Spirit: Slot Verdict

Pragmatic Play's partner, Wild Streak Gaming, has shown a penchant for the hold 'n win style of gameplay in several past releases, such as Cosmic Cash, Gold Party, and Amazing Money Machine. Therefore, it was refreshing to see the studio take a different direction with Firebird Spirit. Admittedly, it felt a bit intricate initially, especially with the special positions on reel 3 disrupting the usual flow of gameplay. However, this setup allows for certain special symbols to be triggered from the middle of the grid, rather than requiring a chain of Connect & Collect symbols all the way to reel six.

Overall, the Connect & Collect feature functioned reasonably well. It was commendable to see Wild Streak Gaming take risks and try something new. There were moments when Connect & Collect symbols snaked their way across the board, leading to exciting outcomes. While cash prizes could potentially be substantial, reaching one of the larger ones might prove challenging. With a maximum win capped at 4,250 times the bet, the game manages to maintain a sense of control. Additionally, the inclusion of various non-cash special symbols was a positive addition, even if they weren't overly frequent.

In conclusion, Firebird Spirit provided an enjoyable gaming experience, offering an unconventional combination of features. However, it's possible that the gameplay could have had a more significant impact if paired with a more distinct theme. Nonetheless, it's evident that originality was prioritized in the creation of Firebird Spirit. While it may not inspire a strong urge to play again for everyone, there are elements within the game that could certainly ignite the interest of the right player.