Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action: Slot Overview 

Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action, released on May 27, 2024, is the latest addition to the popular Big Bass Bonanza series developed by Pragmatic Play. With this new installment, players can dive into a fishing-themed adventure packed with exciting features, bonus rounds, and the familiar fish-catching mechanic that fans of the series have come to love. Following in the footsteps of its predecessors, Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action keeps the core gameplay mechanics intact but adds a couple of new twists to keep things fresh and engaging. 

Set in a colorful underwater world, this slot features a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 10 paylines, offering players ample opportunities to land winning combinations. The game’s RTP of 96.50% is competitive, while its medium volatility ensures a balanced blend of smaller frequent wins and the potential for larger payouts. Players can also trigger the lucrative Free Spins feature, which is central to unlocking the slot’s biggest rewards. The game’s max win is capped at 2,100x your stake, giving high rollers something to aim for as they spin the reels. 

Fans of the Big Bass Bonanza series will recognize the familiar mechanics, but Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action includes enhancements like the Ante Bet option and the ability to buy direct access to the Free Spins round, making it a more dynamic experience for players looking for fast-paced action.

Design and Graphics 

The design of Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action stays true to the underwater, fishing-themed aesthetic that defines the series, but with a few upgrades. The backdrop features a vibrant underwater scene where bubbles float gently around the screen, and schools of fish swim lazily in the background. The reels are set within a frame decorated with fishing gear and symbols, adding to the immersive experience. 

The symbols on the reels are a combination of traditional low-paying and high-paying icons, all designed to fit the fishing theme. The low-paying symbols include 10 to Ace card ranks, each designed with aquatic colors and accents. The high-paying symbols are the familiar items from the fishing world, such as fish, tackle boxes, fishing rods, dragonflies, and buoys. These symbols not only reflect the fishing theme but also offer higher payouts. 

The most important symbol in the game is the Fisherman Wild, which plays a central role in the Free Spins feature. During this round, the fisherman collects the values of the fish money symbols, triggering exciting payouts and progressing the game’s bonus features. 

Gameplay Mechanics 

Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action utilizes a 5×3 reel setup with 10 fixed paylines. Players can win by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right across a payline, starting from the leftmost reel. The simplicity of this mechanic keeps the base game accessible, while the real excitement builds around the Free Spins and money collection features. 

One of the standout additions to this installment is the Ante Bet feature, which allows players to increase their stake by 50% in exchange for additional scatter symbols on the reels, thereby improving the chances of triggering the Free Spins round. This gives players more control over their gameplay, especially those who enjoy higher risk for higher reward. 

Sound and Music 

The sound design of Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action perfectly complements its underwater theme. The background music is light and playful, featuring an aquatic-inspired melody that evokes the feel of being out on a calm fishing trip. As you spin the reels, the sound of water bubbling and the occasional splash create an immersive atmosphere that fits the game’s theme well. 

When you hit a winning combination or trigger the Free Spins round, the sound effects shift to more energetic, celebratory tones, enhancing the excitement of big wins. Overall, the sound design is understated yet effective, ensuring that it adds to the game’s enjoyment without becoming overwhelming.

Bonus Features 

The bonus features in Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action are where the game truly shines, and they will be familiar to fans of the Big Bass series. The main feature is the Free Spins round, but players also have access to Money Symbol Collection, Progressive Multipliers, and the option to Buy Free Spins for those eager to skip straight to the action. 

Free Spins 

The Free Spins feature is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols, awarding 10, 15, or 20 free spins respectively. During the free spins round, the Fisherman Wild becomes active and collects the values of any fish money symbols that appear on the reels. If multiple wilds land, each one collects the fish money symbol values independently, significantly boosting the player’s winnings. 

What makes this feature even more exciting is the progressive multiplier mechanic. Each time a Fisherman Wild lands, it is collected on a meter to the side of the reels. Every time you collect 4 wilds, you receive 10 extra free spins and a multiplier boost. The first time this happens, the multiplier increases to 2x, then 3x, and finally 10x for the third retrigger. After the third retrigger, no further multipliers are applied, but players can continue collecting fish money symbols for potentially huge payouts. 

Buy Free Spins

 For players who don’t want to wait for scatter symbols to land naturally, Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action offers a Buy Free Spins option. For 100x your bet, you can purchase instant access to the Free Spins feature, allowing for faster gameplay and a chance to hit the game’s maximum win more quickly. 

Betting Options and Payouts 

Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action caters to a wide range of players with a flexible betting range. The minimum bet is set at €0.10, making the game accessible to casual players, while the maximum bet of €250 per spin is perfect for high rollers. The inclusion of the Ante Bet feature allows players to increase their chances of triggering the Free Spins round, though this comes with a 50% increase in the bet amount. 

The RTP of 96.50% ensures a solid return for players, while the hit frequency of 1 in 4.83 spins means you’ll land wins relatively frequently. However, the biggest payouts come through the Free Spins feature, where the progressive multipliers and Money Symbol Collection mechanics can lead to substantial rewards. 

The maximum win is capped at 2,100x your stake, and while the max win probability is 1 in 3,927,730, the game’s balanced volatility makes it appealing to players who enjoy a mix of smaller wins with longer gameplay.

Conclusion 

Big Bass Bonanza Reel Action is another addition to the ever-popular Big Bass series, offering a familiar gameplay experience with a few notable enhancements. The introduction of the Ante Bet and Buy Free Spins options are the only differences from it’s original Big Bass Bonanza. 

Fans of the Big Bass series will appreciate the familiar mechanics and design, while newcomers will find the game easy to pick up and play. Let’s hope their next fishing adventure is going to be more innovative.