Bigger Bass Splash

“Bigger Bass Splash” is the next installment in Pragmatic Play’s popular angling-themed series, casting players into a world where the thrill of the catch is rendered in vibrant, cartoonish detail. The game retains the lighthearted aesthetic of its predecessors but introduces a noticeable increase in scale. This isn’t a quiet pond; it’s a vast lake teeming with potential, visually represented through an expanded 5×4 reel set amidst a backdrop of crystal-clear waters and lush aquatic flora. The graphics, with a fisherman character is almost identical to the previous versions, but it all looks cute and nice. Overall, the visual part of the game and the atmosphere, while not revolutionary, are pleasant and quite detailed.

Slot Machine Mechanics in Detail

The core gameplay of “Bigger Bass Splash” operates on a 5-reel, 4-row grid with 10 fixed paylines. Winning combinations are formed by landing matching symbols from left to right, starting from the first reel. The game boasts a high volatility rating, suggesting that while wins may be less frequent, they have the potential to be more substantial when they do occur. The theoretical RTP is stated as 96.50%, which places it slightly above the industry average, providing a fair return over an extended play session.

The symbols are a mix of standard card ranks (10 through A) and thematic icons. The high-paying symbols are tied to the fishing theme and include a tackle box, a dragonfly, a fishing rod, and a speedboat, with the latter being the most valuable of the regular symbols. For example, five speedboats on a payline will net you a 400x return on your bet. There are also fish symbols, which double as money symbols and carry cash values, adding an extra layer of anticipation to each spin. The fisherman symbol acts as the Wild, substituting for all symbols except the Scatter (represented by a leaping bass) to help complete winning combinations during the free spins round. Scatter also appear on all reels, and landing at least 3 of them anywhere on the reels in a single spin will unlock the coveted Free Spins feature.

The Intricacies of Bonus Features

“Bigger Bass Splash” offers a variety of bonus features, with the Free Spins round standing out as the most intricate and potentially rewarding. Triggering the Free Spins requires landing 3 or more Scatter symbols, with the number of spins awarded scaling with the number of triggering Scatters (10, 15, or 20 spins for 3, 4, or 5 Scatters respectively). If you fall just short, landing only two Scatters, the game introduces a teasing mechanic where a hook might pull in the missing third Scatter, or the existing Scatters might nudge down one position to try and reveal another, enhancing the sense of anticipation.

Before the Free Spins round commences, players are presented with up to 5 modifiers that can be randomly awarded. These modifiers are game-changers, directly impacting the course of the Free Spins. They can increase the prevalence of fish money symbols, boost the number of Wild symbols, add additional hooks, dynamite, or chainsaws to alter the reel set, or even grant a starting level of 2 in the progressive feature which provides additional benefits in the Free Spins feature. If you are unsure how exactly these modifiers work, or what benefits you get from the level up, launch the demo version of the slot, start the game and open the built-in help by pressing the “i” button.

The Free Spins feature itself is a multi-layered affair. During this round, any Wild symbols that land not only substitute for other symbols but also collect the values from all fish money symbols currently on the screen. Moreover, every fourth Wild collected advances the player to the next level, awarding an additional 10 free spins and increasing the multiplier for money symbol collection (2x for level 2, 3x for level 3, and a whopping 10x for level 4). If the maximum level of 4 is reached, the feature cannot be retriggered anymore. Also, during free spins, if you have fisherman symbols on the reels but no fish symbols, a special dynamite animation might appear, adding fish money symbols to random positions. Conversely, if there are fish symbols but no fisherman, a hook can pull a random reel up to reveal fisherman symbols.

Additional Gameplay Nuances

“Bigger Bass Splash” offers two additional betting options. The Ante Bet increases the player’s stake by 50%, adding more Scatter symbols to the reels and thereby increasing the chance of triggering the Free Spins round. However, it disables the Buy Free Spins feature. For those who prefer to skip straight to the bonus, the game provides the option to buy into the Free Spins round directly. Paying 100x the total bet triggers the feature with all modifiers bought for the round, and it guarantees that 3, 4, or 5 Scatters will land randomly on the triggering spin. It is worth noting that the maximum win amount is limited to 5,000x the player’s bet. If the total win during the Free Spins round reaches this threshold, the round immediately ends, the win is awarded, and all remaining free spins are forfeited. It’s a double-edged sword, really. On one hand, it can be a game changer, on the other hand, I think it is too high a price for what it is. In my opinion, it’s better to spin the reels and wait for those Scatters to land naturally.

This slot offers a compelling, if not groundbreaking, experience, particularly suited for those who enjoy high-volatility gameplay with the potential for significant returns. Its thematic charm, while familiar, is well-executed, and the multi-layered Free Spins feature provides ample depth and excitement. It is worth recommending this slot, especially for players who already like the “Big Bass” series.