Snake’s Fortune Hunt

RealTime Gaming’s “Snake’s Fortune Hunt” slot presents an Oriental theme, subtly enriched with symbols of wealth and prosperity. The game’s backdrop features a tranquil scene of blossoming cherry trees and traditional architecture, rendered with a soft, pastel color palette. This creates an atmosphere that’s easy on the eyes, avoiding the overused, garish aesthetics often found in similarly-themed slots. The sound design complements the visuals with a gentle, unobtrusive score that enhances the sense of serenity without being distracting. This slot is not about dazzling, in-your-face visuals, but rather a more refined, understated elegance.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

“Snake’s Fortune Hunt” utilizes a 5×4 reel grid, but instead of traditional paylines, it offers 178 connecting ways to win. This means that matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel, will result in a payout. The absence of fixed paylines provides a dynamic and fluid gameplay experience. It is worth noting that the maximum payout per paid spin is 2,500 times the base bet.

The symbols themselves are a mix of traditional Chinese icons, including golden ingots, lucky coins, and decorative pouches. Each symbol is meticulously designed, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal. It’s noticeable that the game avoids the common pitfall of relying too heavily on generic card symbols, opting instead for a selection that ties directly to the theme. The Wild symbol, represented by a cheerful cartoon snake, substitutes for all symbols except the Scatter and the Moving Wild.

Unveiling the Moving Wild Feature

The Moving Wild feature is triggered when a Moving Wild symbol lands on reel 5 without any Scatter symbols present on reels 2, 3, or 4. Once activated, the Moving Wild symbol initiates a series of re-spins, shifting one reel to the left with each spin until it reaches the first reel. This mechanic introduces an element of anticipation, as each westward movement of the Wild increases the potential for winning combinations.

Interestingly, the active Moving Wild can itself trigger the Chasing Wild feature. If more than one Moving Wild symbol lands, the first one remains active until it reaches reel 1. Subsequent Moving Wilds activate one by one in their order of appearance, ensuring a continuous flow of re-spins. The feature concludes when all Moving Wild symbols have reached reel 1, after which they hold their position, and regular play resumes. This sequential activation of multiple Moving Wilds is a notable aspect, adding layers of complexity to the gameplay. In case you are not clear on the order in which these features are activated or how they work, you can launch the demo version of the slot and open the built-in help of the game by pressing (i).

Decoding the Chasing Wild Feature

The Chasing Wild feature is activated when a Moving Wild lands with at least one Scatter on the gameboard or one or more Scatters appear while a Moving Wild is active. During this feature, the Moving Wild symbol first moves vertically and then horizontally to cover and replace all Scatters, leaving Wild symbols in its wake. The Moving Wild begins by replacing Scatters on the same reel, then moves right, replacing Scatters until none remain.

Finally, the Moving Wild moves to the left, covering all the Scatters until there are no more remaining. If there is more than one Moving Wild on the gameboard, only one can actively replace Scatters at a time. Like the Moving Wild feature, the active Moving Wild will stay active until it reaches reel 1, even with multiple Moving Wilds on the reels. The feature concludes when all Moving Wild symbols have reached reel 1 and no Scatter symbols are present, after which Moving Wilds hold their position, and regular play resumes. The intricate movement of the Wild, systematically replacing Scatters, transforms the gameboard into a field of potential wins.

Re-Spin Feature

The Re-Spin feature is triggered when 3 Scatter symbols appear on the reels. This awards the player 3 Re-Spins. The Scatter symbols are held in place during the Re-Spin feature. An additional Re-Spin is awarded when a new Scatter symbol appears. This is quite unusual as this feature can also be triggered when a Moving Wild symbol appears. The Re-Spin feature ends when there are no more Re-Spins to play or when a Moving Wild symbol appears.

The fact that the Scatter symbols are held in place during the Re-Spin Feature is quite an interesting detail as it can significantly increase your chances to win. The fact that this feature can be triggered by the Moving Wild symbol as well, makes this slot stand out among others.

This slot by RTG is a game that rewards patience and observation. While not for those seeking instant gratification, “Snake’s Fortune Hunt” offers a unique and engaging experience for the seasoned slot player. It is a game that values depth over superficial flashiness, a refreshing change in the often-predictable world of online slots.