The "Bison Spirit" is a 5-reel video slot machine developed by Aristocrat Technologies, an Australian-based game provider. As part of their popular Wild Buffalo series, this title combines stunning visuals with engaging gameplay mechanics to create an immersive experience for players.
Theme and Bison Spirit Design
Set in the heart of the American wilderness, "Bison Spirit" transports players to a vast expanse of untamed beauty. The slot’s theme is centered around the majestic bison, revered by many Native American tribes as a symbol of strength and resilience. Upon launching the game, players are immediately immersed in an atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the visuals.
The game’s design follows suit with its theme, incorporating rich earthy tones and stunning artwork to create an immersive environment. The reels are surrounded by lush greenery, while a majestic bison stands proudly at the top of the screen. This attention to detail adds depth and realism to the gameplay experience.
Symbols
"Bison Spirit" boasts an extensive library of high-quality symbols that enhance its visual appeal. The standard symbols include a range of playing card suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades), which offer decent payouts when aligned in winning combinations.
Higher-paying symbols feature various animals native to the American wilderness, such as wolves, eagles, owls, bears, and moose. These symbols not only add visual interest but also increase the potential for substantial wins.
Payouts
The payout structure of "Bison Spirit" is based on a classic slot machine formula, with each symbol carrying its own unique multiplier values.
- Low-paying symbols (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades) offer between 5-50x the total bet when five are aligned.
- Medium-paying symbols (wolf, eagle, owl, bear, and moose) reward players with payouts ranging from 10-200 times the total stake for consecutive wins.
High-paying combinations feature the wild buffalo symbol, which can award up to a staggering 1,000x the line bet. The top prize of this game is worth an impressive $20,500 at maximum stakes.
Wilds and Scatters
The bison itself serves as both the game’s Wild Symbol and Scatter. It will substitute for any standard symbol in creating winning combinations.
As a scatter, it rewards players with up to 25 free spins when three or more appear anywhere on the reels during a single spin.
A bonus wild appears only within the Bison Spirit feature (described below), and has the same substitution value as the main Wild Symbol but can stack together.
Bonus Features
Bison Spirit boasts not one, but two exciting bonus features that amplify its excitement quotient:
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Mammoth Stampede : The Bison stampede is triggered when a Mammoth symbol appears on reel 3 with at least three Scatters in view (i.e., 2 scatters anywhere and the third scatter appearing only on Reel 5). In this feature, all scatters transform into wild buffalo symbols. Three or more bonus reels are then added to the right side of the game screen. With each consecutive win during the Mammoth Stampede feature, an additional reel is revealed.
The stampede can be retriggered until a maximum of 6 Bonus Reels and up to $20,500 have been achieved.
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Bison Spirit Feature : When at least two Buffalo wilds appear in view on reels 1-4 (not including the Mammoth Stampede feature), they turn into bonus buffaloes with their own payout values and stacks of up to three. All Scatters appearing within this Bonus Reel will increase a player’s win multiplier by one for each bonus bison landed.
Free Spins
As previously mentioned, landing 3 or more scatters awards the Buffalo Free Games feature, offering players up to 25 consecutive spins with tripled payout potential.
The free game mode also features all bonuses of this title, such as a single retrigger and an enhanced win multiplier which reaches x8.
If 4 or five free games appear anywhere in view on reels during any spin, the Free Spins multiplier will automatically reset to two at the end of those spins.
RTP (Return To Player)
According to Aristocrat Technologies’ official documentation, Bison Spirit has a theoretical RTP of 95%. While this figure is competitive within its genre, actual returns can vary significantly based on betting habits and game volatility.
Volatility
"Bison Spirit" operates on medium-volatility mode. This implies that wins are relatively frequent compared with high-variance slots but carry lower values on average than low to moderate volatility games.
While not the most volatile option in its category, Bison Spirit’s combination of engaging bonus features and rewarding payouts ensures an immersive experience for players.
Betting Range
Stakes in "Bison Spirit" range from $0.01 up to a maximum bet of $100 per spin. Given this relatively broad betting range, both low-stake enthusiasts and high-rollers can enjoy this game.
This flexible stakes system also appeals to casual gamers looking to play with friends at various tournaments or those who have been around the block so many times already that their experience helps them win a lot more frequently now as compared to newcomers to slot machines online.
Max Win
The maximum payout offered by "Bison Spirit" reaches $20,500. While this value may not be astronomical for high-rollers seeking massive wins, it remains competitive within the realm of classic slots.
Gameplay
Navigating through Bison Spirit’s gameplay is relatively intuitive:
- Set your bet per spin.
- Spin the reels.
- Follow standard slot machine rules (winning combinations are formed when three or more identical symbols appear in consecutive order starting from Reel 1).
Each playthrough also features animations and background sounds that heighten overall immersion.
Mobile Play
Aristocrat Technologies has ensured seamless mobile compatibility for "Bison Spirit", allowing players to enjoy the slot on-the-go through iOS, Android devices, Windows Phone or even Amazon’s Kindle.
No additional downloads are required; simply access your favorite casino website from a mobile browser and play as you would with your desktop setup.
Player Experience
"Bison Spirit" is designed to deliver an immersive experience for all types of players. While the overall design appears straightforward on first glance, multiple layers of strategy can be applied by both casuals seeking occasional thrills or enthusiasts in search of consistent victories.
Its combination of rewarding payouts and exciting bonus features ensures that no two spins are ever alike.
Overall Analysis
"Bison Spirit" is an intriguing slot machine that provides a thrilling gaming experience for its users. While the design might seem straightforward at first glance, it offers ample layers for strategic players to uncover potential patterns or maximize their chances of winning.
Though some high-rollers may find the maximum payout slightly below par compared to other options in this series (as per earlier reviews from many), all player types should enjoy an immersive experience with various bet limits and relatively competitive stakes.
By incorporating engaging features, such as free spins, bonus wilds, scatters, a captivating theme, realistic graphics, mobile compatibility, flexible betting range, medium volatility, attractive payouts – this slot offers much more than your standard gaming fare.