Deposit Bonus
Free Spins
Supplier
Reels
Rows
Paylines
Released
RTP
Max Win
Volatility
Theme
Multipliers
Bonus Buy
Progressive
Pirate-themed pokies are commonplace in the industry nowadays, but the game starring parrots does not come your way every day. ELK Studios decided not to create a regular high-seas adventure, which was the right move in my book.
The audio-visual presentation is fantastic, with cartoonish but stunningly stylised visuals and an appropriately tense soundtrack. Everything plays out on an expandable grid, with many winning opportunities. The volatility is marked 7/10, which was a bit low for me, given the theme.
I could not help but enjoy the game, which was so creative and entertaining. It did not change my life financially, but I got my hands on several decent payouts during my test run. With a hit rate of 26.80%, approximately every fourth spin should be a winning one, but I was not so lucky.
Numerous exciting rounds were intertwined with a few streaks of dead spins, balancing things out. I got a few hefty bonuses, but it was nothing to write home about. Still, the atmosphere kept me on the edge of my seat, and the game was never dull.
I must also mention a few drawbacks, starting from the too-low RTP of 94.00%. At times, it felt too quirky for my taste, even though nothing too complex goes on. A beautiful opportunity for a masterpiece was wasted, but it was unquestionably enjoyable nevertheless.
The action starts on a 5×5 playing field, with the possibility of expanding to 8 reels and 8 rows once the bomb explodes. Getting my hands on the loot was challenging, but I managed to fill my pockets to some extent. However, it was not my most successful expedition of all time.
Higher-paying regular icons include purple and red gems, and fully upgraded symbols grant 7.5x and 15x the stake, respectively. Special symbols abound in this game, including Wilds, Scatters, Bombs, Upgrades, Coins, and Transform Symbols, each with a unique function.
I started playing at $0.20, while the highest bet one can place is $100, meaning the maximum amount to hope for is $1 million. I did not win it, but someone might. The broad betting range is appealing to high and low rollers alike.
Remembering all the features this game offers is difficult, but I will try. Coin Symbols carry multipliers, while Transform, Upgrade and Bomb Symbols each have a feature of their own. Finally, the X-iter feature enables buying one of the five game modes.
Birds collect feature symbols and same-coloured gems, filling a meter in the process. When it is full and no more icons can be gathered, 3 symbols become feature icons. More than a single award can be triggered simultaneously, and adjacent birds might swap positions to create a win if a chance exists.
A rum barrel transforms a group of gems around it, turning their colour into the one of the collecting bird. It can also turn them into a random number of feature icons.
A white Upgrade Symbol elevates the gem of the collecting bird to a higher level. If the gem is already upgraded, it will move to another one. I was lucky enough to land a multi-coloured symbol that boosts all gems, but I did not reach the final level 5.
Coin Symbols carry multipliers that enhance the current bets if collected. They helped me snatch some decent prizes.
Once no more wins are in view, collected Bomb Symbols explode, removing all symbols nearby except feature icons. The grid expands to 8×8, and the redrop occurs, with the birds removed, but they show up in new positions.
I landed 3 Scatters, which took me to the Free Drops round with 5 spins. The current gem level, symbol collection and grid size remain persistent during the round. Furthermore, if you land 3 more Scatters, you will receive more spins, which I did not do.
I gave the X-iter Buy Feature a squiz, and it allowed me to select from five options. They include a Bonus Hunt, a drop worth 3x, which quadruples your chances of activating the bonus round. Feature Bonanza triggers a feature award with a full icon collection for 10x the bet, while a drop with maximum grid size costs 25x.
Bonus and Super Bonus guarantee a bonus game, the first one regular and the second on the expanded grid size. In the latter case, all Upgrade Symbols upgrade all gems. The two modes are worth 100x and 500x the stake, respectively.
Pirots has many attractive perks and assets, making this quest a unique playing experience. With excellent visuals, original features and decent wins, this pokie has plenty to offer, guaranteeing many exciting spins.
However, its individuality might be too much for some players, especially those who only want to relax. The RTP of 94.00% was almost a deal-breaker for me, although I knew what to expect from ELK Studios. After all is said and done, Pirots was a thoroughly entertaining experience. Hence, I rate it 7.4.
Pros
Cons