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The game’s style fits the theme perfectly, with the black-and-white background reflecting the grittiness of the genre. The seamless flow and my unconditional love for the theme quickly made me fall in love with the game. Each new perk I discovered in time only enhanced my initial impression.
The characters are also straight from the pages of detective novels of yesteryear. A shady femme fatale is one of the higher-paying symbols, and the Golden Idol clearly references the Maltese Falcon. It was a relief to see the game created by someone who knew what he was doing.
Even though it has similarities with other PopWins slots, PopNoir is in a class of its own when it comes to features. The fast-paced gameplay and intriguing features make the thrilling rounds more appealing. Expanding the grid activates the Free Spins round, which becomes even more eventful and attractive.
Tension was felt throughout the game, which is one thing a noir-related game should not lack. When you do not know who to believe, everybody is a suspect, and the game conveys the mood properly. Playing PopNoir was one of the most exciting recent experiences for me due to my undying love for all the elements of the genre.
However, one or two things still hacked me off. Dead spins are to be expected when the volatility is high, but PopNoir gave me cold streaks I did not like despite winning solid amounts. Moreover, in spite of the great ingredients, PopNoir has low base game wins, where you can only profit from consecutive payouts.
The action starts on a 5×3 board, but with the PopWins engine, it can expand to 6 rows in the base game. The number of win lines can go up to 65,536, offering immense potential. With the grid expanding, many surprises are coming, and anything is possible.
The Golden Idol appears in the base game and the Free Spins round, granting 3x the stake. A femme fatale and a man bring 1.5x the stake for a full payline of 5. A gun and a whiskey bottle are worth 1.5x and 1x the bet for the same.
The volatility is high, indicating plenty of chills and thrills, as well as rare but considerable wins. It also means some dead spins will come, but players must not let that discourage them. I knew all the game’s characteristics but still expected a bit more. I started with $0.18, while the highest bet was $175. Furthermore, the highest potential win is 20,000x the stake.
They include PopWins, Base Game Unlock, Rewards Reel and Free Spins. For those of you who are impatient, the Feature Buy is also available.
No alarms and no surprises here, as every winning symbol is removed and replaced by two new icons. The grid can expand up to 6 rows in the base game and 8 in the Free Spins round.
I expanded the board to the maximum number of rows and triggered 2 free spins played with completely expanded reels. Furthermore, a multiplier starting at 1x – 3x, increasing with every win by 1 or 2.
It triggers before entering the Free Spins round to help players get a better start. The rewards depend on the number of triggering Scatter symbols, including the number of free spins ranging from 5 to 11. Other rewards up for grabs include a starting multiplier from 1x to 6x and a multiplier increment from +1 to +5. Four values with the starting ways are 486+, 2048+, 6125+ and 15552.
When the Rewards Reel determines the conditions, the round begins, and the multiplier rises by +1 with every win. The multiplier can increase up to +5 if the option was previously won. The multiplier will keep growing until the wins occur. The reels reset to the shortest reel height.
Scatters are collected throughout the round; every third one will upgrade the Golden Idol symbol with a multiplier. I did not manage to collect more Scatters and upgrade it even further. The round continues for as long as there are wins or the maximum win is reached.
The round has four different prices, including 80x, 160x, 400x and 800x the stake. The Rewards Reel defines the conditions, but they are better the more you pay.
PopNoir is a great game that attracted me from frame one due to the intriguing theme and one of my favourite film genres.
It grabbed me and did not let me go for a long time, for it has the features that make it perpetually enjoyable. From PopWins to Free Spins, I thoroughly enjoyed it, although jaw-dropping amounts eluded me.
I felt some things could be even better, from low base game wins to the streaks of dead spins I was caught in.
If I got my hands on some more loot, the experience would have been even better. Still, AvatarUX did a magnificent job, and I cannot wait to see their next venture.
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