AvatarUX has established a colorful and dreamlike visual style that they keep tweaking from release to release, with some oddball exceptions, likeMonkeyPop, sprinkled in for good measure. CritterPop is set in outer space with planets in the background, and the dynamic PopWins grid is filled with fantasy-style animals.
The PopWins mechanic expands the grid up to 5×6 in the base game, and maxing out the grid awards 2 free spins. There is not much else going on until you hit the bonus round, and it comes with a pre-feature Reward Spin. This is where you get to accumulate different modifiers and extras to help you out during the feature, which may help you crack the solid 20,000x potential.
The premium animal symbols pay between 2 and 6 x your stake for 5 of a kind wins, and the top-tier symbols are the tiger and the mammoth. You getWild symbolsin the bonus round only, and they step in for pay symbols to help complete wins. Turning on theAnte Bet optionincreases your bet by 25 %, and this doubles your bonus round chances.
Winning symbols “pop” via thePopWins mechanic, and are replaced by 2 new symbols which expands the grid. This repeats as long as you keep winning, and the grid can expand to 5×6 with 15,553 win ways in the base game. Maxing out the grid in the base game awards 2 free spins on the fully expanded reel set.
You need3, 4 or 5 scattersin view to trigger theBonus Round, and this gives you a starting grid of 5×4 (2,048 win ways), 5×5 (6,250 win ways) or 5×6 (15,552 win ways), respectively. AReward Reels spinplays out before the actual bonus round starts, and from this you can win the following extras:
The grid size resets to the lowest reel height achieved per PopWin sequence in the bonus round, and you get+2 extra spinsif you manage to max out the grid. In addition, you get+2added to thewin multiplier, and the grid remains maxed out for the duration of the bonus round. The win multiplier starts at x1 by default (unless you upgrade it via the Reward Spin), and it increases per PopWin without resetting between free spins.
Finally, non-UK players, and anyone eligible, may take advantage of theBonus Buy feature. You get3 choices of feature tiersin the buy menu, and they will set you back125x, 250x or 500x your stake, respectively. This gives you a5x4, 5×5 or 5×6 starting grid, respectively, and your chances for better rewards also increase with the price-tier of the feature.
You get to see a few reel-expanding win sequences as the 5:28-minute highlights video starts, and the bonus round is triggered close to the 1-minute mark. We got a decent line up of extras to carry with us into the feature, and you can check it all out for yourself by hitting the play button below.
The game flows smoothly all the way, and we’re quite happy with the pace in this installment. Still, a double-click feature that cuts to the chase wouldn’t hurt in that regard, and there is still a longer pause where you get to admire your grid creation after a PopWin sequence. The base game is fairly standard stuff from AvatarUX, although the animals in space theme certainly makes it stick out a bit.
You get 2 free spins on a maxed out base game grid on occasions, but what makes this installment worth checking out is all the potential extras you can bring with you into the bonus round. It’s always fun to see what you manage to rack up each time, and CritterPop can deliverup to 20,000x your stakewhen it fires on all cylinders. The ante bet option is reasonably priced, and this is a pretty solid installment that’s pretty similar to MonkeyPop in the feature department.
Pros
Cons
MonkeyPop- is visual masterpiece from AvatarUX, and this oriental-inspired watercolor installment awards up to 33,614 win ways via the PopWins mechanic. You get a reward reel spin before the bonus round starts here as well, and the max win is 10,744x your stake.
CherryPop Deluxe- is a revamped version of the original release, and you get 15,552 win ways from a maxed out 5×6 grid. The grid can expand to 5×9 in the progressive win multiplier bonus round however, and the multiplier increments by +4 if you max out the grid. The max win is 20,000x your stake.
BountyPop- comes with a somewhat similar colorful cosmic theme, and the grid maxes out at 6 rows and 59,049 ways to win in the base game. It can go as high as 9 rows in the bonus round, and a maxed out grid awards a multiplier bonus wheel spin. This can lead to payouts up to 55,000x your stake.
AvatarUX has a distinct visual style that they continuously refine with each new release. CritterPop, set in outer space, features a PopWins grid filled with fantastical animals. The grid can expand up to 5×6 in the base game, and reaching the maximum size awards 2 free spins. The bonus round, triggered by scatters, offers a pre-feature Reward Spin where players can accumulate modifiers and extras to enhance their gameplay and potentially win up to 20,000x their stake. Wild symbols are only available in the bonus round, substituting for pay symbols to form winning combinations. Activating the Ante Bet option increases the bet by 25% and doubles the chances of triggering the bonus round. Winning symbols “pop” and are replaced by 2 new symbols, expanding the grid and creating more ways to win. The grid can reach a maximum size of 5×6 with 15,553 win ways in the base game. To trigger the bonus round, players need 3, 4, or 5 scatters on the reels, resulting in a starting grid of 5×4, 5×5, or 5×6, respectively. Before the bonus round begins, a Reward Reels spin occurs, offering various extras such as resetting the grid size, additional spins, increased win multiplier, and a fully expanded grid for the duration of the bonus round. Players outside of the UK can take advantage of the Bonus Buy feature, offering different feature tiers at varying prices, providing a larger starting grid and increased chances for better rewards. The game’s highlights video showcases reel-expanding win sequences, with the bonus round triggering around the 1-minute mark. The game’s flow is smooth, although a double-click feature to speed up the gameplay and a shorter pause after a PopWin sequence would be welcome additions. The base game is typical for AvatarUX, but the space animal theme adds a unique touch. The potential extras in the bonus round make this installment worth exploring, with a maximum win potential of 20,000x the stake. MonkeyPop, CherryPop Deluxe, and BountyPop are other notable releases from AvatarUX with distinct themes and their own unique features.