We have had our ups and downs with AvatarUX’ PopWins series, and we have nitpicked a lot about the game pace. We are therefore happy to report that the persistent developer has finally nailed everything with the release of LooneyPop. The games flow smoothly all the way, the retro sci-fi comic book style visuals are excellent, and the innovative and brand new (to this series) top Zap Reel is exactly what this concept has been missing.
The lack of proper modifier action has been a problem in many previous releases, not least in the base game. The concept relied too much on the PopWins mechanic alone to carry the game, but now you get 4 juicy modifiers that can really make a dent in all stages. They trigger quite often as well, so you get plenty of PopWins action all the way. The50,000x potentialis solid as well, and this is a must try release we hope gets the attention it deserves.
You win both ways in LooneyPop, which is usually the case for this range, and you need at least 3 matching symbols on adjacent reels to win. The premium symbols pay between 1 and 1.5 x your stake for 5 of a kind wins, and there are no wild symbols to be found in this game.
Winning symbols are removed and replaced by 2 new symbols, which increases the grid size and the number of win ways. The grid can expand to 6 positions per reel in the base game, and 9 in the bonus round. This is known as thePopWins mechanic, and the grid resets between base game spins.
The Zap Reel is the 3 positions bar you see above the regular grid, and it slides inrandom Feature Rewardsper spin. These are as follows:
You need to max out the grid so all reels have 6 positions to trigger theBonus Round, and this maxed out grid becomes the default grid during the feature. The grid always resets to the shortest reel height after each PopWin sequence, and you win+2 extra spinswhen you max out the bonus round grid with 9 positions per reel. You start with 6 free spins, and you can gamble for up to 18 free spins if you wish. Losing on the Wacky Gamble Wheel means that the whole feature is lost though, just to be clear.
Finally, non-UK players, and anyone eligible, can go for theBonus Buy option. It comes with 3 choices in this game, and you can pay125x your stakefor theBoom Bonuswith 6 free spins and the possibility of 2 synced reels. Alternatively, you can pay125x for a spinon theWacky Gamble Wheel, which can land you anything from zero to 18 free spins. TheMaxi Boomy Bonuscosts500x your stake, and it awards 12 free spins with up to 3 synced reels.
You get to see plenty of action in the base game, before we purchase the top-tier Maxi Boomy Bonus Round at 1:20 into the 5:20-minute highlights video. It turned into a modifier-rich affair to say the least, and you can see for yourself how it all played out by hitting the play button below.
You can say what you will about the PopWins range, but persistence tends to pay off in the end. AvatarUX has had the stamina to carve out a unique niche for themselves, and with LoonyPop they have finally nailed the pace as well. The popping action has never been more entertaining, and the loony characters are a perfect match for this concept. The same can be said about the comic book style visuals, and we have a feeling that this one will pop up the charts like nothing before it.
The Zap Reel was just what this concept needed to ‘pop’ (sorry, we can’t help ourselves), as it adds a whole new dimension to both the base game and the bonus round. We think AvatarUX has found the recipe for success with this game, but as always, time will tell. Anything can happen with multiplying multipliers involved, so the solid50,000xdoes not seem out of bounds. We hope AvatarUX uses this release as a template for future installments, as this is by far the most entertaining PopWins mechanic game we’ve tried thus far.
Pros
Cons
We have had mixed experiences with AvatarUX’ PopWins series, particularly with the game pace. However, we are pleased to announce that the persistent developer has finally perfected everything with the release of LooneyPop. The game flows smoothly, the retro sci-fi comic book style visuals are fantastic, and the new top Zap Reel adds an innovative element that was missing in previous games. In the past, the lack of proper modifier action was a problem, especially in the base game. The concept relied too heavily on the PopWins mechanic alone, but now there are four exciting modifiers that have a significant impact in all stages of the game. These modifiers trigger frequently, ensuring plenty of PopWins action throughout. The game also offers a solid 50,000x potential win, making it a must-try release that deserves attention. In LooneyPop, you can win in both directions, as is typical for this range. To win, you need at least three matching symbols on adjacent reels. The premium symbols pay between 1 and 1.5 times your stake for five of a kind wins, and there are no wild symbols in the game. When you win, the winning symbols are removed and replaced by two new symbols, increasing the grid size and the number of win ways. The grid can expand to six positions per reel in the base game and nine positions in the bonus round, thanks to the PopWins mechanic. The Zap Reel is a bar above the regular grid that slides in random feature rewards on each spin. To trigger the bonus round, you need to max out the grid so that all reels have six positions. The maxed-out grid becomes the default grid during the feature. After each PopWin sequence, the grid resets to the shortest reel height, and if you manage to max out the bonus round grid with nine positions per reel, you win two extra spins. The bonus round starts with six free spins, and you have the option to gamble for up to 18 free spins. However, losing on the Wacky Gamble Wheel means losing the entire feature. Non-UK players and eligible players can also choose the Bonus Buy option, which offers three choices in this game. For 125x your stake, you can purchase the Boom Bonus with six free spins and the possibility of two synced reels. Alternatively, for the same price, you can spin the Wacky Gamble Wheel, which can award zero to 18 free spins. The Maxi Boomy Bonus costs 500x your stake and grants 12 free spins with up to three synced reels. The base game offers plenty of action, and in the 5:20-minute highlights video, we showcase the top-tier Maxi Boomy Bonus Round, which was full of modifiers. AvatarUX has shown great persistence in carving out a unique niche for themselves, and with LooneyPop, they have finally achieved the perfect pace. The popping action has never been more entertaining, and the quirky characters fit the concept perfectly. The comic book style visuals are also a great match, and we believe this game will climb the charts like never before. The Zap Reel adds a new dimension to both the base game and the bonus round, and it was exactly what this concept needed. We believe AvatarUX has found the recipe for success with this game, but only time will tell. With multiplying multipliers involved, anything can happen, and the solid 50,000x win doesn’t seem out of reach. We hope AvatarUX uses this release as a blueprint for future games, as it is by far the most entertaining PopWins mechanic game we have played. Pros: <br>- Smooth game flow<br>- Excellent retro sci-fi comic book style visuals<br>- Innovative top Zap Reel adds excitement<br>- Four juicy modifiers improve gameplay<br>- Frequent PopWins action<br>- Solid 50,000x potential win<br>- Win both ways<br>- Grid expansion and increased win ways<br>- Bonus Round with extra spins<br>- Bonus Buy option for non-UK players<br><br>Cons: None mentioned.