A lot of installments in AvatarUX’ PopWins range come with somewhat obscure visuals, but it seems like players prefer something more recognizable in most cases.MonkeyPop, which was released not long before this, is a work of pure watercolor art, while RagingPop offers a far more common, albeit solidly done, African safari theme.
In a somewhat controversial move, AvatarUX has removed the PopWins mechanic from the base game, but you still get win symbol replacements that can lead to repeat wins. A random grid expansion and multiplier up to x500 adds tension in all stages of the game, as it can spike payouts in sudden and unexpected ways. This is not least the case in the bonus round, where you’re most likely to close in on the20,000x potential.
The premium animal symbols pay between 5 to 6.25 x your stake for 6 of a kind wins, while the top-tier rhino pays 15x your stake for the same. You getwild symbolsin the bonus round only, and the wild steps in for pay symbols to help complete wins. Also thePopWins mechanicis only active in the bonus round, but winning symbols are replaced by new symbols as long as you keep winning.
TheRaging Rhino featuremay trigger at any given time during all stages of the game, and it expands the grid to a random height of 5, 6 or 7 positions. Arandom multiplier up to x500is also created from this stampede feature, and it will apply to all wins that follow in the same win sequence.
The Bonus Round triggers when you land3-6 scattersanywhere in view, and this awards10, 15, 20 or 30 free spins, respectively. You start with a6x4 grid, and it canexpand to 6x7via the now active PopWins mechanic. All winning symbols are removed and replaced by 2 new symbols, which is how the grid expands. The PopWins grid resets to size 6×4 for each new free spin though.
That being said, the grid expands by +1 row per 10 free spins that play out, and this expansion sticks until the feature is over. You can gamble for an upgraded bonus round up front. This is done via theGamble Wheel feature, where you can win up to 30 FS at best. You risk losing the whole feature however, or at least get bumped down to a lower number of spins than you got initially.
TheAnte Betallows you to pay25 % extra per spin, and this doubles your bonus round chances. Non-UK players, and anyone eligible, can also buy the bonus round directly, and theBonus Buy featurewill set you back100x your stake. This gives you10 FS, or you can gamble for more. You can also pay500x your stake for 30 FS, which is the most you can get.
You get a brief taste of the base game, before we trigger the bonus round at 1:13 into the 4-minute highlights video. We rejected the somewhat tempting offer to gamble for more, and went with the initial 10 free spins we got instead. We got lucky on the very first spin though, not least due to the Raging Rhino multiplier, and you get to see some solid payouts in the video below.
We don’t really mind having the PopWins mechanic in the bonus round only, but it is a somewhat bold move. What we do mind however, is the hiccups between each spin. We’ve nagged about this plenty of times before, and it seems like an obvious fix. You get an unnatural pause between hitting the play button and the reels actually spinning, and an even more annoying “frozen” spin button that remains inactive for several seconds (feels like an eternity) after each spin.
Looking past that, RagingPop is a solid installment with a lot going for it, and the Raging Rhino feature adds a layer of unpredictability we really enjoyed. It can drop a multiplier up to x500 into the mix at any given time, and even smaller multipliers can make a huge dent in our experience. The gamble feature is tempting since having many FS seems like a big advantage, but the raging rhino multiplier can crack the20,000x potentialfrom a single spin at any time. We hope AvatarUX looks into the pace problem, cause this is otherwise solid stuff.
Pros
Cons
MonkeyPop- is an oriental-inspired installment in the AvatarUX PopWins range, and this one is worth checking out for the art work alone. You get stylish watercolor visuals, and maxing out the grid awards 2 free spins. There is a dedicated bonus round as well, with an upfront Reward Reel Spin, and the max win is 10,744x your stake.
PapayaPop- is an Art Deco-style installment in the PopWins mechanic range, and this AvatarUX release comes with up to 9 rows per reel in the bonus round. You can gamble for a better grid size and starting multiplier up front, and the multiplier grows per free spin. This can lead to payouts up to 10,542x your stake.
TikiPop- is another installment in AvatarUX’ PopWins mechanic series, and the grid can expand to 5×5 in the base game. Maxing out the grid gives you an x2 multiplier, and you’ll benefit from an unlimited progressive multiplier in the bonus round. The max win is a very solid 32,000x your stake.
AvatarUX’ PopWins range offers a variety of installments with different visual themes. MonkeyPop features watercolor art, while RagingPop has an African safari theme. The PopWins mechanic has been removed from the base game, but win symbol replacements and random grid expansions with multipliers up to x500 still create excitement. In the bonus round, players have the chance to win up to 20,000x their stake. Premium animal symbols offer high payouts, with the rhino symbol paying the most. Wild symbols are available in the bonus round, and the PopWins mechanic is only active during this feature. The Raging Rhino feature can trigger at any time, expanding the grid and adding multipliers. The Bonus Round is triggered by landing 3-6 scatters and awards free spins. The grid can expand during the bonus round, and players have the option to gamble for more spins. The Ante Bet allows for increased chances of triggering the bonus round. The bonus round can also be purchased directly. The video showcases the gameplay and highlights some significant wins. The only downside is the pacing issues between spins. Overall, RagingPop is a solid installment with the potential for big wins. Other installments in the PopWins range include MonkeyPop, PapayaPop, and TikiPop, each with unique features and high win potentials.