Big Bamboo
By Push Gaming
RTP Range
96.13% (96.52% bonus buy)
Overview
Step into the serene yet intensely rewarding world of Big Bamboo, a high-volatility slot from developer Push Gaming. This visually striking game blends a minimalist, zen-like aesthetic, reminiscent of a mystical bamboo forest, with the brutal thrill Push Gaming is known for. The action unfolds on an expansive 5-reel, 6-row grid, offering a generous 50 fixed paylines for big win potential. Despite its tranquil facade, Big Bamboo packs a punch with a staggering 50,000x max win, appealing to players seeking massive risk-reward. Its unique blend of Mystery Symbols, Golden Bamboo features, and transformative Free Spins promise an engaging experience for both casual explorers and high-stakes adventurers aiming for colossal payouts.
Gameplay & Features
Big Bamboo has quite a lot of extra bits to go over, much of them recognisable from elsewhere but brought together and given their own flavour.
• Mystery Bamboo Symbols
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Mystery Bamboo symbols can landanywhere on the reelsin the base or bonus game. When they hit, theytransform to reveal pay symbols, which includes wilds or Golden Bamboo symbols.
• Golden Bamboo Feature
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This is triggered whenmystery symbols reveal Golden Bamboo symbols. Each Golden Bamboo Symbol positionspins individually, and the following symbols may land:
Instant Prize– a bet multiplier worth 1x to 5,000x the bet. Collector– collects the value of all other instant prize symbols or collector symbols in view. The collector remains in place throughout the Golden Bamboo feature while empty positions spin. Multiplier– multipliers of x2-x10 which increase instant prize symbols or collector symbol values. Scatter symbolsandgamble scatter symbolscan land naturally or be revealed by the Golden Bamboo feature. In the base game, when there arescatters on reels 2 and 3,a gamble scatter may land on reel 4. Gamble scatters spin to reveal one of these outcomes:
A blank space – nothing happens. 4 to 9 free spins. 7 to 9 free spins with 2 low pay symbols converted to Mystery Bamboo Symbols. 8 to 10 free spins with all 4 low pay symbols converted to Mystery Bamboo Symbols.
• Gamble Feature
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If the gamble scatter awarded one of the two lower free spins bonus games, players maygamble to move up a tier. A successful gamble wheel spin advances players, while an unsuccessful spin results in no prize.
• Free Spins
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During free spins,when scatters land, they arecollectedbeside the low symbols on a meter next to the reels – each symbol has 4 dots. Filling all 4 dots converts symbols into Mystery Bamboo symbols. In addition, converting the first symbol awards+4 extra free spins, the second and third add+3 more free spins each, while the fourth gives+2 extra free spins. Each converted symbol alsoawards a multiplierwhich is applied to wins from the Golden Bamboo feature. Free spins can also be won via the Golden Bamboo feature when symbols displaying +1, +2, or +3 hit.
• Buy Feature
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Hit the star icon tobuy one of the four bonuses. There are four choices on offer:
99x the betfor 7-9 free spins with no converted symbols. 179x the betfor 7-9 free spins with 2 converted symbols. 608x the betto 8-10 free spins with 4 converted symbols. 300x the betfor a random allocation of free spins and converted symbols
Final Thoughts
Big Bamboo was a surprisingly non-zen like experience once we began dissecting it. What started out as calm and relaxing quickly devolved into a bout of mental water torture trying to convey the rules on paper. Rest Assured, Big Bamboo makes more sense in action and isn't as fiddly as it might sound. However, it somehow managed to be simultaneously calming and infuriating. The masses of dead spins didn't help.
In a nutshell, you want a couple of things to happen. Hitting instant prizes from the Golden Bamboo feature is one, preferably with a multiple in tow. Here's whereRazor Sharksort of creeps in, with a tinge ofFat Dracfor good measure. Instant prize wins can be huge, as we have seen inFat Drac max win clipswhen the bat munches the top prize. Combine the most lucrative instant prize with the top multiplier in Big Bamboo, and you are looking at massive results.
The other goal is triggering free spins and converting as many low pays as possible. This then ties into the previous Golden Bamboo feature, theoretically helping your chances of hitting something special since there are converted Mystery Bamboo symbols going around. There are numerous ways to win in Big Bamboo, each one quite intricate, but it won't be easy, and Big Bamboo often has the last laugh. Landing three scatters but not triggering free spins because the Gamble scatter turns up a blank space can hurt. Of course, there is a positive flipside to the meanness, and Big Bamboo comes with a tremendous win cap of50,000x the bet.
A big number, and there is smart design here for sure, yet it doesn't feel like Big Bamboo is destined for greatness. It has less outrageous replayability than others likeFire Hopperhave had, and the compulsion to have one more spin, just to see what will happen, isn't quite as strong. There are no pressing issues, and major wins here would be quite a sight, but it is hard to see Big Bamboo going on to become a Push Gaming classic.
