Overview
Embark on a visually stunning adventure with MonkeyPop, AvatarUX's latest masterpiece, redefining Asian-themed slots. This captivating game instantly draws you in with its unique watercolour visuals, evoking 'The Great Wave of Kanagawa' with an elegant French artistic flair. Played on a dynamic 5-reel, 3-row grid, MonkeyPop harnesses the renowned PopWins mechanic, dynamically expanding its layout from 486 ways to win to an astonishing 33,614 ways to win. This High Volatility title offers a thrilling ride for those chasing significant payouts, boasting an impressive 20,000x Max Win. It masterfully blends subtle artistic charm with explosive win potential, appealing to both seasoned players and newcomers seeking a refreshing yet potent slot experience.
Gameplay & Features
PopWinsis the key feature which leads into or is included in just about every other extra in MonkeyPop. How it works is when a winning way lands, the respective symbols areremovedfrom the grid andreplaced with two new symbols. Obviously, this enlarges the reels andincreases ways to win. It is possible to increase reels toseven symbols high, and if all reels are at this size, then there are33,614 ways to win(including the pay both ways mechanic). PopWins continues to function until no new win lands; then the grid returns to its normal size.
• Base Game Unlock
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When all reels reach 7 rows high in the base game, arandom number of low pay symbols are removed from the reels, and2 free spinsare awarded. Free spins start with amultiplierof x1, x2, or x3, which increases by +1 or +2 on each spin.
• Free Spins Bonus Game
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When3 or more bonus symbolsare in view at the end of a base game spin, the free spins bonus is triggered. Before it starts, players enter aReward Reelscreen. From this screen,four rewards are randomly drawn, such as:
Starting free spins– 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Starting ways– 486, 2,048, or 6,250. Starting multiplier– x1, x2, x3, x4, or x5. Multiplier growth- +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5. Free spins benefit from an ever-growing multiplier, and thereels do not reset between spinsbut drop to the lowest reel's height. When all reels hit 7 symbols high,+2 free spinsare awarded, and arandom number of low pay symbols are removedfor the remainder of the round. MonkeyPop's minor claim to fame is as the first game in the portfolio to offer ascatter collection feature. Bonus symbols landing in free spins are collected. When3 have been collected, one of the high pay symbols isupgradedto agilded version, whichmultiplies its value by x5. If a gilded symbol is selected again, it gets upgraded to anx10 version.
• Bonus Buy
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Triggering the bonus game naturally occurs once every 410 spins, so some players might want to quicken the process. If thebonus buyis there, players can buy them instead. There are three options called theBuy Bonus, theBuy Bonus Plus, and theBuy Bonus Max, costing 100x, 250x, or 500x the bet, respectively
Final Thoughts
Asian culture is synonymous with concepts like harmony and balance, yin and yang, and MonkeyPop feels about as close to these ideals as an online slot can really get. AvatarUX has taken a new path with the graphics, and MonkeyPop's unique look does a great job of grabbing your attention. It's a lot more subtle than many online slot trips East can be, which often overflow with so many sycees, dragons, and dynastic décor you feel like you're puffing up in an old-time opium den. MonkeyPop is more subtle than that, and all the better for it.
Putting the theme aside for a moment, the gameplay in MonkeyPop isn't so singular. After ten PopWins-powered games, we've pretty much got the drill down pat. Not to say, MonkeyPop isn't fun to play. The popping symbols feature is exciting when the reels are expanding, and you get a few free spins with multipliers as a reward when all five reels hit 7 cells high.
MonkeyPop is the one to go for if hunting for the biggest payouts possible is your number one criterion. MonkeyPop's max win figure of20,000 times the betis about the highest in the range. However, it does lack the all-or-nothing pre-feature gambling option that some players might prefer to get their kicks. In spite of the theoretical potential, MonkeyPop is a lower-key experience all around for PopWins, and requires a fair share of patience to sit through what can be a large number of base game spins before triggering the bonus.
Once the warm visual glow has worn off a notch or two, don't expect to be as wowed by MonkeyPop's gameplay which is fairly regular PopWins stuff. However, MonkeyPop was a satisfying slot to test run, and would probably be a pleasant entry point for players new to the AvatarUX scene.
