Thunderbird slot

The legend of the Thunderbird is central to the history and culture of a number of North American indigenous people. The Thunderbird is believed to be a creature that is not only supernatural, but one that possesses great power and strength. In Algonquin mythology, the Thunderbird throws lightning at creatures of the underworld and creates thunder by flapping its wings and it is this story which seems to have inspired Rival Gaming's latest release the Thunderbird slot.

Not to be confused with other Thunderbird (or Thunderbirds) slots of the same or similar name, this 50 selectable pay line slot is low to mid variance and can be played from just 0.50 per spin for all pay lines in play or you can play just one line for 0.01 per spin.

So how does this Thunderbird slot game shape up? We decided to take a closer look to find out.

Overview

• Game: Thunderbird
• Developer: Rival Gaming
• Reels: 5x3
• Pay Lines: 50 (selectable)
• Minimum Bet: 0.50 (to play all pay lines)
• Maximum Bet: 125.00
• Jackpot: 2,000x
• Free Spins Bonus: Yes
• Other Bonuses: Yes
• Progressive: No
• Volatility: Low to Medium

Where can I play the Thunderbird slot?

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Presentation

One thing to note about the Thunderbird slot from Rival Gaming is that it is one of a number of games that share the name or a very similar name. So do take care to ensure that you are playing the Rival slot that has this name.

The slot has a native American theme and is based on the legend of the Thunderbird from that culture. The backdrop of the slot is a very strange moonlit scene which has been rendered to look almost dreamlike. With lightning around the reels, a rather calming native American song plays as you play the game. This adds greatly to the atmosphere and is a real positive point for the game.

The slot is a 5x3 reel game with 50 selectable pay lines and the main controls of the slot are on the right hand side of the reels. Overall, the presentation on the slot is very good, but perhaps not quite as spectacular as some of the other more recent releases from other providers.

What's on the reels?

There are a number of different symbols on the reels each based on the Native American theme and this begins with the five playing card symbols, which run from the 10 through to the Ace. Wins start at just 5 coins with these symbols, but you can win 150 coins for landing five aces on one of the selected pay lines.

There are four medium value symbols in the game, and these are all native American symbols. There is a bear totem, a hat, a drum and what looks like a pine cone. Wins on these symbols range from 15 coins up to 600 coins.

In addition to this, you can also land three higher value symbols on the reels and these are the feathers, the human face and the strange looking creature that has the body of a snake and what looks like the head of a turtle. Wins on these symbols range from 40 coins up to 2,000 coins, but you can win a small prize of 4 coins for landing just two of the top ranked symbols on a winning pay line.

Alongside these standard symbols, there are other bonus symbols on the reels which we will explore in more detail below.

Wild features

The Wild symbol looks like another wooden carving of an animal, this time a bird of some sort which is most likely an eagle or a hawk. This brightly colored symbol serves as a substitute for higher value symbols on the reels and best of all, when landed as part of a win will see the standard win doubled, thanks to a 2x multiplier.

The Wild is slightly altered for the Free Spins bonus round, which we will explain below.

Free Spins features

To really get into the meat of the Thunderbird slot, players need to access the Free Spins bonus round, which is achieved by landing the Scatter symbol, which in the base game is the Red Fish. If you land three, four or five of these symbols across the reels in any position, then you will trigger 10, 20 or 5o Free Spins respectively.

During your Free Spins a couple of changes are apparent on the reels. Firstly, the Wild symbol becomes an Expanding Wild and when landed, the Wild will expand to cover the reel entirely for that spin. It still pays out the 2x multiplier too.

Additionally, there is the second Scatter symbol, the Yellow Fish on the reels in the bonus round. If you can land three or more of these symbols on the reels, you earn an additional bonus round called Super Spirit Free Spins. You receive 5 of these Super Spirit Free Spins which are played with an Expanded Wild on the first reel on each spin. Furthermore, each time you win with the Super Spirit spins, you will receive a multiplier on the win of up to 15x the standard amount.

Other bonus features

There are no other bonus features on the Thunderbird slot other than the two different Free Spins features and Wild bonuses outlined above.

Best feature of the Thunderbird slot

There is a lot to like with the Thunderbird slot. The game is fun to play, it is presented in a very attractive and sympathetic way and captures the atmosphere very nicely. For me, the Free Spins bonus game is where it is at here. The fact that both of the main features of the slot spring from the Scatter symbols aligning for you does narrow your options a little, but if you can hit the additional bonus free spins, the Super Spirit round, then you can win some very pleasing amounts of money on what is an otherwise low to mid volatility slot.

What does the Thunderbird slot lack?

Bring picky, the one thing I think the Thunderbird slot would have benefited from would have been a randomly triggering bonus in the base game. Hitting Free Spins can be tough, and it can take a while to achieve this, so having something to keep you on your toes in the base game would have been a nice addition. That said, you do win relatively frequently on this slot, so you never feel like the game is too far away from a better value win.

Conclusion

Thunderbird is a very different change of pace from your usual slot but does follow the standard approach to native American themed games and it is all the better for that. The color used in the presentation is nice but what really makes the game appealing is the two bonus rounds, both Free Spins-based, which allows you to access one and then, if you are lucky enough, the other from the first bonus round. This is a fun, lower to mid variance slot that offers a nice mix of wins but perhaps lacks the sizeable jackpot that is going to attract the higher roller players.

Ratings

• Presentation: 14 / 20 - The presentation of the slot is very nicely done. The musical accompaniment is very atmospheric and adds a lot to the game. The graphics are bright and bring the game to life. Animations are smooth and crisp. One small niggle is the lack of dynamism in the backdrop, the. Thunderbird story is spectacular and a static backdrop doesn't really do it enough justice. That said, the slot looks fine, it just could have been a little more ambitious in my view.
• Game-play: 13 / 20 - The Thunderbird slot plays as a pretty standard low to mid variance slot with relatively regular wins, most of which are on the small side. However, you can land the occasional big value win,especially when the Wild multiplier plays a part. The Free Spins bonus rounds are where the real action in this slot is at but they can be a little difficult to trigger and you do need patience and a decent sized bankroll to ensure you get to see all aspects of the slot.
• Bonus Features: 15 / 20 - The Wild symbol is a very useful and perhaps undervalued symbol in the base game, especially with that 2x multiplier applied to the wins. However, it is the Free Spins bonuses that are most exciting. One gripe is that you can only access the second from the first as this radically cuts down your chances of hitting that bonus. However, when you do trigger the first bonus, you can land some sizeable prizes and knowing another bonus game is possible does make that game all the more exciting.
• Entertainment Factor: 12 / 20 - The action in the Thunderbird slot all tends to come in the bonus rounds and that means that the base game needs to be good if you are going to be playing it a while. While Thunderbird's base game isn't bad, it also isn't the most exciting and does lack a little added fizz, especially when you get into a long run of spins without triggering the main bonus feature. That does tend to drag at times when you play the game.
• Play Value: 13 / 20 - As a mid to lower variance slot, you would expect this game to be pretty rewarding and indeed it is, although many wins you land in the base game are small. The Wild symbol with its 2x multiplier is your friend here and that really helps bolster some of your wins, especially across multiple lines. The real value comes in the Free Spins bonus rounds and if you can get lucky here, this is where the bigger money becomes available.
• Overall 67 / 100 - If you enjoy slots that are not in your face and are which a little more reserved, quieter and more reverent then the Thunderbird slot from Rival Gaming will be right up your street. Nicely presented, the base game can drag a little at times, but when you hit the Free Spins bonuses then the game does come alive. This is a decent slot to play but one that could have been improved with a couple of small tweaks in my view.

Good Luck!

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