Orbitfall Slot Review
TV shows never seem to run dry when it comes to drawing inspiration from real life.
Take the infamous Southpark episode Cartman Gets an Anal Probe – that idea was based on the allegedly real-life events of Barney and Betty Hill, and the show has subsequently helped foster this idea that aliens 👽 have an unhealthy fascination with human orifices.
You see, the Hills underwent a series of strange events in 1961, culminating with Barney’s admission, under hypnosis, that the aliens 👾🛸 who abducted him sent a probe to Uranus. Or is that Hisanus? 🤔
You’ll be happy to know that no probes were harmed in the making of Orbitfall slot from ELK Studios.
Gameplay
Ooh, this game is like Space Invaders for slots! We have ourselves a tentacled, many-eyed monster that’s threatening the galaxy, and the star fleet is the only thing standing in its way. Or something like that – I’m just ad-libbing.
The grid has 6 reels (these can grow up to 8 in height) and 5 rows, and above it is a horizontal reel (I’ll get to this in a little while). This game uses Cluster PaysUnlike traditional paylines, Cluster Pays can award wins when a minimum number of matching symbols land adjacent to each other (vertically or horizontally), forming a cluster., so a winning combo requires 5 or more identical symbols that are connected vertically or horizontally.
Blockers and Levels:
Winning symbols get removed, as usual. New symbols come in from the bottom of the grid, which is the reverse of the norm, and the action continues until no more winning combos take place. This is the Avalanche feature (sometimes called a CascadeOtherwise known as a Tumble, Avalanche, or whatever a studio sees fit to name it. The idea is the same, though; winning symbols get removed, and new ones take their place. This action could result in additional wins, in which case the action continues.).
Now we get back to that extra reel, which is a row of blockers. Cluster wins destroy blockers (one blocker per reel per cluster) as the winning symbols shoot vertically.
The game has levels, just like an arcade game. Level 1 has 5 rows of symbols with the horizontal blocker row. Level 2 has 5 rows of symbols and 2 rows of blockers. Level 3 has 5 rows and 3 rows of blockers/ The final level (Level 4) has 7 symbol rows and 1 blocker row.
Each symbol drop during Level 4 results in blockers moving downwards by a row while a new set of blockers is added at the top of the grid. Level 4 ends when a blocker reaches the bottom row.
So, how do you move from level to level? Easy: by destroying all of the blockers on your current level. One thing to take note of is that advancing to Levels 2 and 3 (only) means that the remaining symbols on the five lower rows will be carried over.
Blockers can contain a feature symbol – when these are released, by destroying the blocker, that’s when a feature will come into play. Features could include re-drops, multipliers, and the ability to clear levels.
I’ll dig into the specifics in the Features section, but for now, here are the game’s stats:
- RTPRTP stands for “Return to Player.” The RTP describes the total bet amount that a game returns to players over millions of spins, and that figure is represented by a percentage. Table games, such as Roulette, typically have higher RTPs than many slots.
RTP needs to be considered in conjunction with a game’s volatility rate.: 94% - Volatility RateSlot games can have low, medium, high, or extremely high volatility rates (or a combination thereof).
The less volatile the game, the more often it should pay out, but the lower the amount, the less the payout, as this is in keeping with the risk you’re taking. Volatility rate should be considered in conjunction with a game’s RTP.: Medium to High - Max Multiplier: 7,500x
- Max Win: $150,000
- Accepted Currency: Fiat only
The Wild symbol replaces all symbols that aren’t Bonus symbols (the roll of these will be explained below). Wild symbols, along with low and high-paying symbols, can be 1x1 in size, or 2x2 or 3x3.
Features
BLOCKER FEATURES:
Re-drops and lasers:
When a re-drop symbol is released from a blocker, it will add to a counter. The re-drop is used when there are no more winning combinations – this applies to the base game and Free Spins. All symbols get replaced in a re-drop.
If a laser symbol drops, it’ll charge a laser when part of a winning combo. The laser charge is used up at the end of a round (base game or Free Spins) when no more wins are happening, and then an entire reel’s symbols are removed. Pew-pew!
Level Clear:
This symbol removes all other blockers, which in turn allows you to level up.
Multiplier:
This symbol increases the global multiplier. The global multiplier is applied to all wins in the current game round.
Alien Attack!
This can happen at the end of a game round (base game or Free Spins). One to 6 reels get selected, and all paying symbols are removed.
FREE SPINS:
If a Bonus symbol reaches the top row, it’ll trigger the Free Spins game (you’ll be awarded 5 spins). The current multiplier and re-drops will be brought into this round.
The round ends when you run out of spins (you can’t re-trigger the spins), or if you hit the max multiplier.
X-ITER:
- Bonus Hunt: Pay 3x your bet for a 4x better chance of triggering the Free Spins round (Ante BetAn Ante Bet is an option that costs a percentage of your bet but increases your chances of landing triggering symbols that initiate a feature.)
- Fleet Call: Pay 10x your bet to start at Level 2
- Play Among The Stars: Pay 75x to start at Level 4
- Bonus: Pay 100x for immediate entry into the Free Spins round
- Endless Annihilation: Pay 500x to start on Level 4. You also get multiple features
Performance
Testing this game revealed no issues.
Maximum Win
Betting starts at $0.20 and you’ll only need to bet $20 to be in line for the $150,000 top prize. The max multiplier is 7,500x.
Conclusion
Orbitfall slot is a refreshing, unique addition from ELK Studios. It’s easy to be mesmerized by the game’s visuals, so we need to look past the stunning design and theme to pick the bones out of it.
Having 4 levels gives us something to work towards and keeps things exciting in the base game.
You can also rake in the moolah thanks to various reel modifiers (the global multiplier being the one you want most).
The X-iter options can get you there faster, although the cost can be eye-watering, especially for the Free Spins option and Endless Annihilation. Paying 100x for 5 spins is especially rough. But still, there’s no doubt the game is entertaining and offers various options for making bank.
If you liked this theme then check out Relax Gaming’s Space Attacks Dream Drop slot. Stats-wise there’s a $240,000 top prize despite a medium volatility rate, and an 8,000x max multiplier.
There’s also a watered-down Free Spins round (you get 3 spins) but these can be added to if you score a win. And then there’s the Dream Drop Progressive Linked Jackpot that has, as its highest prize, a $3 million payout.
Slot Details
Game Provider: ELK Studios
Game Type: Video Slots
PaylinesPaylines are preset lines that run across the reels, and when you land matching symbols on them, that will result in a payout. The more paylines, the more ways you can win, but also the higher your bet per spin.: Cluster PaysUnlike traditional paylines, Cluster Pays can award wins when a minimum number of matching symbols land adjacent to each other (vertically or horizontally), forming a cluster.
RTPRTP stands for “Return to Player.” The RTP describes the total bet amount that a game returns to players over millions of spins, and that figure is represented by a percentage. Table games, such as Roulette, typically have higher RTPs than many slots.
RTP needs to be considered in conjunction with a game’s volatility rate.: 94%
Volatility RateSlot games can have low, medium, high, or extremely high volatility rates (or a combination thereof).
The less volatile the game, the more often it should pay out, but the lower the amount, the less the payout, as this is in keeping with the risk you’re taking. Volatility rate should be considered in conjunction with a game’s RTP.: Medium to High
Bonus Round: No
Progressive: No
Free Rounds: Free Spins and Re-drops
Max Multiplier: 7,500x
Max Win: $150,000
Published by
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