Gunpowder Review
Gunpowder has been making waves since the 9th century, originating in China during the Tang dynasty. Recognized as one of China’s ‘Four Great Inventions’ alongside paper making, printing, and the compass, gunpowder has played a pivotal role in shaping global power dynamics, both defensively and offensively. Developer Peter & Sons has harnessed the explosive potential of this substance to ignite their slot game, Gunpowder, themed around naval warfare, featuring sticky wilds and wild spreading functionalities, some equipped with multipliers.
Naval warfare in bygone eras was undoubtedly a harrowing ordeal, characterized by noise, destruction, and loss of life, amidst the challenges of sunburn and scurvy. Thankfully, in Gunpowder, Peter & Sons has leveraged their artistic prowess to render the game visually appealing, despite its explosive theme. Players are treated to a top-down perspective reminiscent of video games like Age of Empires, depicting a coastal town, wrecked ships, and the expanse of water. The transparent gaming grid floats over the sea, hosting an array of adorable little ships as its high-paying symbols.
Gunpowder is a highly volatile online slot featuring 10 paylines across its 5-reel, 3-row layout. It accommodates bets ranging from 10 cents to $/€50 per spin and offers both a Golden Bet option and a bonus buy feature. Activating the Golden Bet increases the stake by 50%, enhancing the chances of landing sticky wilds in the base game and triggering free spins. The default RTP listed for Gunpowder is 96.2%.
Peter & Sons have meticulously crafted the low-paying symbols, represented by the wooden card royals 10 through Ace, and the high-paying symbols, consisting of five wooden ships. Aligning 5 matching low-paying symbols awards 2.5 to 5 times the bet, while landing 5 matching high-paying symbols yields 10 to 20 times the bet. Wilds, referred to as sticky wilds in Gunpowder, substitute for regular symbols to form winning combinations.
Gunpowder boasts a modest selection of features, including respins, a random Phantom Power bonus, sticky wild free spins, and a bonus buy option to fast-track to the free spins round.
Gunpowder – Phantom Power
This feature triggers randomly when a wild symbol lands on the reels in the base game, initiating a respin where the wild becomes sticky. If the wild defeats adjacent high-paying symbols, they transform into additional wilds, awarding an extra respin. During free spins, wilds may carry x2 or x3 multipliers.
Gunpowder – Free Spins
Landing 3 to 7 scatter symbols in the base game awards 10 to 30 free spins. In the free spins round, wilds remain sticky for the duration. If all reels feature a wild, players earn an additional 5 free spins. The Phantom Power feature enables sticky wilds to propagate during free spins.
Gunpowder – Bonus Buy
Players have the option to purchase the free spins feature directly from the base game for 170 times the bet, granting 7 to 12 free spins.
While Gunpowder may not overwhelm players with a plethora of complex features, its offerings pack a punch. Sticky wild free spins, especially those with multipliers, have demonstrated their potential in past games, and Gunpowder is no exception. The game’s visuals, coupled with its engaging naval animations, ensure an enjoyable gaming experience. Although it may not exude the same sense of imminent danger as some other slots with sticky wild features, Gunpowder’s potential for explosive wins is undeniable, particularly during free spins when sticky wilds proliferate with the help of Phantom Power.
In summary, Gunpowder may not reinvent the wheel with its mechanics, but like its namesake, it has the power to make a big impact.
Gunpowder Slot Information
Title: Gunpowder
Developer: Peter & Sons
Reels: 5
Rows: 3
Paylines: 20
RTP: 96.2% | 94.2% | 90.5% | 86%
Hit Freq: 18.87%
Max Win: 10,000x
Volatility: High
Min/Max Bet: 0.20/50
Release Date: May 9, 2024