Big Bass Bonanza Megaways Slot Review

Overview

Big Bass Bonanza Megaways brings the popular Megaways format to the beloved Big Bass Bonanza series. With the signature underwater theme featuring vibrant fish symbols, fishing rods, and floats, players are transported into a tranquil aquatic world filled with winning potential.

The base gameplay takes place on a 6-reel set-up with up to 7 symbols on each reel. This results in the impressive 46,656 ways to win, providing plenty of opportunities to hit winning combinations. The addition of tumbling reels and a horizontal reel above the main set adds even more excitement.

With an RTP of 96.7% and medium volatility, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways offers a healthy dose of risk vs reward. The maximum potential win sits at a sizeable 4,000x your bet. While not record-breaking, this is still a decent payout that makes every spin interesting.

When it comes to special features, the free spins round is where the action really heats up. Not only can you retrigger the bonus with collecting fisherman symbols, but two random modifiers – Dynamite and Bazooka – can also make an appearance, adding more intrigue to the game.

Overall, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways brings a familiar theme into the modern online slots era seamlessly. Megaways mechanics blend effortlessly with the existing format, upping the ante for fans of the series. Let's take a closer look at what this Pragmatic Play title has to offer.

My Thoughts Overall

Right off the bat, the first thing you notice with Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is how well it captures the essence of the original slot. The bright and playful graphics transport you into an immersive underwater world brimming with possibilities.

Symbols like fishing rods, tackle boxes, floats and lures are expertly designed and complement the theme beautifully. Seeing the reels cascade with vibrant fish symbols never gets old. Small touches like fish swimming in the background and gentle waves add polish to the visuals.

The island music creates a relaxing vibe that lets you get in a Zen-like zone as you spin. It fits the tranquil setting perfectly without being intrusive. Sound effects like tumbling reels and winning combinations add flair without going overboard.

Of course, the highlight is the Megaways inclusion which ups the ante significantly. Having up to 46,656 ways to win keeps things dynamic and exciting. With every spin, the reel formation changes, making for interesting gameplay as you wait in anticipation to see how many symbols land.

The RTP of 96.7% provides a theoretical return that's better than average. In my experience playing the game, it does feel quite fair overall. The wins don't come too infrequently, helped by the tumbling reels which can trigger multiple wins from a single spin.

In terms of drawbacks, there's nothing that really stands out. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the lack of a progressive jackpot or ante bet leaves some potential rewards untapped. But the max win of 4,000x bet still gives you plenty to aim for.

Overall, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways delivers exactly what you'd want and expect from a Megaways iteration of this popular series. The seamless integration combined with solid rewards makes for an entertaining gaming session that has stood the test of time.

Bonus Features

Let's reel in the key details on the bonus features and special symbols that Big Bass Bonanza Megaways has to offer:

Wild Symbol - The Fish Net symbol acts as a wild, substituting for all symbols except the scatter and fisherman. Having this wild in play helps create more winning combinations.

Scatter Symbol - Land 3 or more scatters to trigger the free spins feature where the lucrative fisherman bonus activates.

Tumbling Reels - Any winning combinations cause those symbols to disappear and new ones cascade down to fill their place. This can lead to chained reactions with multiple wins from a single spin.

Money Symbols - Any fish symbols that land during free spins take on a random cash value that can be collected by the fisherman for instant wins.

Free Spins - Triggered by landing 3 or more scatters, free spins bring the fisherman symbol into play. Any fish symbols he lands on get scooped up for their cash values.

Fisherman Collection - Every 4 fisherman symbols collected in free spins retrigger the feature, providing extra spins and a multiplier of 2x, 3x or 10x.

Dynamite Random Feature - Causes fish money symbols to be added to the reels when 1 or 2 fisherman land without any fish symbols during free spins.

Bazooka Random Feature - Explodes the whole grid apart from fisherman symbols before replacing them with a new set during free spins for added excitement.

As you can see, there's plenty going on in the features department to keep gameplay sizzling. The Megaways format inherently provides a dynamic base game, with tumbling reels adding another layer. But the free spins round is where Big Bass Bonanza Megaways really distinguishes itself.

Having the fisherman symbol scoop up fish for instant cash prizes is immensely satisfying. Then you have the Bazooka and Dynamite features which can randomly trigger for a second chance at forming winning combinations when it looks like your free spins are dwindling.

Small touches like the fisherman collection meter building up your multiplier also work seamlessly. Overall, the features provide plenty of big win potential, especially during those all-important free spins.

Win Potential

Now let's dive into the nitty-gritty details on the winning potential in Big Bass Bonanza Megaways:

• RTP - The return to player percentage sits at 96.7%, which is above average and provides decent payouts over time.
• Hit Frequency - With medium volatility, the hit rate is a balanced mix of steady smaller wins and less frequent bigger payouts.
• Max Win - Landing a full screen of the highest paying symbol rewards you with a whopping 4,000x your stake.
• Bet Sizing - With the ability to bet anywhere from $0.20 to $100 per spin, high rollers and casual players are accommodated.

While the max win of 4,000x your bet isn't record-setting, it can still deliver some huge payouts. Combined with the great RTP, medium volatility, and potential for multiple wins per spin, the winning prospects are quite satisfying.

In my time playing the game, I was able to hit the free spins feature regularly enough to keep things interesting. The big wins don't come around all too often, but when they do, it's a nice bonus. Overall, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways provides a healthy balance of risk and reward.

Verdict

Bringing the Megaways format to the beloved Big Bass Bonanza series was a natural fit, and Pragmatic Play with Reel Kingdom executed it flawlessly. All the elements slot fans have come to love about fishing-themed slots are here – a vibrant underwater setting, intuitive gameplay, and exciting bonus features.

The RTP of 96.7% provides frequent enough payouts to keep you invested while chasing that mammoth max win of 4,000x your stake, which is possible in the free spins round. Minor gripes around the lack of a jackpot aside, the winning prospects are solid.

Medium volatility strikes the perfect balance between risk and reward to keep sessions entertaining. Visually, the vibrant aquatic graphics stand the test of time and look great on desktop or mobile. The soundtrack complements the visuals nicely as well.

Smooth integration of the Megaways mechanics adds a modern twist that feels natural rather than gimmicky. Overall, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is an online slot done right, offering up an engaging experience for angling and slots enthusiasts alike.