The visual quality of Asgardian Fire is remarkably impressive. Players are immersed in a breathtaking universe where the main game, set against a rocky backdrop under the northern lights, is already visually appealing. However, when free spins are activated, the gameplay transitions to an even more heavenly environment.
This realm is characterized by dense, radiant golden clouds and a structure resembling Odin’s abode situated behind the spinning symbols. The theme is impactful, and Neon Valley Studios has invested a considerable amount of creativity and skill into making Asgardian Fire truly remarkable.
Between two massive pillars, symbols cascade down against the backdrop of a majestic starry sky. Odin, the All-Father, oversees everything with his solitary eye, and it’s evident from the start that Neon Valley Studios has put in significant effort to give Asgardian Fire an impressive appearance. While we don’t have any negative observations about the initial impact in this aspect, it’s worth noting that the core mechanics and features are directly inspired by ELK’s ‘Gold’ series.
Nonetheless, this isn’t necessarily a drawback, as borrowing ideas is a common part of the creative process in many instances. The gameplay revolves around expanding the grid through successive Rolling Reel wins, and players also enjoy advantages like Jumbo symbols and Second Chance scatters. The grid size achieved is maintained during the bonus round, where wild symbols accumulate until they contribute to a win. The potential of winning 5,000 times the bet is respectable, although it doesn’t quite reach the levels of most entries in the ‘Gold’ series.
Best features
In addition to the Rolling Reels and Escalating Ways features, Asgardian Fire offers Jumbo Blocks, a Wild Fill Feature, Second Chance, free spins with an Elevator mechanic, persistent wilds, a feature buy option, and the Upsizer feature.
- Jumbo Blocks Symbols, excluding scatters or wilds, have the potential to land as Jumbo Blocks. These oversized symbols can show up during Rolling Reels with dimensions of 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4. Reels 2 to 6 are the possible locations for these Jumbo Blocks to appear.
- Wild Fill Feature Whenever Jumbo Blocks land on the reels, any empty spaces situated below them will be occupied by wild symbols, effectively filling those gaps.
- Scatter and Second Chance Whenever a scatter symbol lands, it activates the Second Chance feature, which comes into play after all winning combinations have been resolved. In this feature, a diamond-shaped region around each scatter can accommodate the explosion of up to 12 symbols. This explosion clears space for new symbols to cascade down. Notably, wilds, Jumbo Blocks, and other scatter symbols will not undergo this exploding process.
Free spins and feature buy
Free Spins Achieving a combination of 3 scatter symbols grants you 6 free spins, and each extra scatter symbol visible adds 3 more free spins to the count. These free spins can also be retriggered. Before the free spins commence, the Upsizer feature, aka bonus buy feature presents the option to purchase additional free spins at a certain cost.
The choices available for purchase are 9, 12, 15, or 25 free spins. However, it’s important to note that the Upsizer cannot be utilized through the feature buy option. As the free spins round begins, the Elevator starts with 4 rows. Following each successful spin, the Elevator progresses by 1 row, with the potential to reach a maximum height of 8 rows. The Elevator remains fixed at the minimum number of rows and ways to win for the rest of the free spins feature.
Additionally, during the free spins, once all wins are resolved, any remaining wild symbols on the grid descend to the bottom of the reels. These wilds remain in place until they are part of a winning combination.
Within the bonus buy menu, players have the opportunity to purchase sets of 6, 9, 12, 15, or 25 free spins at different costs: 70x, 100x, 125x, 140x, or 300x the initial bet, respectively.
Maximum winning potential and RTP
The Asgardian Fire slot boasts an RTP (Return to Player) of 96%, a figure that is generally considered to be around the industry average for online slots. In theory, this indicates that for every $100 wagered in the game, an expected payout of $96 can be anticipated.
However, it’s important to note that the RTP calculation is based on an extensive number of spins, ensuring that the outcome for each individual spin remains entirely random.
As for the highest conceivable payout in this slot, it stands at 5000 times your overall bet, a substantial figure that offers the possibility of substantial winnings. This maximum potential win is also determined over an extensive span of spins, often spanning billions of individual spins.
Our verdict
The apocalyptic sky backdrop featured in the bonus round is undeniably striking, as is the overall visual presentation of the game in general. It’s evident that Neon Valley Studios has invested considerable effort and creativity into developing Asgardian Fire. However, it’s unfortunate that the game heavily relies on mechanics borrowed from other sources.
The expansion system of the rolling reels grid, for instance, is clearly taken from ELK’s popular ‘Gold’ series, and the concept of jumbo blocks with wild fill isn’t a particularly original innovation either. It would have greatly enhanced the game if it had introduced some unique and inventive features to the mix. The Second Chance feature is the closest the game comes to originality.
There’s a sense that something is missing in the bonus round, too, because the only additional elements are wild accumulation at the bottom of the grid and locked grid expansion levels. To be clear, Asgardian Fire is still an enjoyable and entertaining game, but it falls slightly short in comparison to its sources of inspiration, except in terms of its audiovisual presentation.
Neon Valley Studios has crafted Asgardian Fire to be akin to a lavish Norse feast, replete with succulent roast boars, mead, and delectable walnut bread. The team has spared no effort in adorning Asgardian Fire with visually stunning graphics and energetic, captivating music. Mere screenshots don’t quite capture the game’s true essence, as its exceptional animations, dynamic reels, and fluid zooming effects truly come to life when set in motion. This might be the reason why so many feel this is the best slot of this month!
For enthusiasts of Norse-themed slots, this game is an absolute must-experience. Play it at one of these: Best online casinos 2024
