Introduction to Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win
Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win is a casino slot from Booming Games, adding another edition to their Buffalo series. We’ve seen this powerful animal previously roam in games like Twin Buffalo: Hold & Win and Buffalo Hold and Win. Here, we get a familiar design with the typical well-produced Booming Games vibe, offering a pleasant experience but without any memorable elements. In terms of gameplay, it revolves around a Bonus Wheel containing Cash Prizes and an Ultra Hold & Win, which is a boosted version of what we’ve recently seen from the studio. With decent win potential and enhanced Hold & Win mechanics, it might find an audience among the studio’s fans. However, we’ve seen these features before from other providers, and it doesn’t deliver the innovation we expected.
Theme, Gameplay, & Payouts
Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win is a video slot by Booming Games that features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 paylines. You can select bet sizes ranging from 0.2 to 100, with a default RTP of 95.6%, which is considered just below industry average. This game has a medium/high volatility and a hit frequency of 26.2%, offering potential wins of up to 5,000X your bet.
The game’s design is based on a familiar buffalo theme and is set in the Southwestern desert of the United States. The 5x3 game grid is in the middle of the screen, with the Bonus Wheel on the left side, containing prizes. If you want to boost the gaming experience for a cost, activate the Feature Buy or Boost+ buttons on each side of the reels. All other buttons, including the Spin and Bet Size, can be found below the reels. You can play Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win on all mobile devices, desktops, and notepads. You create a winning combination by landing 3 or more of the same symbol types on adjacent reels starting at the leftmost reel.
The lower-paying symbols are J, Q, K, and A. Landing 5 of the same symbol type pays between 1X and 1.5X. The higher-paying symbols are a wolf, a cougar, an eagle, and a buffalo. Landing 5 of the same symbol type pays between 3X and 10X.
The game’s Wild Symbol has the text “Wild” and can also appear as part of the Wild Buffalo Herd Feature. It can also land as a 2X Wild Multiplier, applied to all wins it's part of. The Coin Symbol can appear on the reels with values ranging from 1X to 250X the bet. Landing 5 or more of this symbol type will trigger the Hold & Win feature. The Bonus Symbol is a multicolored wheel, and can appear on reels 1, 3, and 5. Landing 3 Bonus Symbols on the reels will trigger the Bonus Wheel. Let’s find out what kind of features this game has to offer.
Special Features & Slot Mechanics
What is the max win in the slot of Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win?
The max win is 5,000X the bet.
What features are available in the slot of Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win?
The features of this slot game are Wild Symbol, Collection Chest, Buffalo Bonus Wheel, Ultra Hold & Win, Boost+, and Feature Buy.
Wild Symbol
The Wild Symbol substitutes all symbols except the Bonus and Coin Symbols and helps you create winning combinations. The Wild Symbol also appears in the Wild Buffalo Herd, which is randomly triggered during the Base Game. During this feature, randomly paying symbols on the reels are transformed into Wild Symbols or 2X Wild Multipliers.
Collection Chest
Whenever a Coin Symbol lands in view, it gets collected in the Collection Chest during the Base Game with a random chance of triggering the Ultra Hold & Win feature.
Buffalo Bonus Wheel
This feature can be triggered by landing 3 Bonus Symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, awarding one spin on the Bonus Wheel. When activated, one of the following prizes is awarded:
Jackpot Prizes = Award the Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand Jackpot of 20X, 50X, 250X, or 2,000X the bet, respectively.
Bonus Game = Triggers the Ultra Hold & Win or Super Hold & Win with 2 rows unlocked.
Ultra Hold & Win
This feature can be triggered by landing 5 or more Coin Symbols during the Base Game, awarding 3 respins. It can also be randomly triggered via the Collection Chest or Bonus Wheel.
The feature starts with a 5x4 game grid with 4 additional locked rows above the active reels. Only blanks and Coin Symbols can appear on the reels. Whenever a Coin Symbol lands in view, it gets locked in place and resets the respins to 3.
The Coin Symbol can land with values of 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X, 7X, 8X, 10X, 12X, 15X, 25X the bet. It can also land as the Mini, Minor, or Major Jackpot, awarding 20X, 50X, or 250X the bet, respectively.
The aim of the feature is to unlock the locked reels, which can expand the game grid up to 5x8. Collecting Coin Symbols in the reels progressively unlocks the locked reels. Above the reels, the Ultra Reel is displayed, and can only be triggered when: all locked rows have been unlocked, at least 1x8 reels are filled 8 high, or the Ultra Hold & Win has been completed, and there are no more respins.
The Ultra Reel can award the following:
Coin Multiplier = Multiplies its value to all Coin Symbols directly below it.
Coin Booster = Adds a cash value to all Coin Symbols directly below it.
When all positions on the fully unlocked 5x8 game grid are filled with Coin Symbols, you are awarded the Grand Prize of 2,000X the bet. The feature ends when no more respins are left, awarding the total value of all Coin Symbols in view.
Boost+
You trigger the Boost+ at an extra cost of 25% of the current bet. When this feature is activated, the chances of triggering the Bonus Games increase.
Feature Buy
If you want to take advantage of the Free Spins feature immediately, you can use the Feature Buy options:
100X = Activate the Ultra Hold & Win
200X = Activate the Super Ultra Hold & Win with all rows unlocked.
Final Thoughts on Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win
This game provides another visit to the Southwestern desert of the United States, featuring wild buffalo and an adventurous soundtrack. Even though it creates a good slot environment, we’ve seen it countless times before from Booming Games. We wish the studio had taken a more innovative and ambitious approach to both design and gameplay, which would’ve made Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win more memorable.
Looking at the gameplay, it offers various ways to create winning combinations. From Wild Multipliers and Jackpot Prizes during the Base Game, to an Ultra Hold & Win as Bonus Game. The Ultra Hold & Win is the highlight of the game, and a fresh take on the Hold & Win mechanic we’ve recently seen from the studio in games like Gold & Glamour Hold and Win. Here, the aim is to unlock the locked rows in the Bonus Game, similar to what we’ve seen in Playtech’s Mega Fire Blaze series. Although it presents decent win potential, it’s heavily influenced by other providers, making it less unique and overly familiar.
Overall, the design and vibe are decent, but we’ve seen it countless times before, and it fails to create a memorable experience. In terms of gameplay, it’s better than other basic Hold & Win releases we’ve seen from the studio, but the features are still overly familiar and heavily influenced by other providers.
Ultra Buffalo Hold & Win is a slot where unlocking rows during the Bonus Game can award decent win potential!
