Hit It Big

Hit It Big (ELK Studios): Review

Imagine the 'This is Fine' meme embodied in a slot machine format. Instead of ignoring imminent danger, you'd need to maintain composure amidst a wildly dynamic display of flashing neon symbols that initially seem chaotic.

Hit It Big is, at its essence, a highly unpredictable game sporting a vintage game show theme crafted by Swedish developer ELK Studios. The game unfolds on a traditional 5x3 reel grid with five paylines, enhanced by a row of special function buttons located above and below the reels that activate upon alignment. Among its features, the crowning piece is the Hit It Big Bonus—a three-tiered selection bonus offering cash rewards of up to 1,000 times your bet.

As an entry from ELK's classic collection, this game is reminiscent of titles like Ivanhoe and Route 777. Within the ambiance of a game show set, expect to hear murmurs and audience noise when the game is idle, which gives way to the thrilling sound of spinning reels when the action resumes. A bright palette of neon lights creates a retro vibe with symbols like three different low-paying Bar icons and four more valuable sevens, culminating in the crowned seven that gives you a payout of 50 times your stake when you hit five in a row.

Serving as the wild, the gold crown substitutes for all symbols except the scatter, fulfilling its usual functions.

Hit It Big (ELK Studios): Features

When it comes to gameplay mechanics, the main spotlight is on the Reel Game feature. Above and below the reels, brightly colored buttons display features that offer various combinations for each spin. Aligning these buttons can trigger up to five features in a single spin, highlighted on the large display above the reels. The available features include the following:

• Locked Wilds – results in stacks of wilds on the first and fifth reels, locking them in place for three respins.
• Stacked Wilds – covers a complete reel with wild symbols for that spin.
• Respin - awards a respin of all reels.
• Multipliers – provides a multiplier ranging from 2x to 50x for the winning line.

By hitting three scatter symbols in the middle reels, players gain entry to the Bonus Game, offering enhanced winning opportunities. This bonus is essentially a selection game with three levels, asking players to stop a pointer that spins through multipliers symbolized by objects like roller skates and yachts. Winning changes the symbol to a Bandit, which ends the bonus if selected in future picks.

Additional navigational arrows can take you forward or backward in bonus levels. Hitting the inwards arrow advances you to higher levels with improved prizes, while the outwards arrow downgrades your level. Reaching the highest tier gives you a guaranteed prize ranging from 100x to 1,000x.

Hit It Big (ELK Studios): Verdict

A primary concern with Hit It Big is the maximum potential win of 2,500 times your stake, which seems rather modest given the promises made by its name. The high volatility and rare bonus frequency (every 248 spins on average) mean that it carries significant risk for a potentially low reward compared to trendier games. Without the aid of the Reel Game features, the game can be unforgiving, as these features can feel as elusive as opposite ends of a magnet.

Despite this, there's an intriguing allure to Hit It Big that's difficult to define. Its simple yet effective design captures something deeply resonant psychologically, engaging the player’s gambling instincts right from the outset. The game is lively and refreshing, and while picking bonuses aren’t usually our favorite, they are well-executed here, with directional arrows adding layers of strategy.

In conclusion, Hit It Big is a charming slot with a thrilling yet challenging bonus that could be more attractive if its win potential were increased to at least 5,000x.