Serengeti Kings

Serengeti Kings (NetEnt): Overview

NetEnt makes a return to familiar ground cleverly designed against the backdrop of Africa's vast Serengeti. This isn't just another release; after some less impressive creations, NetEnt has delivered a captivating game that is visually and experientially rewarding. The initial visuals might not appear groundbreaking, yet it's the sound design that enhances the atmosphere significantly. The African savanna theme is well-trodden in the gaming world, and developers need to work a unique charm to captivate players. Could Serengeti Kings be such a standout?

Serengeti Kings leans toward a whimsical portrayal of Africa, reminiscent of Disney's vibrant narratives where challenges are more charming than threatening. The background visual sets an enticing stage, yet it's the soundtrack, echoing with the vitality of soulful harmonies often associated with lively black church gatherings, that is integral in drawing players into the game. Imagine the Lion King but with a relaxed, fun-loving sibling borrowing its aesthetic charm. With its reinvented user interface and new gameplay features, Serengeti Kings distances itself from the legacy of past NetEnt slots.

Players encounter a slightly unusual setup with a 5-reel, 4-row grid and 26 paylines, deviating from the more common preferences like the 1024 win ways for 4-row layouts. The betting range accommodates varied players, starting at a mere 10 p/c and reaching up to $/€100 per spin. Symbol diversity is well-curated, with lower value ones styled from 9 to A royals using animal prints, while higher payouts are portrayed by African wildlife like meerkats and zebras. The apex symbols, lions, and panthers (the Serengeti Kings), reward up to five times the stake for five on a payline, while wild symbols offer impressive returns of 50 times the bet.

A medium to high volatility level accompanies a strategically crafted math model. While significant wins aren't exceedingly frequent, the features integrated within can generate noteworthy payouts. Unique mechanics like the Feature Buy alter the RTP within the range of 96.2% to 96.7%, contingent on your selection.

Serengeti Kings (NetEnt): Features

Central to the game are the lion and panther symbols, which have pivotal roles in the gameplay features, perhaps swaying from their geographic associations. The play starts with the Lion Spins, transitioning to Panther Spins as day turns to night. Each mode provides 12 spins during which the respective animal symbols are collected in counters beside the play area.

During the concluding 12th Lion Spin, collected lion symbols are randomly distributed on the reels instead of being accumulated, triggering the Lion feature. The same holds true for the Panther symbols during the 12th Panther Spin. These distributions can create lucrative matchups, especially when lions and panthers overlap, generating wild symbols or contributing +1 to multipliers when the same animal aligns over one another or a wild symbol.

All paylines begin with a multiplier of x1, and in cases of matching combinations, these values aggregate and apply to the payline. Once the cycle of spins ends, the game transitions to the alternate animal's spins, repeating the pattern.

The standout element is the bonus round, activated by three or more scatter symbols leading to 12 Free Spins. The scatter count affects the likelihood of gathering Panther and Lion symbols for the decisive spin:

• Three scatters initiate the bonus round with neither panthers nor lions collected.
• Four scatters preserve the existing count of collected symbols.
• Five scatters add five additional lion and panther counts already gathered.

Throughout free spins, the collection of lion and panther symbols proceeds as usual. At the end, all collected symbols are placed strategically on the reels to form combinations, wilds, or enhance multipliers as described earlier.

For the first time, NetEnt includes a Feature Buy, enabling direct access to free spins. This feature's pricing varies, with three scatters costing 58.7 times the stake, and the cost for four or five scatters dependent on the collected symbols. During testing, the hefty price for the five-scatter buy was around 358 times the stake, yet it delivered positive returns perceived as potentially beginner's luck.

Serengeti Kings (NetEnt): Verdict

NetEnt impressively revives a seasoned old theme with inventive features in Serengeti Kings, reaffirming their prowess after some recent less impressive releases. The game excels with crisp graphics harmonized with a proficient math model and captivating features.

The clever 12-spin segment structure concluding with a unique Lion or Panther feature adds thrill. While not entirely novel, as seen with IGT’s Scarab, it blends seamlessly with Serengeti Kings. This game less invokes a 'one more spin' allure, opt for '12 more spins.' Abandonment midway through a spinning cycle misses remarkable potential, notably when a generous tally of lion or panther symbols is already amassed. Watching these symbols embellish the reels during round completion sparks exhilaration, particularly when both beasts appear post free spins.

Serengeti Kings might not compete head-to-head with the safari heavy hitters like other prominent games, yet it is commendable in its right. Successful connection of a few wild lines at free spins' end could yield about 300-400 times the stake, climbing higher if reinforced by multipliers. The figures might not be breathtaking, but the gameplay is satisfying and rich with engaging moments. Raging Rhino Perhaps deliberating on the Feature Buy's value is challenging—it can undoubtedly pay off, but five scatters' cost is steep. Regardless, Serengeti Kings stands as a well-developed game even without using the Feature Buy. It boasts multiple positives warranting a try.

Serengeti Kings threads an unconventional path and largely benefits from this divergence.