The Big Bass Bonanza slot machine by Pragmatic Play has caused a real tsunami among casino enthusiasts, and despite being on the market for several years, the game remains one of the most played titles globally. It has probably even surpassed its source of inspiration, the legendary Fishin’ Frenzy. Over the years, it has spawned numerous sequels and successors, with more to come, and the franchise is now considered one of the most successful, capturing the hearts and minds of thousands of gamblers. Despite there being over a dozen makeovers, featuring improved gameplay and increased winning opportunities, players seem unable to stop returning to the original game. So, let’s find out why in our Big Bass Bonanza review.
Theme & Storyline
Imagine: an early morning at the waterfront, where the sun is just beginning to rise and the dew still lingers on the grass. The sound of rippling water fills the air, while the scent of fresh grass mixed with the cool breeze from the lake envelops your senses. This is the atmosphere that the Big Bass Bonanza online slot machine by Pragmatic Play masterfully captures.
The game transports you to the tranquil shores of a glistening lake, surrounded by lush green trees and an expansive blue sky. It’s an idyllic setting where you immediately feel yourself sinking away, far from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The theme naturally revolves around fishing, and you can immediately tell from the symbols that appear on the reels. Colorful fish of all shapes and sizes swim by, while fishing rods, tackle boxes, and even playful dragonflies brighten up the screen. It’s as if you’re sitting by the water’s edge yourself, waiting for that one big catch.
But it’s not just about catching fish in Big Bass Bonanza; it’s also about the thrill of fishing itself. Every time you spin the reels, you feel the excitement of casting your line into the deep water, hoping for a bit of luck and a big reward. The tension builds slowly as the reels come to a stop, and when you hit a winning combination, it feels like you’ve hooked a big fish.
In short, the theme and storyline of Big Bass Bonanza perfectly capture the serene beauty and exhilarating excitement of a day by the water’s edge. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just looking for some relaxation, this game has something for everyone.
Graphics & Gameplay
In terms of visuals and gameplay, the Big Bass Bonanza slot game feels like an enhanced version of Fishin’ Frenzy. While the background depicts a similar underwater scene, the production values are significantly higher, resulting in a much more immersive experience. Overall, the graphics, animations, and sound effects are on a completely different level.
The game features a semi-transparent grid of 5×3 reels, offering 10 lines to land winning combinations. To score a payout, players need to land matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. Depending on the type of symbol, a minimum of 2 or 3 instances are required.
Game Settings
In the game settings of the game, you can make various adjustments to customize your gaming experience. For example, you can adjust the total bet to your preference, allowing you to play with a wager that suits your budget. You can also activate the handy ‘battery saver’, which helps prolong your battery life while playing. If you prefer to play in silence, you can choose to disable the game and music sounds. Additionally, you can skip the intro screens, allowing you to dive straight into the action as soon as you start the game. With these adjustments, you can tailor the game exactly how you like it for the ultimate gaming experience.
Big Bass Bonanza Bonuses & Special Features
As expected in this genre, all the excitement unfolds in the Big Bass Bonanza bonus game, while the base game offers no additional features for players.
Scatter Symbol
To trigger the Big Bass Bonanza free spins round, players must land at least 3 Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels simultaneously. Landing 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols awards 10, 15, or 20 initial spins respectively. Unlike in later games in the series, the Big Bass Bonanza bonus buy feature is not available, making the free spins the only way to access this feature.
Money Symbol
Each of the beautifully designed fish symbols not only contributes to regular line wins but also displays a random cash value. These cash values can be collected during the bonus round, ranging from 2x to a staggering 2,000x the bet.
Wild Symbol
During the free spins, new fisherman symbols are introduced to the mix. These symbols act as Wilds, substituting for other symbols in winning combinations. However, it’s their special ability that makes them the most desirable of all symbols. When a Wild symbol lands on the reels alongside fish symbols, it collects all cash values in view. If multiple Wilds appear on the same spin, cash fish are collected separately for each of them.
Free Spins
During the bonus round, each Wild symbol is collected in a special meter, and every 4 collected symbols trigger a retrigger. This awards an additional 10 spins with an increased Wild multiplier, which applies to all cash values collected by the Wild symbols. The multiplier starts at 2x for the first retrigger, increases to 3x for the second, and finally reaches 10x for the third. After reaching the maximum multiplier, no further retriggers are possible.
Conclusion
It’s not often that a makeover surpasses its source of inspiration, but that’s precisely what Big Bass Bonanza has achieved with Fishin’ Frenzy. The addition of Fisherman Wilds with the clever cash collection feature was already enticing for players, but the introduction of progressive multipliers elevated the excitement even further. While this didn’t necessarily increase the game’s potential, it certainly improved the chances of landing decent wins during the free spins. Moreover, the visual enhancements have attracted many players to Pragmatic Play’s creation. While the graphics of Fishin’ Frenzy may now feel dated, the Big Bass Bonanza slot continues to impress with its timeless appeal. Overall, it has earned its cult status for good reason, and if you haven’t experienced it yet, you should definitely give it a try.