ABOUT
It’s common knowledge that sequels are not usually as successful as the originals. Big Bass - Keeping It Reel, on the other hand, not only continues the great legacy of the Big Bass Bonanza lineage but also brings new mechanics to the table. The game keeps faith in the original fans while reaching out to attract new ones with its classic money symbol collector and exciting money pot gameplay. On top of that, the tempting prize of 10,000x the bet awaits for the best of anglers.
Betting Options and Bonus Features
Big Bass - Keeping It Reel slot plays on a 5x3 configuration with 10 paylines. The background is the classic ocean view with vibrant coral reefs on the sides. Familiar gizmos decorate the grid, from tackle boxes and fishing rods to dragonflies and other trinkets of interest, which pay anywhere from 20x to 200x the bet for five of a kind.
With a maximum RTP rating of 96.07%, Big Bass - Keeping It Reel does not move far from the original game. Pragmatic Play rated the game on a 5/5 volatility level, which only means it is unpredictable when it comes to winning. However, the massive jackpot of 10,000x the bet justifies these obscene numbers, as the game is high-risk, high-reward.
The bonus round brings the ultimate fun on the reels. In exchange for 3, 4, or 5 Scatters, the game rewards players with 10, 15, or 20 Free Spins, respectively. Wild and Golden Wild symbols are added in the free spins gameplay. Fish symbols come with carrying money values and if they end on the grid at the same time with Wild or Golden Wild, these money values are collected. In the case, Fish symbols land but there are no Wilds in the same spin, values are added to the prize net located above the reels.
Fishermen are the Wilds, who only appear in the bonus round. They substitute for all symbols except Scatters and collect every money symbol on-screen. Golden Fishermen Wilds will score on all available money symbols, including the ones in the money pot. The game randomly drops Fishermen Wilds whenever there are fish symbols on the grid but no fish symbols. Similarly, it randomly gives fish symbols should there be an absence.
The game retains the core money collector mechanic, whereas fish/money symbols land simultaneously as the Wild symbols get collected. As a twist in gameplay, money symbols that land without Collector Wilds add value to the net on the top left corner of the screen instead. However, players must collect them quickly as fish eventually jump out of the net, subtracting from the total money pot.
Big Bass - Keeping It Reel also collects Fishermen Wilds on top of the grid. For every four Wilds, the game upgrades to the next level, providing an extra 10 Free Spins and progressive multipliers of 2x, 3x, and 10x for levels 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Ante Bet is available for a 50% increase in bet for a better chance of getting scatters. Players can also opt for the bonus buy-in at 100x the wager, which propels them straight into the bonus game.
Roshtein’s Take
Most of what I love about Big Bass Bonanza and the games that sprung from it, like Big Bass - Keeping It Reel, is the massive number of free spins they give. You can have all these fancy features all you want, but for me it’s the classic free spins where you’ll get most of your value from a slot. And this is the exact reason why I really enjoy playing this title. Coupled with the potential value money pot/net gives, the game deserves a spot among my favorites.
