ABOUT
Firebird Spirit by Pragmatic Play is an Aztec-inspired slot that is unlike any other similarly-themed game. This is because the game debuts a whole new mechanic called Connect & Collect. With this, players will enjoy a new slot gaming experience while still having everything they wanted: jackpots, cash prizes, free spins and respins.
Betting Options and Bonus Features
Firebird Spirit checks every box, meeting all the industry standards with its 96% RTP, 5/5 volatility, and a max win of 4,250x. The game features 5 reels, 6 rows and 25 paylines - probably not the most common layout which makes the game looks unique. For the symbols, aside from letters and numbers, there are animals carved out of jewels and a tribal heroine as the highest paying symbol.
Both the base game and bonus of Firebird Spirit revolves around the Connect & Collect feature. The final reel and 2 positions on the middle reel are reserved for special symbols, including:
- Quick Collect: lands only on reel 3, and when triggered, Connect $ Collect symbols are added to reel 4 and 5 to guarantee a connection to a prize on reel 6.
- Respin: also lands on reel 3, awarding 5 respins with every new Connect & Collect symbols becoming sticky.
- Money Value: the prize ranges from 2x to 800x the stakes.
- Jackpot: include Minor, Major, or Grand awards (equaling 50x, 200x, or 4,000x respectively).
- Add Wilds: adds Wild symbols on random position on reel 2, 3, 4, and 5.
- Free Spins: rewards 2x the bet plus 5 to 25 free spins.
But how exactly do we trigger these special symbols, you may ask? Well, there are Connect & Collect symbols that can land anywhere on the reels. If these symbols connect horizontally or vertically, forming a line from the first reel to a special symbol (either on reel 3 or 6), you will get the prize of that symbol. It’s also possible to connect to multiple special symbols with one spin.
Therefore, differently from most of the other slots, you enter the bonus round in Firebird Spirit by connecting to a Free Spins symbol. Since the base gameplay is already so dense, the bonus round will play on without any extra features. But remember, you can retrigger free spins without limit. And should you want to, the bonus buy option is always available for 100x the bet.
Roshtein’s Take
Firebird Spirit is simply a rare phenomenon: when you’ve played hundreds of slots, it feels like a miracle when a slot can offer such a refreshing experience. The Connect & Collect feature is not only one of a kind, it’s also strangely stimulating - especially for the variety of special features you can activate.
For the bonus, even if it offers no extra fluff, it’s still a rewarding experience. You can trigger multiple Free Spins symbols and get 35 free spins at a time. Another great thing about the game is that free spins are also pretty easy to retrigger. The only downside to this whole mechanic is that special symbols take up all the space on the reels so normal wins don’t hit that often.
