ABOUT
The Ultimate 5 from Pragmatic Play has players returning to the plains of Africa to participate in the hunt for the continent’s most wanted. Featuring an exciting and rare mechanic, plenty of free spins, alongside a hefty reward worth 5,000x the stake, The Ultimate 5 provides for an unforgettable safari experience.
Betting Options and Bonus Features
Wild animals in Africa aren’t an original slot concept. However, coming from Pragmatic Play, the graphics from The Ultimate 5 are, at the very least, better than the average slot. The game portrays an endless field of Savannah grass stretching as far as the eyes can see, with iconic Acacia trees dotting the screen, creating a poetic scene.
Players can spot the Big Fives grazing and hunting on the 5x3 grid with 20 paylines, paying anywhere from 4x to 20x the bet for a collection of five symbols in a roll. Additionally, players can gain 100x their stake for landing five unique animals of the game on a pay line. The soundtrack combines rustic drumming and flute melodies to breathe soul into the game, playing softly in the background and picking up once the bonus round is in effect.
Pragmatic Play has a habit of producing beautiful but high-variance games. The Ultimate 5 is no exception. It ranks at the high spectrum on the volatility scale, promising an eventful trip full of ups and downs and the possibility of paying big later on. The RTP supports this theory, providing a high value of 96.5%. Regardless, once players strive against all odds and reach the jackpot, the game does not disappoint with the life-changing treasure of 5,000x the stake.
Landing 3, 4, and 5 Diamond Scatters on the screen instantly rewards players with 5x, 20x, and 50x the bet in addition to 8, 10, and 12 Free Spins. During the event, the game can randomly upgrade the experience by removing a low-paying type of symbol, which can happen up to five times. Every time an upgrade happens, the game guarantees to drop one Wild symbol. Lastly, players can land 2, 3, 4, and 5 Diamond overlays in exchange for 2, 4, 6, and 8 additional Free Spins.
Money Symbols holding values ranging from 1x to 10x appear on reels 2, 3, and 4 in the base game and all reels in the Hold & Spin Super Boost feature. These Money Symbols can also be random names, specifically Mini, Minor, Major, Maxi, and Mega, each containing a reward worth 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, and 500x the stake, respectively. Hitting at least 3 Money Symbols triggers the Hold & Spin Super Boost feature, which removes all symbols from the grid except the ones used to start it.
Hold & Spin Super Boost starts with 3 Respins. During the event, Money Symbols that drop next to each other (horizontally or vertically) group up and increase the group’s values to the next highest value. The round continues until it runs out of Respins or when players cover the entire screen with Money Symbols. Either way, any non-grouped symbol becomes null and does not pay.
Roshtein’s Take
With impressive bonuses, a hard-hitting Hold & Spin feature, and the generous number of Free Spins to experiment with, The Ultimate 5 is always worth the visit. Aside from the lack of creativity by reusing the African theme and the absence of a bonus buy-in, the game is a satisfying experience, providing multiple highlights and epic wins from hitting clusters of Money Symbols. Overall, The Ultimate 5 is a fantastic slot that I’d highly recommend to anyone.
