Introduction
Developer Pragmatic Play takes players back beneath the waves with Release the Kraken 2, a sequel that builds upon the success of its predecessor. The original game resonated well with underwater enthusiasts thanks to its variety of wilds, treasure chests, and Roaming Kraken Free Spins. With this reboot, Pragmatic Play has revamped much of the gameplay, introducing new features such as Wild Respins, Shifting Stack Wilds, Guaranteed Wins, and even a Deal or No Deal element within the free spins feature. While these changes are substantial, the game retains its lively charm, so let’s dive in and explore.
Vibrant Visuals and Animated Characters
Release the Kraken 2 exudes even more vibrancy than its predecessor, set amidst the ocean floor teeming with marine life, colorful coral reefs, and seaweed. Adding to the liveliness are the animated characters on the reels, which perform quirky animations upon forming winning combinations. These small details contribute to Pragmatic Play’s knack for integrating multiple elements into a cohesive and visually appealing experience. Interestingly, the game’s atmosphere has shifted towards a more cheerful tone compared to the original Release the Kraken, which had a somewhat ominous feel due to its Kraken characters. This sequel embraces a playful attitude, replacing any hint of menace with a more light-hearted approach.
Pay Symbols and Payouts
The game features nine regular pay symbols, starting with the 10-A card ranks as the low-paying symbols, and four deep-sea creatures as the high-paying symbols. A five-of-a-kind win with card symbols pays out 1-2 times the stake, while premium symbols reward 3-10 times the bet. Wild symbols, adorned with the image of a Kraken, appear on all five reels, substituting swerte99 for all symbols except the bonus symbols. They can also form their own winning lines, offering payouts of up to 20 times the bet for a line of five.
Wild Respin Feature
In Release the Kraken 2, triggering respin mode is straightforward: when 4 or more wild symbols land on the grid after any initial payouts have been awarded in the base game. Once activated, these wild symbols remain in place but shift to random positions while the remaining symbols undergo a respin. During each respin, the game evaluates and pays out any new winning combinations that are formed. If additional wild symbols appear on the reels after a respin, another respin is granted. This process continues until no new wild symbols land on the grid during a respin, at which point the feature concludes. This mechanic not only adds excitement to gameplay by potentially prolonging winning sequences but also maximizes the chances for players to secure additional payouts. It’s a dynamic feature that complements the game’s overall action-packed underwater adventure theme.
Shifting Stack Wilds
In Release the Kraken 2, the Shifting Stack Wild symbols add an exciting twist to gameplay. These special symbols can randomly appear on reels 2, 3, or 4 during the base game. When the spin ends, any Shifting Stack Wilds that appear are nudged to cover all positions on their respective reel. Here’s how the mechanic works:
- Appearance and Nudging: Shifting Stack Wilds expand to cover an entire swerte99 reel after the spin stops. Each position that a Shifting Stack Wild symbol is nudged increases its multiplier by +1.
- Calculation of Multipliers: After all Shifting Stack Wilds have been nudged and are in place, the multipliers associated with each of them are added together. This cumulative multiplier is then applied to any wins resulting from that spin.
This feature not only enhances the potential for significant wins by covering entire reels with multipliers but also introduces an element of anticipation and strategy as players watch the multipliers grow with each nudge. It’s a dynamic addition to the game that rewards attentive play and can lead to exciting payout opportunities.
Guaranteed Win Feature
Randomly, on a non-winning base game spin, the Kraken may come into view and rearrange the symbols to create a win worth 20-50x the bet. Additionally, randomly on a spin, 3 scatter symbols can appear as the result of an explosion to award free spins. This feature ensures that players have a chance to secure substantial wins even during periods of lower activity, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the gameplay.
Free Spins Feature
In Release the Kraken 2, landing 3 or more scatter symbols triggers an exciting free spins feature, preceded by a mini bonus game reminiscent of “Deal or No Deal.” Here’s how it unfolds:
- Triggering Free Spins:
- 3 scatter symbols: Awards 4 to 15 free spins with a potential multiplier up to x6.
- 4 scatter symbols: Grants 5 to 20 free spins with a multiplier up to x10.
- 5 scatter symbols: Provides 6 to 20 free spins with a multiplier up to x10.
- Mini Bonus Game:
- Players are presented with 16 boxes, each containing a mix of free spins and win multipliers within the specified limits.
- Initially, one box is selected randomly. Players can choose to accept or reject the box’s contents.
- Accepting the Box: Awards the number of free spins and the win multiplier contained in the box, initiating the free spins feature.
- Rejecting the Box: Removes several boxes from consideration and presents a new offer (another set of boxes) with potentially adjusted free spins and multiplier values.
- This process repeats until either accepting an offer or reaching the final two boxes, where the player must choose one.
- During Free Spins:
- The win multiplier determined in the mini-game applies to all wins during the free spins round.
- The grid expands to 40 paylines, enhancing the potential for winning combinations.
- Wild symbols that land on the reels remain sticky throughout the duration of the free spins, shifting to a random position after each spin.
- Golden wild symbols additionally increase the win multiplier by +1 each time they appear.
- Free spins cannot be retriggered, maintaining focus on maximizing winnings swerte99 within the awarded spins.
This structured approach not only adds layers of anticipation and strategy with the mini bonus game but also ensures an engaging free spins experience with enhanced opportunities for significant payouts. Release the Kraken 2 combines randomness, strategy, and excitement in its free spins feature, promising an exhilarating underwater adventure for players.
Buy Free Spins Feature
If available, players can buy two types of bonuses. Standard Free Spins costs 100x the bet to land 3-5 scatter symbols (RTP 96.03%); the second one, VIP Free Spins, costs 250x the bet to guarantee a 5 scatter symbol trigger (RTP 96.05%). This feature offers an option for players who prefer to jump straight into the action, bypassing the base game and heading directly to the free spins rounds with the potential for higher payouts.
Slot Verdict
Release the Kraken 2 offers a refreshing and upbeat underwater adventure that diverges from its predecessor by emphasizing a more positive and light-hearted tone. The Kraken character, once menacing, now exudes a friendlier demeanor, aligning with a trend towards more cheerful themes in fishing-themed slots. While the shift in tone is notable, the gameplay mechanics take center stage. Compared to the original, Release the Kraken 2 introduces new features while phasing out older elements like pick ‘n click bonuses and giant symbols. The addition of Wild Respins, Shifting Wild Stacks, and Guaranteed swerte99 Wins proves effective in maintaining engagement. These features contribute to a dynamic gameplay experience that keeps players entertained.
The Deal or No Deal style mini-game within the free spins feature adds an intriguing twist, injecting excitement by allowing players to negotiate their free spins and multiplier rewards. Although unconventional, this approach enhances player interaction and anticipation. However, the decision to reduce the maximum win potential with a capped limit of 5,000 times the bet may disappoint some fans accustomed to higher potential payouts in sequels. Nevertheless, this adjustment does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game. Ultimately, Release the Kraken 2 delivers a polished presentation, a fun atmosphere, and a diverse array of features that cater to varied player preferences. Whether it surpasses its predecessor is subjective; it stands out as a distinct offering in its own right, offering a different experience that appeals to both new players and fans of the original.
