Buffaloes Duel

Buffaloes Duel Overview

GameArt, the innovative little studio from Malta, has released some interesting slots in their time; however, Buffaloes Duel is the first to run their new mirrored reels dynamic. This quirky mechanic sets up one large set of reels split down the middle with symbols on either side of this line mirroring each other. This mirrored effect sees players score more wins as it is more likely that the same symbols will appear on the board simultaneously. Apart from this unique mechanic, this is a straightforward North American Wilderness game.

The main bonus for the features available here is the aforementioned mirrored reels. However, as this is active all the time, it doesn't really feel like a true bonus. This game also has wild symbols that substitute for other icons; barring scatters to help score more wins. The next feature is called the clash and occurs when buffalo wilds become present and mirror each other on the reels. This bonus introduces multipliers to the game, which helps boost the size of your wins. Finally, this game also has a free spin round triggered by landing six or more scatters on the board. All features will be explained in more detail later in the review.

Theme and Symbols

The theme for this game is a slightly abstract idea of the North American wilderness punctuated by a selection of the most iconic animals in this expansive and varied country. For example, in this game, you will come across mountain lions, bald eagles, and of course, buffaloes. The buffalo is the principal character and the main aesthetic inspiration for this game. Sometimes called the bison, this huge and imposing beast is a fantastic sight to behold and truly one of the few megafaunas still to exist in the country.

The background for this game depicts a wide-open desert-like image bathed in the early morning sunlight. The sun's rise provides a gorgeous array of colours, including burnt orange, light pinks and a clear blue. Looking into this sunset are a few of the animals that you may find in this habitat, including a wolf and a large eagle. Their backs are to the viewer, and they seem to appreciate the sunrise in a quiet solemnity that is sometimes observed in animals.
The playing board is a massive golden mirror that glints seductively in the early morning sunshine.

The symbols are split into low-paying, high-paying and special symbols. The low-paying symbols are the 10, J, Q, K and A in playing card royals. The highest paying of these symbols is the A which pays out at 0.9x the stake for the top combination. The more valuable symbols, on the other hand, are the rabbit, the deer, the mountain lion and the wolf. The wolf is the most valuable of these, paying out at 6x the stake for the top combination. The specials for this game are the buffalo wild symbol and the gold bald eagle free spins scatter.

Game Play

Buffaloes Duel is played on two mirrored reels, each with five verticals and two horizontals. To win combinations, players must land three or more matching symbols on pay lines moving from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel.

The betting range for Buffaloes Duel is 50p to £50 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players can toggle their stake up and down using the tool located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

Further information, including a short tutorial and a display of the paytable, can be found via the menu button in the right-hand corner of the screen. The spin and auto spin buttons are located in the centre of the screen.
Volatility for this slot is rated in the high range. The return to player percentage for Buffaloes Duel is 96%, which is average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 2,321x your stake.

Features

The primary differentiating feature in this game is the mirrored reels engine. It cuts the reels in half and spins each reel in a different direction; however, each reel will always mirror the other. For example, the symbol at the top of one reel will appear at the bottom of the other reel. This synced reel mechanic means there are more likely to be the same symbols on the same spins, meaning a higher chance of scoring wins.

The next feature is the wild symbol bonus. In this game, buffalo icons can substitute for other regular symbols to help score more wins. However, they cannot substitute for scatters.

Next on the feature list is the clash feature that occurs when the buffalo wild appears at the bottom and top of a reel. This can happen up to five times per spin. When it happens, a multiplier is introduced to any wins for that spin. The size of this multiplier is determined by how many matching couples of wild there are on the board. The more couples, the larger the multiplier. The top multiplier players can hope for is 10x.

Finally, this game also offers a free spin round triggered when players land six to ten scatter symbols on the reels simultaneously. The more scatters you land to trigger the bonus; the more free spins are awarded. You can also retrigger this bonus from within the feature by landing additional scatters.

Conclusion

With a unique mirrored reel engine and a pleasant aesthetic, players will have no problem finding appeal in this new game from GameArt. The features are rather generous too, with some tidy wins coming out of them. The RTP isn't bad either, although the top win could offer a little more. Overall, there is plenty to like about this slot, and players will have a great time having a few spins.