Big Bamboo Slot Review
Since the all-out warfare between beasts in Bison Battle, Push Gaming puts us in the company of an iconic Panda, for some much-needed zen in Big Bamboo!
Push Gaming has us embracing the tranquillity in this East Asian-themed slot, so sit back and unwind as the enchanting Japanese soundscapes and stunning visuals take you on an epic journey of discovery.
Big Bamboo is an exciting addition to Push Gaming’s colourful portfolio, which focuses on Mystery Stacks and Golden Bamboo Icons for big potential. The Golden Bamboo feature can reveal extraordinary delights and tantalising treats as they spin on the reels.
The ultimate decision comes from the Free Spins mode, where players can collect their spins or gamble for more, but will the power of the Panda be on our side? We’re all aware of Push Gaming’s ‘titan’ status on the iGaming market, but will Big Bamboo be one of those unforgettable releases?
With a fixed RTP of 96.13% and a high volatility score, wisdom comes in the form of 50,000x your bet in max win potential. First impressions of Big Bamboo rate high, and ignite fond memories of Razor Shark, maybe? Could it be? Let’s play on and find out….
Base Game & Features
Big Bamboo explores East-Asian culture and the symbolism of the Panda, consisting of 5 reels, 6 rows, and 50 active pay lines. Winning combinations occur when 2-5 matching symbols land on adjacent reels, starting from reel 1.
The highest-paying symbol is displayed as the Panda, followed by the warthog, monkey, bird, and card suits. When a win is established on the reels, a fixed payout between 0.1x and 150x your bet is applied.
Additionally, Wild symbols appear on all reels, substituting for all symbols except Golden Bamboo, Scatter, & Gamble Scatter symbols. Wild symbols reveal payouts of 0.5x, 2x, 10x, & 150x your bet for 2, 3, 4, or 5-of-a-kind.
Mystery Bamboo
Throughout the base game and Free Spins mode, special Mystery symbols may appear on random reels. When they do, they will reveal High or Low-paying symbols, Wilds, or Golden Bamboo icons.
If a series of Mystery symbols reveals Golden Bamboo icons, the Golden Bamboo Feature is instantly awarded.
Golden Bamboo Feature
When the Golden Bamboo Feature is triggered, each reel position with a Golden Bamboo icon will spin through a series of Bonus Prizes:
- Instant Prizes: Guarantees a random prize between 1x & 5,000x your bet, represented by Bronze, Silver, & Gold Coins.
- Multipliers: Guarantee to multiply all Instant Prize symbols and Collectors in view by x2, x3, x5, or x10.
- Collector: Gathers all available Instant Prizes from the grid, including other Collector symbols, causing the Golden Bamboo positions to spin again.
- Scatters: Landing enough Scatters will trigger the Free Spins mode.
Big Bamboo Free Spins
Big Bamboo has Scatters & Gamble Scatters available in the base game and Golden Bamboo Feature, both of which appear on reels 2, 3, and 4. When a Gamble Scatter hits, it will spin through a series of Free Spins, between 4 & 9.
During this mode, each Scatter & Gamble Scatter symbol that appears on reels 2, 3, or 4 will be collected into a special Low-paying Meter outside the main reel set. When 4 Scatters are collected, a special Conversion occurs, awarding the following:
- Conversion 1: Awards +4 Free Spins and a x2 Multiplier
- Conversion 2: Awards +3 Free Spins and a x3 Multiplier
- Conversion 3: Awards +3 Free Spins and a x5 Multiplier
- Conversion 4: Awards +2 Free Spins and a x10 Multiplier
Lastly, +1, +2, or +3 Free Spins can be awarded during the Golden Bamboo Feature throughout Free Spins.
Gamble Feature
Once the Free Spins mode has been awarded, a special Gamble Feature will spin through a series of alternative options, although you do not have to participate in this feature. Players can simply click the ‘Collect’ Button at any point before a gamble.
In this feature, you can gamble your current Free Spins for a chance to win more:
- 4-9 Free Spins: Awards a minimum of 4 Free Spins or a maximum of 9.
- 7-9 Free Spins: Awards a minimum of 7 Free Spins with 2 Low-paying symbols converted into Mystery Bamboo symbols.
Bonus Buy
Players may purchase one of the following Bonus Buy options:
- 7-9 Free Spins + 0 Converted symbols: For 99x your bet (RTP 96.13%-96.94%)
- 7-9 Free Spins + 2 low-paying symbols converted: For 179x your bet (RTP 96.13%-96.76%)
- 8-10 Free Spins + all 4 low-paying symbols converted: For 608x your bet (RTP 96.71%)
- Mystery Free Spins: For 300x your bet (RTP 96.53%-96.74%)
Big Bamboo has a maximum win potential of 50,000x your bet. If a single session exceeds this, the current mode ends, and the player returns to the base game with the qualifying amount.
Our Honest Verdict
Big Bamboo offers a blissful and serene experience, but it can be somewhat confusing to understand if you were to explore its paytable, so you’re better off playing it until you get a feel for its mechanics.
If you’re hoping to get fully acquainted with Big Bamboo, you’ll need to play it for a longer session, though you won’t be disappointed. Push Gaming is one of the best innovative providers we know, and while Big Bamboo shares many similar factors with Razor Shark and Tiki Tumble, it’s actually bigger and better than the pair of them combined.
Those within Bonus Buy territory will find comfort in the multiple Free Spins options, although some of them are particularly pricey. For this reason, non-UK players are much more compatible with Big Bamboo, but it’s not all bad news for us UK players.
Most of the time, Push Gaming slots have an ‘all or nothing’ approach, especially in Razor Returns. We’ve heard whispers of individual experiences, both good and bad, with the occasional max win phenomenon. Really, there’s no middle ground, and Big Bamboo comes across in that way, too.
The max win potential for Big Bamboo is definitely worth screaming about. On a good day, Big Bamboo can change the lives of players with its 50,000x max win potential. While it’s a figure we don’t often come across, given Push Gaming’s history, we’re confident it can be achieved.
All in all, Big Bamboo is a phenomenal offering from Push Gaming, proving once again that old-timey mechanics can be enriched with innovative improvements.
*The images found in this slot review are currently from Demo Play. On average, our reviews are written prior to the initial release date and before real play is available.
