Bamboo Ways: Slot Overview
In the ongoing quest to capture player attention and coins, casino game makers have numerous tools at their disposal. One tried-and-true tactic for getting bums on seats is to give players a repeat serving of something they’ve enjoyed in the past, with one or two adjustments to make it feel fresh. This is the thinking behind Push Gaming’s slot Bamboo Ways, which delivers much of Razor Ways’ gameplay wrapped in a Big Bamboo-esque skin with new features on the side. The new bits are, well, how about we hold on to the suspense for now, and discover those on our search through the bamboo. Hawkplay enthusiasts will immediately recognize the clever blending of old and new mechanics.
A Scenic Upgrade: From Forests to Temples
Actually, there’s not a lot of off-grid bamboo in this game. Where Big Bamboo took place in an actual bamboo forest, murky green in the base game, murky purple in free spins, Bamboo Ways leaves the mundane world behind. It is now backgrounded by a fancy temple-type building, either on top of a mountain, peeking out of the clouds, or fully immersed in the clouds. The location, scenery, and character symbols trigger thoughts of the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West of Monkey, Pigsy, and Sandy. Hawkplay players may notice how the visuals create a sense of epic adventure from the first spin.
Symbols and Betting Mechanics
Each spin kicks off on a grid that’s only half awake – 6 reels, 3 rows tall – giving you 729 ways to win. But when the grid fully powers up, all 6 rows come alive, unlocking 46,656 ways to win. Base bets range from 10c to $/€100, with two optional Push Bets: Scatter Symbols (1.5x bet) and Scatter Symbols x2 (3x bet), which increase the chances of landing scatters in the base game. The maximum RTP comes in at 96.3%, while volatility is high. Hawkplay aficionados will appreciate the strategic depth these bets add.
The game features lower-paying symbols like diamonds, spades, hearts, clubs, brushes, gourds, and scrolls, with birds, monkeys, boars, and pandas acting as higher-paying symbols. A 6-symbol win of the lows pays 0.5x-1x the bet, while a 6-symbol high pays 2.5x-8x the bet. The wild symbol substitutes for all regular symbols, and winning combinations trigger a cascade mechanic, removing the winning symbols and allowing new ones to drop into place.
Expanding Rows and Wilds
As mentioned, the base grid starts with 3 rows at the bottom and 3 locked rows above. When a Cascade or Instant Prize win occurs, the grid expands by +1 row, up to 6 rows high. Each new round begins with the reels reset. Hawkplay users will quickly spot the potential for massive wins as the grid expands.
The Expanding Wild appears in the base game or free spins, expanding to cover all unlocked rows. It can land naturally, be revealed by Mystery symbols, and may carry multipliers of x2, x3, or x5, increasing the thrill for hawkplay fans.
Converter into Wild: A Game-Changer
When this special symbol lands or is revealed, it scans the unlocked rows. Any matching pay symbols are converted to wilds, including the Converter itself. Up to two Converters can appear via Mystery symbols when multiple Mysteries land. Hawkplay players will notice that this symbol is often responsible for some of the game’s largest hits, creating a sense of anticipation with every spin.
Mystery and Expander Symbols
Mystery symbols can appear in both the base game and free spins, revealing pay symbols, wilds, Expanding Wilds, Converters, Expanders, or Golden Bamboo symbols. Expander symbols stretch Mystery symbols in a random direction, covering entire rows or reels, and all linked Mysteries then reveal the same outcome. Hawkplay users will enjoy the unpredictability and the strategic element this adds.
Golden Bamboo Feature
When Golden Bamboo symbols are revealed, they trigger the Golden Bamboo Feature, spinning through different prize types:
- Instant Prize: bet multipliers of 1x to 1,000x
- Multiplier: multiplies all Instant Prizes and Collector symbols by x2 to x10
- Collector: gathers all Instant Prizes and Collector values; emptied positions respin
- Converter: transforms pay symbols into Golden Bamboo
- Row Unlocker: unlocks a new row (bonus buy only)
Hawkplay enthusiasts will find this feature visually engaging and rewarding, as the feature can create chain reactions leading to huge wins.
Free Spins and Level Progression
Landing 3-6 scatters triggers free spins with multipliers and grid upgrades:
- 3 Scatters: 6 free spins, 1x multiplier, 3×6 grid
- 4 Scatters: 8 spins, 2x multiplier, 4×6 grid, one low removed
- 5 Scatters: 10 spins, 3x multiplier, 5×6 grid, two lows removed
- 6 Scatters: 10 spins, 5x multiplier, 6×6 grid, three lows removed
During free spins, scatters contribute to a level meter, unlocking up to 5 levels with boosted multipliers, additional spins, and grid expansions. Hawkplay users will particularly enjoy the tension as they climb each level.
Feature Buys for Hawkplay Players
Players may buy 8 guaranteed Mystery symbols for 18x the bet, or 18 Golden Bamboo symbols for 120x. Free spins can also be bought using 3 scatters for 80x or random scatters for 400x. This allows hawkplay players to skip straight to the most exciting parts of the game.
Verdict: Razor Ways’ Successor with Hawkplay Flair
Since Bamboo Ways is so close in function to Razor Ways, fans of the previous slot will either love it or remain unimpressed. Subtle updates, like the Expander symbol, and standout additions, like the Converter into Wild, differentiate the experience. Surprisingly, the Converter symbol produced bigger wins than Instant Prizes or multipliers during testing. While the top prize dropped from Razor Ways’ 5,000x to Bamboo Ways’ 1,000x, the variety of features ensures players remain engaged. Hawkplay enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy in this dynamic, visually appealing, and feature-rich slot.
