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Staff Writer
I felt the call of the wild when I played Buffalo Online Slot, a classic, nature-themed game by Aristocrat Gaming. This was originally a wildly successful land-based slot, with the equally popular online version released in the early days of iGaming. Pictures of North American wildlife appear as symbols on the bold and basic reels, with a purple-tinged mountain range in the background. Wins of up to $120k from a single spin are possible, thanks to enhanced wild symbols. When it comes to having an iconic reputation, Buffalo is in the same league as slots like Break da Bank.
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This is a classic online slot, first released in 2008. Back then, online slots were still relatively new and were heavily influenced by slot machines. The game uses a 5x4 layout and is incredibly easy to play. Here’s how you can join the Buffalo:
The game controls are clustered at the bottom of the reels. You can spin, use autoplay, and adjust your bet from here. The play button is to the right of the control bar, with the autoplay directly to its left. Open this to set 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100 spins.
The amount won on the previous spin is next to the autoplay button, and the bet size controls are to the left. Next to this is your available balance, and in the far left corner of the control bar is a menu icon.
The menu icon on the opposite end of the screen lets you access the paytable and audio settings. The paytable shows you all the information about the game you need to know, including symbol payouts and bonus features.
As you roam the prairie, you can discover plenty of animals, including cougars, eagles and the buffalo themselves. The game features a total of thirteen symbols, which are six low pay, five high pay, and two bonus symbols. Each coin payout you land is affected by your bet multiplier, which you can adjust by changing your total bet.
The low paylines consist of standard playing card symbols. Nine pays with just two on a line, but the rest of the low pays require at least three. 9 and 10 pay up to 100 coins for five of a kind. J and Q pay 120 for five on a line, while K and A payout a maximum of 140.
The high pay will be for just two people in a line. Elk and Wolf pay 150 coins for five on a payline, the cougar and eagle pay 250 coins, and the buffalo pay 300 coins.
Aside from regular paying symbols, watch out for the wilds and scatters, which will help you land wins and potentially trigger the bonus round. The scatters will pay up to 20 coins if you land five on the reels simultaneously.
This is a pretty straightforward online slot to play, and landing a win is as simple as matching two or more symbols from left to right. There are no paylines, so every time you spin, there are 1024 ways to win. The amount you receive as a payout will depend on your bet size, the value of the symbols and the number that you’ve landed across adjacent reels.
Aristocrat added some exciting bonus features to help you land winning combinations and hit bigger and better payouts. The game has two bonus symbols, which are crucial to triggering the unique features and hitting the top prizes.
1. WildsIf you’ve played online slots before, there’s a good chance you already know what the wild symbol does. It will substitute for other paying symbols, helping you land more wins. However, it only appears on reels two, three and four, so there’s no chance of hitting a win with five wilds.
2. Buffalo ScatterIf you want to unleash the true winning power of this game, you must land three at least three scatter symbols for up to twenty free spins. Three scatters trigger eight free spins, four trigger fifteen and five give you a maximum of twenty spins.
Hit the play button to begin the bonus round and see what your luck will bring. It’s possible to retrigger the free spins, with five more spins awarded each time you land two scatters during the bonus.
3. Multiplier WildsDuring free spins, any wild symbols that appear will have a 2x or 3x multiplier symbol attached to boost your payout every time you land a win. Multiplier wilds are always an exciting feature, and you can find them across various games, including Grand Spinn.
You could hit a win of 1500 coins from a single spin in this slot, with the payout size depending on the size of your bet. You could win $120,000 from a single bet at the maximum bet. It’s not the biggest max win, but it will get your attention if you hit it.
Buffalo’s 91.82% RTP seems relatively low compared to the current industry standard, but it was not unusual at the time of the game’s release. When looking at the RTP rate, it’s essential to consider that it’s not an exact figure of how much you will win back. The rate is calculated when playing the game for an extremely long period.
The medium volatility means you can expect an even spread of minor, frequent wins, with more significant payouts during the bonus feature. I had a very profitable experience when I played, managing to hit a dynamite win with four Buffalo while playing for the maximum bet. I got lucky based on the RTP rate, but it was clear that the volatility was around average.
As this game came out in 2008, you shouldn’t expect highly high-definition graphics and modern designs. Compared to recent slots, it looks dated, with symbols that look a bit rough around the edges. Despite this, the game still works perfectly, and it’s optimized for mobile devices, too. While it may not be a doll, don’t let that put you off.
In terms of sound effects, it gives off a classic slot machine vibe. Unfortunately, there’s no background music to help set the scene, but each time you hit spin, the sound of a galloping horse fills the air. Wins are awarded with additional sound effects, and while it may not be to everyone’s tastes, it adds some extra fun to each spin.
Spending real money on any new online slot game can be intimidating because you might need to learn what you are getting yourself into. You can quickly get around this challenge by playing a free demo, which will give you unlimited credits and allow you to get a feel for the game before reaching into your pocket.
The free Buffalo demo is available to try right now, and it lets you test out all the features without spending any money. You can experience the wilds and, if lucky, the free spins, too. It’s an excellent way to learn more about a game and decide whether you want to play for real or not.
Buffalo was one of the original Buffalo online slots, which has become a hugely successful genre in the slot industry. Over the years, many software providers have taken us on a trip to the wild plains of North America, with buffalos often used as the main star. Here are some of the most popular titles compared to Arisotcrat’s 2008 release:
Buffalo slot has managed to hang on to its status as a player favourite for years, and I agree with the game’s legions of fans who rate this as one of their top online slot titles of all time. The graphics are remarkable for their era, and the ambient soundtrack creates an authentic casino experience. The multiplier wild symbol creates excellent winning opportunities during free spins and is the trick to claiming the game’s $ 120,000 top prize. If the mighty buffalo is your spirit animal, you’ll enjoy Buffalo Blitz and White Buffalo.
