Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Slot Review
It may seem unbelievable, but Thunderkick introduced the initial EsqueletoExplosivo slot 5 years ago. Inspired by Dia de Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, this game quickly gained immense popularity among Thunderkick’s audience. Dia de Muertos is a Mexican festival that spans multiple days in November, offering individuals an opportunity to honour and remember their deceased family members and friends.
In Mexico, this occasion is celebrated as a joyful event rather than a sombreone. Instead of viewing death as a finality, it is regarded as a natural component of the spiritual voyage. Similarly, enthusiasts and supporters of the original now have the sequel to relive the experience once more. The initial instalment achieved immense success, which inevitably poses a challenge for any subsequent instalment. How does the sequel compare in terms of quality and reception, and are there any bizarre gambling strategies players use to win?
The essential components have returned, but Thunderkick has implemented several modifications to the game engine, resulting in a sequel that offers a completely distinct experience. The basic structure remains unchanged, featuring 5 reels and 3 rows, accompanied by the Mucho Multiplier situated below. However, one notable alteration is the expansion of the win ways, increasing the paylines from 17 to 99. The mechanics operate in such a way that winning combinations are formed by 3 to 5 symbols adjacent to each other either diagonally or horizontally, starting from the first reel onwards.
The joyful essence of the original is once again present with the lively activities of cheering, singing, and playing guitars. In order to participate in the festive ambience, players can select bets ranging from 10 p/c to £/€100 per spin, either manually or using the auto-spin feature. Thunderkick has clearly targeted a different audience for this iteration, which is why gambling authorities approve of the brand. They have elevated the volatility level from low to high, aiming to provide a more exhilarating gambling experience. Furthermore, the return to player (RTP) percentage has slightly increased to 96.13%. Coupled with a commendable potential, players can indulge in a significantly more intense celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Slot Gameplay
If you are familiar with the initial release, you will notice similarities between the 2 versions, but there have been notable updates, including enhanced audio effects and symbols. The significant divergence lies in the gameplay. The number of paylines has been expanded from 17 to a total of 99 paylines. In this iteration, winning combinations are achieved by aligning 3-5 symbols either horizontally or vertically across the adjacent reels, starting from the first reel.
Upon obtaining a win, the skulls in the game become animated, moving and bouncing while their skeletal jaws chatter. Additionally, visual effects such as sparks and fireworks are featured. Similar to its predecessor, this slot game incorporates various bonus features, which have undergone significant improvements. These enhancements include the introduction of explosive wilds, free spins, dropping symbols, and cascading reels.
This game offers a distinct and original experience, as evident from its unique payout symbols. The symbols consist of skulls with various colours and designs, each possessing its own specific value. In total, there are 8 symbols, including 6 paying symbols and 2 others.
The paying symbols are distinguished by their light blue, cyan, green, pink, orange, and purple colours. The wild symbol is represented by a golden skull, which has the ability to substitute for any other symbol in order to create a winning combination.
On the other hand, the scatter symbol is depicted as a robot clockwork skull and awards players with free spins. The purple skull holds the highest value among the symbols, offering a payout of 5x the initial bet. Conversely, the cyan skull, with its 0.7x multiplier, is the lowest-paying symbol when obtained 5 times. Furthermore, all payouts are subject to an additional increase through the Mucho Multiplier.
The EsqueletoExplosivo 2 slot machine offers the opportunity to win up to 5,000x your initial bet through the utilization of multipliers and valuable skull combinations. The betting range for a single spin spans from £0.10 to £100, and this range remains consistent for every game, encompassing a total of 14 different values. With an RTP (Return to Player) of 96.13%, players can have confidence in the fairness of this slot machine. While there is no progressive jackpot, the abundance of bonuses present renders its absence inconsequential.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Additional Features
The developers at Thunderkick made a conscious decision to retain the favourable elements from the original and incorporate a series of groundbreaking additions.
Dropping Symbols
The feature known as Dropping Symbols bears resemblance to “cascading symbols” and was retained by Thunderkick from its previous iteration without alteration. Its functionality involves the occurrence of symbols exploding when a win is achieved, subsequently being substituted by additional symbols descending from above to occupy the vacated positions.
Explosivo Wild
The Explosivo Wild symbol is characterized by a yellow skull adorned with a stylish haircut, a pair of glasses, and a broad smile. This emblem possesses the ability to replace all other symbols in the game, with the exception of the Scatter symbol. The concept of the Wild symbol remains consistent with the original version but with an added twist. When the Wild symbol appears, it has the capacity to detonate adjacent symbols, eliminating a minimum of 3 up to a maximum of 8 symbols, depending on its placement on the reels.
Mucho Multiplier
The “Mucho Multiplier” feature has also been preserved in its entirety, and it has the ability to trigger whenever a win occurs from a drop or when at least 1 “Explosivo” wild symbol is landed. This feature operates on a levelling-up system with the following progression: x1, x2, x4, x8, x16, x32.
Scatter Symbol
To access the Bonus round, a minimum of 3 Scatters is required, which is a new feature introduced in contrast to the original slot. The Bonus round is essentially a Free Spins game, and the number of spins granted depends on the number of Scatters that triggered it. Specifically, 3, 4, or 5 Scatters will award 10, 12, or 14 spins, respectively. In the event that 2 or more Scatters appear during the round, the feature will be reactivated, providing an additional 3, 7, 10, or 12 spins. Furthermore, any Scatters beyond the initial 5 will contribute an extra 2 spins.
Bonus Game
During the gameplay, when the round commences, acquiring every third Explosivo Wild will grant an extra spin. Furthermore, the lowest multiplier in effect will be eliminated, and the subsequent base multiplier will be implemented. If the meter is completely filled, an additional spin will be awarded. It is important to note that, unlike the base game, the multipliers in the bonus round have the potential to reach up to x64, with the exception of the x64 multiplier remaining locked until achieving an x32 multiplier in the base game.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Design
5 years after the initial release of EsqueletoExplosivo by Thunderkick, they have returned with an impressive second edition. EsqueletoExplosivo 2 online slot immerses players in a joyful cultural ambience with vibrant music and a festive atmosphere. Taking inspiration from the Mexican Festival, Day of the Dead, this slot game embraces a traditional Mexican theme.
Upon launching the slot, one will immediately notice that the design remains unaltered. The backdrop still depicts a street lined with houses, and the reels take the form of skeletons adorned with skull symbols and illuminated candles, mirroring the layout of the first version. However, substantial changes have been made to the game engine of the EsqueletoExplosivo 2 slot.
The configuration in EsqueletoExplosivo 2 remains consistent, featuring 5 reels, 3 rows, and a Mucho multiplier positioned at the bottom. Notably, a substantial alteration is observed in the expansion of the potential ways to achieve winnings, escalating from 17 to 99 paylines.
Esqueleto Explosivo 2 Slot Summary
EsqueletoExplosivo 2 offers significant enhancements over its predecessor and will attract a distinct audience of players. The previous version’s modest and consistent winnings characteristic of a low-variance slot have been replaced. Thunderkick has taken nearly every element of the original game and elevated them to the maximum. The return to player (RTP) has increased, and the volatility has shifted to the opposite end of the spectrum. Moreover, the potential for larger payouts is much more enticing, reaching up to 5,000x the initial bet, compared to 700x in the first instalment.
The sequel also introduces more enticing features. Thunderkick has admirably maintained the essence of the original EsqueletoExplosivo while incorporating elements that players desire, such as higher multipliers and the addition of free spins round. The bonus game is equally impressive. It offers a generous number of free spins as a starting point, and with a favourable streak, it has the potential to deliver substantial multipliers.
With the multitude of modifications, it should be anticipated that the experience with this younger counterpart will not be without challenges. It is yet another exciting Mexican-themed slot such as El Luchador by Thunderkick.
