Gem Fire Frenzy

Gem Fire Frenzy: Slot Overview

Along with creating fire to help us digest food a lot quicker, inventing circular objects for transportation purposes, and attaching sharpened rocks to bits of wood to hit annoying people with, another thing humans began doing early on is adorning their bodies with extravagant items. Why do we do this – to look rich, to stand out from the crowd, to feel on fleek? Whatever the reason, people have been wearing jewellery for a long time. According to the International Gem Society, one early piece of jewellery is a necklace made of fishbones which was found in a cave in Monaco from around 25,000 years ago. It's unlikely a modern fashionista would be too thrilled to be wearing a fishbone necklace, though in saying that, with the way fashion trends move, perhaps they'll come back in. No, these days, we're more enamoured with wearing sparkly gemstones, which leads us into today's slot Gem Fire Frenzy, from Games Global partner Hammertime.

One of the first reactions after loading up Gem Fire Frenzy wasn't 'Ooh, look at all the gems'; it was more like 'Where the heck are we?' The game has a Just For The Win feel to it, with a gold grid sitting just off centre, in front of… dunno. It could be an extreme close-up of a cocktail as bubbles rise to the surface, or staring at fireflies through a gemstone, or anything really. The game sheet mentions something about igniting caves, so supposedly we're inside a cave somewhere. Best not to think too deeply about it, perhaps, though when free spins are active, a cave element becomes more apparent. During free spins is where the game gets really swirling and shiny, all amplified by a wondrous soundtrack. Even now, after giving Gem Fire Frenzy a test run, it's hard to decide one way or the other if the game is a treat for the eyes or kinda tacky looking. A bit of both, then, but gemmy enough to continue on.

Gem Fire Frenzy uses a 5-reel gaming panel with 4 rows of symbols and 1,024 ways to win. Available in four RTP configurations, the default return value is 96%, and at this level, players can expect a hit rate of 35.73% and a medium volatile math model. When picking a stake, the options go from 10 p/c to $/€30, with several bonus buy options available, too.

Unsurprisingly, gems are extensively used as symbols, making up half of Gem Fire Frenzy's 12 regular pays. The first six are heavy metal-fonted 9-A card ranks, while the next six are the aforementioned gemstones. A five-of-a-kind royal win will get you a payout of 1-2 times the bet, whereas a five gemstone win awards 3.2 to 6 times the bet. Present on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 in all phases of play is a logo wild, which can replace any symbol except the scatter.

Gem Fire Frenzy: Slot Features

Amidst all the fire and gems and whatnot are Gem Fire Frenzy's features. These include Rolling Reels, Synched Reels, two free spins rounds (players can choose), and a bonus buy.

Rolling Reels

Games Globals's name for a cascading wins system, Rolling Reels, removes winning symbols from the grid when they hit. Symbols roll into the gaps, and when no new win is created after a roll, the total win for the sequence is awarded. Rolling Reels is available in the base game and in free spins.

Synced Reels

Synched Reels occur at random in the base game and on every spin in free spins. When activated, 2, 3, or 4 reels can sync together, landing identical symbols. Symbols rolling in for synched reels will be identical.

Free Spins

The metal hammer-looking symbol is the scatter. Landing 1 or more scatter on each reel triggers the free spins selection. The number of scatters in view determines the number of free spins – 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10+ scatters award 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, or 25 free spins, respectively. Next, players choose one of these options:

• Growing Multiplier Free Spins – the win multiplier starts on x1 and increases by +1 on each spin up to a maximum of x50. The multiplier does not reset till the feature ends.
• Rolling Multiplier Free Spins – the win multiplier starts on x2 and increases by +2 on each roll up to x20. The multiplier resets on each spin.

Both free spins rounds can be retriggered by landing at least 1 scatter on each reel to win an extra 3 free spins.

Buy Free Spins

If you'd like to buy free spins, Gem Fire Frenzy provides a number of options. These are 15, 18, 20, or 25 free spins for 80x, 120x, 160x, and 250x the bet, respectively.

Gem Fire Frenzy: Slot Verdict

If Gem Fire Frenzy was an actual gem, it probably wouldn't end up being used on an outrageously expensive engagement ring. It somehow manages to look both satisfyingly shiny yet kinda plasticky at the same time. Ultimately, Gem Fire Frenzy provided a decent level of entertainment, and its bonus round attempts to be sumptuous, but it's not the sort of game that really embeds deep in the consciousness, prompting repeat return visits to sample its gem-encrusted delights.

It was quite fun while it lasted, though, and the two free spins choices present a conundrum. Which one to pick? Growing Multiplier Free Spins are tempting since the multiplier is guaranteed to rise on each spin up to a maximum of x50, which is the most heroic value of the two. Although, it'll take quite a few retriggers to reach that amount. On the other hand, Rolling Multiplier Free Spins top out at x20 and reset on each free spin, yet the multiplier starts at x2 and rises by 2 following each roll. Maybe not the same level of intensity as JFK's eventual decision to place a naval blockade around Cuba in response to the discovery of missiles there or Nikita Khrushchev deciding how to respond, but it's a tough call all the same. Presumably, it is possible to hit Gem Fire Frenzy's max win of 7,500x the bet in both rounds, so players' choice.

Despite all the positives Gem Fire Frenzy throws at you, it's not the most memorable game out there. Nothing wrong with it, and the dual choice free spins round is neat, but after playing slots like this and Sugar Craze Bonanza, if Hammertime really wants to stand out, it'd do well to try crafting games that are a little less on the generic side.