Hammerstorm

Hammerstorm: Slot Overview

Software provider Pragmatic Play does have a soft spot for deities, and they've used one of the most famous in the slot world to star in this game. The title of the slot, Hammerstorm, provides a clue as to which god gamblers will be encountering this time. Yep, you got it, it is none other than the big burly Viking god Thor, he of the lightning and hammer fame. On this occasion, the studio has paired him up with a respins feature and one of those three collection pot mechanics, which have the ability to enhance the bonus round with up to three different modifiers.

Hammerstorm sets a pretty scene as it goes about depicting a lush valley of green hills, winding water, and Viking houses scattered on either side of the screen. A longship rests at harbour, while in the far distance a golden building sits atop a hill, glowing in the sunlight, alluding to the realm of Asgard. Snow-capped mountains and a mystical sky add to the grandeur, and overall, Hammerstorm presents a culture at the height of its power, fertile and timeless albeit in a rather generic way.

Pay symbols pay from left to right from the leftmost reel, evaluated by 40 paylines, on a 5x3 gaming area. Gamblers are able to wager $/€0.20 to $/€240 per spin, and two ante bets may be triggered. Ante Bet 1 costs 50x and guarantees one Thor symbol on each spin, while Ante Bet 2 costs 100x and lands at least 5 Lightning symbols on each spin. However the game is played, the RTP is 96.5% and volatility is high.

From the lowest symbol to the highest, there are J through to A, horns, gauntlets, helmets, axes, and shields. A 5 OAK royal win awards 1 times the bet, while a 5 OAK premium win pays 1.75x the bet. Wilds may land in any reel to substitute for the regular paying symbols. A wild win 5 symbols in length pays 50x the stake.

Hammerstorm: Slot Features

Hammerstorm's action comes in the form of Lightning symbols, a Thor symbol, and a respins round with up to three active modifiers.

Lightning & Thor Symbols

Three types of Lightning symbols may appear in the base game. When the Red, Green, or Purple Lightning symbols land, they are collected at the end of the spin by the Double, Expand, or Spins chests above the reels. When this happens, there is a chance they trigger the respins feature with the Double, Expand, or Spins modifier randomly activated. One, two, or three modifiers can be randomly triggered at once and will be active during respins. Lightning symbols are also money symbols in the base game, possessing a value of 0.5x to 10,000x the bet. The Thor symbol, meanwhile, may appear on the leftmost reel. When Thor and at least 1 Lightning symbol land, the respins round will automatically trigger.

Respins Feature

The feature begins with 5 respins on a 5x5 grid that can land coins, lightning symbols, or blanks. Silver and Gold coins, along with Silver and Gold lightning symbols, appear with values ranging from 0.5x to 10,000x, while Gold versions only show up when the Double modifier is active. A +1 spin can also land if the Spins modifier is active. A 2x2 highlighted zone collects the values of any coins or lightning symbols that land inside it, including all triggering lightning symbols at the start. The zone shifts across the grid to pick up new lightning symbols as they appear. Collected lightning symbols fill a meter. After 5 are collected, the zone expands to 3x3 and +3 extra respins are awarded. After 4 more, it grows to 4x4 with +2 additional respins. A further 3 collected symbols expand the zone to 5x5 and award +1 more respin. There are three possible modifiers:

• Double - Gold versions of Lightnings and Coins may appear. Collecting Gold versions of symbols collects values from them twice, the initial value plus a second random value.
• Expand - The round is played on a 7x7 grid, and the highlighted zone can expand beyond 5x5 to 6x5, 6x6, and 7x6 by collecting 3 lighting symbols for each expansion. Players win an extra 3, 3, 3, 2, 1 respins for each expansion over 2x2.
• Spins - The +1 Spin value may appear, which grants an extra respin when collected.

Hammerstorm: Slot Verdict

Hammerstorm joins the ranks of the steadily growing three collection pot style of slot. Push Gaming has been hammering away with its Push Pots stuff (3 Magic Pots, for example) for a bit, and Games Global studios have been doing this sort of thing for a long time now. The form appears to be on an upward trajectory, and Hammerstorm is a fairly interesting option for players who like this style.

From there, you pretty much have to be into the three chests, three modifiers concept to really stick around long term. The base game isn't particularly exciting, boiling down to keeping an eye on Lightning symbols, interspersed with the occasional low-value winning combination. Thor symbols may help improve the situation, since they automatically trigger respins if they land alongside Lightning symbols. If Thor's not there, then the tease effect of collecting lightning symbols may be enough to hold interest for a while. The respins feature itself is a little different, though in saying that, NetEnt's Piggy Riches 3, a slot reviewed not long before this one, used a similar moving zone collection feature in its free spins round, too. Growing the zone and winning extra respins adds suspense, and it is an alternative to more traditional sticky money symbols or Big Bass-style collector symbol action. On a side note, be aware that the 100x Ante Bet might land 5 Lightning symbols, but it doesn't guarantee respins will trigger. So it might end up a case of burning through a chunk of the bankroll before actually moving into the bonus phase. The same goes for the Thor symbol ante bet.

Hammerstorm's respins round was okay, the win cap is 10,000x, so the game can go places, and the moving zone idea provides a twist. But, the game also felt a bit old-fashioned, somewhat bland and generic in parts, so unless one is particularly thrilled by all things three pot, Hammerstorm is somewhat mid.