Poltava Flames of War Slot Review
The Battle of Poltava took place in the 18th Century. It was a battle fought between the Swede Monarch King Charles XII and the Russian Emperor Peter the Great in the Great Northern War. And now, Elk Studios has recreated that bloody battle in Poltava Flames of War.
If you are interested in taking your chances in this battle and are aiming for the 1,800x spoils of war that await you in this game, we would suggest you read our review to understand this game first or make use of our slot guide to better your odds of winning.
Gameplay
Elk Studios’ Poltava Flames of War is a slightly different game from most other slot machines. Gameplay, however, is straightforward – you set your bet and then click on spin. The game has 5 reels, 4 rows, and 40 betways or paylines.
It would be a good idea to take some time to understand the betting system since Elk Studios’ betting styles are so different from other slot machines. The minimum bet you can make is 20p and the maximum is £100, and you are offered 12 different betting amounts as options. But there are 5 ways in which you can bet these amounts. You can go traditional and simply choose your bet amount. Or you can use one of the three betting strategies offered by the developer. Read through each of the betting strategies carefully before you select one.
Thanks to the higher-than-normal RTP of this game, we were able to land the small-value wins quite frequently. However, landing the high-paying bonus features is not easy in this game thanks to its high volatility. So, you need to be patient and wait for your chance. Because of the fact that it takes a large number of spins (we went up to 200+ before we were able to activate the bonus features), it is best to make small bets so that you can really pack in a large number of spins.
Winning at this game means landing 3, 4, or 5 of the same symbol across a payline. You win more when you land more identical symbols and you also win more when you land higher-value symbols. So, if you land with combinations with the musketeer (Infantry), the cannon (Artillery), and the horse (Cavalry), you win much more than you would if you land the 10, J, Q, K, or A.
Additional Game Features
The game features in Poltava are very different from the other games released by Elk Studios – or even other game developers. So, it’s a good idea to understand them thoroughly first – and play a few rounds of the demo game.
Poltava Wild – The Poltava Wild symbol is the Wild in this game and it can replace all other symbols but not the bonus Lion symbol, which is the Scatter. If you are lucky enough to land an entire payline with only Wilds (5 wilds), then you get the highest payout from a single symbol!
Bonus Lion – The Lion crest symbol is the Scatter, and if you land 3 of them in the middle reels (reels 2, 3, and 4) you will trigger the Flames of War bonus game.
Flames of War Bonus Game – This game is triggered like we said when you land 3 Lions on the middle reels. You are awarded 3 Free Spins and the Lion scatter turns into a Sticky Wild. And the best part of this bonus round is that every Lion which lands on the reels also turns into a Sticky Wild. And every time this happens, you win an extra free spin!
Marching Reels – This is the game’s re-spin feature which is activated when you land a full stack of a wing of the Army – Infantry, Artillery, or Cavalry. In the re-spin, if more of the same symbol land on the right of the stack, you will be awarded another re-spin. Any symbols landing on the left of the stack (behind the frontlines) will be added to the entire combination, but to advance, you need the symbols to fall on the right.
With every re-spin, this division of the military marches across the reels until it reaches reel 5 or until you no longer land any more of the same symbol.
Game Design
The game design in Poltava Flames of War is based on its theme – a real war that took place in the 18th century. The background of the game is a thickly wooded forest where you can see the remnants of military equipment. The low-value symbols are drawn in an archaic style, and the high-value symbols are intricate images of the tools of war. The music is grim, as in the aftermath of a great battle. But when you begin to land the Lion Wild in the middle reels, the tempo of the music picks up, becoming more martial with strong drum beats. It really stirs up your blood! The animations are outstanding and some of them are almost life-like! This is, as with most other Elk Studios games, a beautifully designed game.
Poltava Flames of War Review Summary
Many people will play a slot machine that promises as much as 1,800x your bet. But that isn’t the only reason why you will want to play Elk Studio’s Poltava Flames of War. This game is stunningly designed, with rich graphics, hauntingly beautiful music, and breath-taking animations.
If you are a military history buff, or just a lover of beautifully designed games, and are hoping for a chance to win big money then this is one slot machine that you should try.
