Tiki Torch Pokie Review
Tiki Torch is a 5-reel 20-line video pokie delivered by Aristocrat, an Australian software developer with global appeal. The reviewed game centers around tribal motifs and offers a $10,000 fixed jackpot. On the face of it Tiki Torch may seem a commonplace game, but it actually boasts a couple of interesting features such as three extra wild symbols that become effective in free spins. The game is a good fit for most categories of gamblers, from casual players to high-rollers because the maximum bet runs at $100 per spin and begins from as low as 20 cents.
The pokie has simple design and Aristocrat’s staple layout with 3 rows and hence 15 symbols visible at any given moment. The theme of the game is related to the Polynesian culture. Local legends hold that Tiki was the first man to be created by Tane, the god of birds and forests. Besides, a tiki is also the name of human-sized carved statues that are found in sacred sites of Polynesia. Fitting the theme, the background image depicts sketches of these carved figures along with other decorative patterns.
As for the visual aspect, the game replicates the same-name physical slot machine that was released around 15 years ago. For that reason, Aristocrat used simple graphics deliberately in order to keep the look and feel of the original machine.
Tiki Torch has convenient Autoplay settings enabling you to define any number of automatic spins that would happen without your involvement in the gaming process. A running Autoplay mode can be stopped at any time.
Symbols in Tiki Torch
The symbol package includes 10 non-feature symbols, seven of which are playing card values from 8 up to A. These low-paying pics award 2 to 250 coins for five of a kind. By rough estimate, the pokie is somewhere between low and mid-volatility levels, which implies you will often see low-valued prizes and have to wait for some time before hooking a really big fish. Thematic symbols pay out much higher than ordinary playing cards: Canoe awards 500 coins ($2500), a wooden hut grants you 500 coins and a white knife pays out 1000 coins ($5000) for five of a kind.
Bet options
There are two bet options that alter a bet size. The first option (and the most rarely used one) is the number of paylines. The pokie is played with 20 paylines by default, but a player may decrease this number to 1, if needed. While no reasonable explanation exists of why anyone should want to manipulate this value, the second betting option is more important because it sets a bet per line between $0.01 and $5. Consequently, a total spin bet may vary between 20 cents and $100.
Wild symbol
A high totem pole aflame is a wild symbol. The main distinctive feature of the wild is its ability to replace normal symbols under certain circumstances. When an array of normal symbols occurs on a payline but one symbol is lacking to complete a combination, the wild can act as that missing symbol if it lands on the position where the missing normal symbol should be. Wild symbols pay a record-breaking jackpot prize that equals 2500 coins or $12,500.
Scatter symbol
A white pearl is a scatter symbol. It has a bonus feature behind and you need to get three white pearls to get the feature triggered. Being scatters, pearls do not need to align exactly on a payline, but they do need to appear on neighboring reels left to right. Three, four or five scatters pay out your total bet times x2, x12 and x50, respectively.
Free spins with 3 wild symbols
Scatters are the rarest symbols of all and it takes a while to actually get a needed amount of pearls to trigger free spins. After you receive a scatter reward, you get 8 free spins. During the feature all high-paying symbols (knife, hut and canoe) act as wild symbols, and this is where the pokie unlocks its money-generating potential. If you activate the feature upon hitting 3+ scattered pearls, count yourself fortunate because free spins are almost sure to add many coins to your bankroll. The second piece of good news is that a free spin feature can continue with 8 extra spins if scatters hit the reels again.
If during free spins a continuous Pearl picture lands left to right, you will be awarded the same amount as the winning spin that has activated the current free spins.
Gamble feature
No surprise that the pokie has a gamble feature (because most of Aristocrat’s titles do). The gamble feature is a standard one. You need to predict the color or suit of a card shown face down. If your guess is right, the original winnings that you have earned on the last reel spin will be multiplied by x2 or x4.
Bottom line on Tiki Torch
Tiki Torch is a 5-reel 20-payline pokie with a normal wild symbol and three extra wilds that emerge during free spins. The maximum potential jackpot that you can grab in normal gameplay is $12,500, though a free spin bonus has more lucrative prizes. If you have never played Tiki Torch, do not judge it by its simple design – give it a spin because you are very likely to appreciate this pokie from Aristocrat.