Thunderstruck Wild Lightning
The original Thunderstruck online pokies game from Microgaming was such a hit that, not long after its initial release, the powerhouse software provider decided to create a follow-up, aptly called Thunderstruck II. To this day, this online pokies game continued to be one of the most enjoyed NZ slots online at Ruby Fortune Online Casino – remember, in NZ we call them pokies, while other regions know them simply as slots.
Now, despite Thunderstruck II being such a popular choice of game, Microgaming saw it fit to create yet another follow-up, one that would break the mould entirely and introduce players to a game that was at once both fresh and exciting, while still being familiar and ‘close enough to home’ to make it enjoyable. And so, Thunderstruck® Wild Lightning was born. While the title uses the same name from the rest in the series, it is quite the departure in terms of dynamics and gameplay, with a special Link&Win™ taking centre stage as one of those rare in-game mechanics that instantly ups the ante by offering players the chance to try their hand at one of four jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major or Mega. As a contemporary release, this title works well as both an online and mobile casino game, meaning that it has been optimised for smooth gameplay even on smaller devices, with zero compromise in gameplay quality or graphics.
So, if you’re ready to explore the world of Norse gods all over again, but in a way that is totally unique, read on.
How To Play
Thunderstruck® Wild Lightning plays out across a grid that is made up of 5 reels, 3 rows and a staggering 40 paylines. Depending on the mode that is active, the background of the reels is generally quite simplistic, showcasing either a daytime or nighttime sky. This makes for even better visibility on mobile platforms such as smartphones and tablets. All the while you play, Thor himself will keep you company on the right-hand side of the screen, with the necessary buttons for spinning the reels, as well as changing your bet sizes, found below him.
Speaking about bet sizes, the range on this title starts from as little as 0.20 credits per spin, and goes up to just 16. Now, while this may be a more modest betting range than you might be used to, what makes up for this is the fact that Thunderstruck® Wild Lightning is a high volatility game. What this means is that is has the propensity to pay out in quite decent increments, even if these are likely to occur less often than, say, medium or low volatility games. Not to mention the fact that there are four potential jackpots to try out for. The average payout percentage is 96.10% and the total hit frequency is 22.92%.
What Symbols To Expect
While the previous titles in the series of games tended to showcase the numerous faces of Norse mythology, this title instead pays tribute to some of the Norse realms. While there are essentially nine different realms in this pantheon, the ones that get highlighted (rather abstractly, mind you) are Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim and Nidavellir. Interestingly enough, each of these realms play a part in the Free Spins feature, which we will touch on soon. As far as the lower values go, these symbols are represented by stone carvings of the A, K, Q, J, 9 and 10 royals – made to look like Nordic runes. One can really see that this online pokies game is a labour of love, with a lot of attention to detail.
The mighty Thor himself acts as an expanding Wild, which means he has the power to stack across an entire reel, substituting for other symbols as he does so – with the exception, of course, of Thunderball and Scatter symbols, where the latter is represented by his hammer, and can trigger one of the aforementioned Free Spins rounds, each one associated with one of those 5 realms. The more times you trigger a Free Spins round, the more options you will unlock in terms of number of spins and what Multiplier will be attached. The most exciting one, in our opinion, is the Svartalfheim spins, which come with a guaranteed Wildstorm Feature, and can turn up to 5 entire reels Wild.
There is also a randomly-triggered Wild Lightning feature, which can occur when a Wild symbol lands anywhere on reels 2, 3 and 4. The position where the Wild landed will be highlighted, and if you manage to land another Wild in that same spot, it will turn the entire reel Wild for that spin.
The Link&Win™ Feature
The Thunderball symbols are the key to activating the titular Link&Win feature, which occurs when at least 6 of them land anywhere on the grid. Landing additional Thunderball symbols will unlock additional rows, and in essence the feature is simple: the Thunderball symbols will remain in place once they land, while the reels will spin again, allowing for more to potentially land. At the end of such a round, the various symbols will pay out their associated jackpot total (Mini, Minor or Major) with the Mega prize only paying out if you manage to land a full grid of Thunderballs.
Available At Ruby Fortune
All in all, Thunderstruck® Wild Lightning offers online slots fans in NZ a truly wonderful and immersive gaming experience, and one that is sure to see you returning for more each time. If online pokies aren’t necessarily your vibe, you’ll be happy to know there are loads of other kinds of online casino games, including a host of table games, video poker titles and more.
Apart from games, as well as promotions, Ruby Fortune is a safe and secure gaming destination, where only the biggest names in online banking are on offer, with transactions safely encoded by means of 128-bit SSL digital encryption. With a comprehensive FAQ section, as well as helpful Live Help team, finding your way around and having fun is always a cinch!