They say lightning doesn't strike the same place twice (though tell that to South Carolina man Melvyn Roberts who has been hit a reported 11 times); how about fire? The answer is a resounding yes if Pragmatic Play has anything to say on the matter after creating Fire Strike 2, the sequel to a slot released in 2019 called Fire Strike. Whilst the original may have looked like a fairly regular fruit machine with flames, but it packed some serious big win numbers - how achievable they were was up for discussion. Fire fans are in for a real treat because not only has Pragmatic Play brought back practically everything the first one had going for it, but they've also hammered on free spins and a new sticky symbol feature.
While adding new features, Pragmatic Play has tightened the graphics as well, and Fire Strike 2 has a vibrant look that pops off the screen. Uber-crisp, if flamed filled games appeal, then Fire Strike 2's bold visuals definitely make it one to try. The audio is banging, too; Pragmatic Play's sound team have swapped out the loungey funk tune of the original, replacing it with something that would absolutely rock a 90s themed house party.
>
>
The numbers aren't bad either, provided you've got the most optimal 96.5% version; otherwise, there's a 95.5% or 94.5% setting as well. The math model is medium volatile (3.5 out of 5), and activates the new bonus round every 181.66 spins, theoretically. Played on a 5-reel, 3-row game panel, players can select stakes of 10 p/c to $/€100 to fan the flames.
Lining the grid are 10 fixed paylines, firing off a win when three to five matching symbols hit from the leftmost side. Pay symbols are similar to the ones used in the previous game, with a few chops and changes. Starting from the lower values and moving up, there are dice, cards, chips, banknotes, bells, BARs, double BARs, triple BARs, blue 7s, pink 7s, and red 'sevens'. For this lot, five of a kind win lines are worth 5 to 100 times the stake. One other thing, combinations of any 'seven' symbol are worth 5x the bet for five, too. Helping make win lines, Firestrike Wilds appear on all reels to substitute for any pay symbol and sling a win worth 200x the bet when five wilds land across a payline.
Fire Strike 2 shares the same objective as before – land as many Firestrike or Firestrike Wild symbols as possible to collect an instant money bonus. This time though, free spins can also be triggered where Firestrike symbols may turn sticky.
In the base game, hitting 6 or more Firestrike or Firestrike Wild symbols anywhere on the matrix awards an instant money prize. Up for grabs are payouts of 1x 2x, 8x, 25x, 50x, 150x, 500x, 1,000x, 2,500x, or 5,000x when 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 Firestrike or Firestrike Wilds are in view. Moreover, if the screen is covered in exactly 15 Firestrike Wilds, players win the jackpot value of 25,000x the bet.
Diamonds are scatter symbols, and having 3 of them on reels 1, 3, and 5 awards 12 free spins. For the most part, a similar set of rules apply, so it is still possible to win instant cash prizes or the jackpot when the right number of Firestrike or Firestrike Wilds land. This time, players can win 1x 2x, 8x, 25x, 50x, 150x, 500x, 1,000x, 2,500x, or 5,000x when just 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 Firestrike or Firestrike Wilds are in view. Also, whenever Firestrike symbols hit on a free spin, there is a chance they remain sticky for the rest of the bonus round. Useful because if you now land 15 Firestrike or Firestrike Wilds, you win the 25K jackpot. On a final note, if 3 scatters land during the bonus, players are awarded +12 extra free spins.
>
>
If flaming fruit machines are a personal interest, then prepare to be blown away by Fire Strike 2. It's obvious Pragmatic Play has extensive experience in creating these sorts of slots, as Fire Strike 2 is a shining example of 'funky' fruit machine gaming. The razor-sharp graphics and ear poundingly good tunes could make even a flame hater do a double-take. Since Fire Strike 1 was released, money symbol/instant prize win slots have poured onto the market. Despite this, Pragmatic Play has injected enough brazen attitude into Fire Strike 2 to give it relevance.
A large part of the charm is its impressive jackpot. Back when Fire Strike part one hit the shelves, Pragmatic Play was in the habit of throwing around some eye-watering, if dubious, max win numbers in their games. In this new reformed age of Pragmatic Play attaching more down to earth potential to their slots, Fire Strike 2 bucks the trend by sticking with the original's 25,000x top prize. The difference now is that players have a couple of tools they can utilise to potentially, just maybe, hit it. We're talking, of course, about the sticky nature of Firestrike symbols in free spins. With this assistance, and the fact both Firestrike or Firestrike Wilds can be used to score the Jackpot during the bonus, hitting the game's max win feels just that little bit more realistic than before.
So, when all is said and done, Fire Strike 2 has pretty much made the first game obsolete. Why pick part one when part two has everything the first one had, plus the added benefit of sticky symbols – not to mention an epic trancey track to listen to while attempting to stack them in a brand new free spins bonus round. Seeing is still believing, but with the extra firepower Pragmatic Play has wedged in, Fire Strike 2's max win feels a tad more doable.
Play for real money
