Buffalo Gold Slots
While Aristocrat has made dozens of games that have proven extremely popular amongst players, perhaps none are more iconic than Buffalo. This mega hit has become one of the most widely-played casino games of all time, thanks to a simple theme and the opportunity to score wins on more than a thousand lines on every spin.
That kind of success often spawns a franchise, and that’s exactly what has happened here, with several titles being spun off of the original. One of the latest is the Buffalo Gold slot. And while most of the features are still intact from the original, an addition gold bonus adds a little special something to the mix, making this a machine that can be enjoyed by fans of the original while still feeling like a whole new experience.
Home on the Range
Buffalo Gold by Aristocrat is housed in the ARC Single cabinet. Because it is only available in brick-and-mortar resorts as opposed to online casinos, there is no play-for-free version available.
The game is played using the Xtra Reel Power framework, which is Aristocrat’s own particular way of titling the all ways system. Because of the 4x5 layout, players have 1024 ways to win, with any left-to-right combination paying out regardless of the exact positions of the matching symbols. This is just like the original, but there is a difference: rather than betting in 40 credit increments, players can bet 60 coins at a time, which opens up the gold bonus that makes this machine unique.
In the main portion of the gameplay, however, players are simply trying to make matches across the reels. The basic symbols, as in many slots, are the poker ranks running from nines through aces. For bigger wins, you’ll need to watch out for various animals that will come across the screen. These include eagles, elk, wolves, and mountain lions. Of course, the high-paying symbol on this machine is the buffalo itself, which often comes charging onto the screen in waves that can stack to cover the entire reel.
Follow the Herd
As you’d expect, the Buffalo Gold slot machine also features wild symbols. In this case, there is a sunrise icon that can substitute for any of the normal symbols in order to complete a winning payline. In addition, there are scatter symbols – gold coins – that can earn players additional wins if three or more appear anywhere on the screen.
These coins are also the way for players to gain access to the free spins game. This bonus round is triggered whenever three or more scatter symbols appear at once: hit three, and you’ll earn 8 spins, up to a maximum of 20 free spins if you hit all five.
What’s most interesting about this special feature is the fact that players have the opportunity to earn bigger and bigger rewards as it continues. Golden buffalo can appear on the screen, each of which counts not only as a normal symbol, but also increases a counter at the top of the screen. If you collect four, the eagle symbols on the machine will all turn into buffalo as well. More golden symbols will make the wolves and elk turn into buffalo as well, making it easier than ever to score big wins.
A Golden Classic
While the original is one of the most important classic slots in gaming history, Buffalo Gold by Aristocrat is also worthy of attention from players. We really like the addition of the gold bonus, which makes the free spins round much more lucrative than it would normally be. This is also great for gamblers who enjoy a high volatility game, as it’s possible for the special feature to pay out – or for the golden symbols never to show, turning it into a relatively mundane bonus.
If you’re a fan of the original, we definitely think that the Buffalo Gold slot is worth a try. Some players may like this one better or worse than the first version of the game, but in either case, we think most fans will enjoy this unique take on the formula that has made this series one of the most popular slots of all time.
