Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax

The monkeys overseeing the MultiMax multipliers look adorable, and there are five of them perched above the reels. The game's backdrop features rough seas and barrels, reminiscent of other pirate-themed slots like Pirates: Smugglers Paradise or Pirates 2: Mutiny, both from Yggdrasil. For those seeking a more pirate-centric experience, partner studio Peter & Sons' Barbarossa DoubleMax might offer a better fit.

Yggdrasil might have used cute monkey pirates to divert attention from the lower-than-usual maximum RTP of 94%. However, the volatility is described as "super-high," which might sound daunting. Yet, with significant winning potential, Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax could prove rewarding if the gameplay favors the player. Players can select stakes ranging from 20 cents to $/€25 per spin, with an option to purchase the free spins bonus round.

Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax features a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 243 ways to win and pays both ways during free spins. The paytable includes 9-A royals as lower-paying symbols and 5 character symbols as higher-paying ones. Landing a 5-of-a-kind combination awards varying payouts, ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 times the bet for low-paying symbols and 1.6 to 3.6 times the bet for premium symbols.

The game retains features from Multifly!, such as Avalanches, Reel Multipliers, and free spins, while introducing a pay-both-ways mechanic in the bonus round and Bomb symbols.

Avalanche wins remove winning symbols from the reels, allowing new ones to fall into place, potentially creating additional wins on the same spin. Each Avalanche win adds a wild symbol to a random empty position before the grid is refilled.

Wild symbols substitute for regular pay symbols and increase the reel multiplier when added to the grid after a win. Reel multipliers apply to all wins on the reel and can multiply each other, with a minimum multiplier of x2 and no maximum limit.

Landing 3 scatters on the middle reels triggers 8 free spins, during which reel multipliers remain active, and wins pay both ways. The free spins round also introduces Bomb symbols, which can trigger Avalanches and come in three power levels.

Players can purchase the free spins bonus round for 95 times the bet.

Despite its potential, Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax doesn't seem to elevate the MultiMax mechanic to new heights. While it's not a clone of Multifly!, it also lacks the polished and exciting progression one might expect. The game feels like it didn't receive Yggdrasil's full attention during development, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming experience.

However, when everything aligns, Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax can deliver impressive results. The combination of reel multipliers and Avalanche wins remains a winning formula, and the addition of Bomb symbols and pay-both-ways mechanic adds depth to the gameplay. Although it falls short of the original, the game still appeals to players who enjoy the MultiMax feature, offering some new elements to explore. Nevertheless, the presentation could have been better, and the game leaves a less impressive impression overall.

• Title: Monkeys Go Bananas MultiMax
• Developer: Yggdrasil Gaming
• Reels: 5
• Rows: 3
• Paylines: 243
• RTP: 94% | 90.5%
• Hit Freq: 23.86%
• Max Win: 10,000x
• Volatility: High
• Min/Max Bet: 0.20/25
• Release Date: March 21, 2024