Eye of the Panda Slot

Eye of the Panda: Slot Overview

Thanks to Survivor’s theme song from Rocky III, we all know about the ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ But have you ever come across the ‘Eye of the Panda’? Probably not, until now. ‘Eye of the Panda’ is an online slot by Hacksaw Gaming, shifting the focus from tigers to their more tranquil panda relatives. However, being a Hacksaw Gaming creation, players should be prepared for an exciting experience with wilds, wild multipliers, and jumping wild multipliers.

This Hacksaw Gaming slot, ‘Eye of the Panda,’ follows the classic design approach, combining monochrome colors with vibrant neon accents, similar to other titles like Chaos Crew, Chaos Crew 2, RIP City, Plinko and Break Bones. The game features a grumpy panda character standing next to the game grid, occasionally indulging in fast food. The visuals create a captivating atmosphere, and special recognition goes to the music, which is Asian-influenced electronica that adds to the excitement during gameplay.

Entering the ‘Eye of the Panda’ means selecting a bet ranging from 10 cents to $/€100 per spin. There are four options available in the feature buy menu. This is a medium-volatility slot (3 out of 5), with an initial RTP of 96.26%, which can vary slightly based on purchased features. The game takes place on a 5×5 grid with 27 paylines, and winning combinations are formed from the leftmost reel.

The symbols in the game consist of standard 10 to Ace card royals and various junk food items like ice cream, bubble tea, doughnuts, fries, and hamburgers. Getting five matching royal symbols pays 1 times the bet, while achieving a 5-symbol picture win yields a reward of 5 to 10 times the bet. The panda character acts as the wild symbol, replacing all other symbols and offering a 10x bet multiplier for a 5-wild combination.

Eye of the Panda: Slot Features

In terms of features, ‘Eye of the Panda’ offers Super Cascades, Wild Panda Multipliers, the ‘Never Say No to Panda!’ Bonus, Jumping Panda Bonus, and the option to purchase bonuses.

Super Cascade Super

Cascades clear all instances of the winning symbol types from the reels and allow new symbols to drop in and fill the empty spaces.

Wild Panda Multipliers

Besides acting as wild symbols, Wild Pandas come with multipliers of x2, x3, x4, x5, or x10. These Wild Panda Multipliers apply to any winning combinations they are a part of, and if multiple Wild Pandas contribute to a win, their multipliers are multiplied together before being applied. The Wild Panda Multipliers remain in play until they become a part of a winning combination, at which point they are removed during the cascade along with the winning symbols.

Never Say No To Panda!

Getting 3 FS scatters in the base game triggers 10 free spins. When a Wild Panda symbol isn’t in a winning combo, it’s stored in one of 5 Panda Collector slots. When all slots are filled, no more Wild Pandas can be stored. When a win occurs, the saved Wild Pandas leap to random positions within the winning combo, applying their multipliers to any wins. Only as many Wild Pandas as can fit within existing wins jump onto the reels from the Panda Collector. Since Wild Pandas are wild symbols, they can create new wins when they jump onto the reels. On the final spin, any saved Wild Pandas not involved in a win jump to random reel positions.

Jumping Panda Bonus

Landing 4 FS scatters in the base game grants 10 free spins in this feature. During this feature, the first 5 Wild Pandas that land become sticky and stay on the reels until the feature ends. Sticky Wild Pandas leap to new random positions on each free spin, cascade, and receive a new multiplier value with each jump.

Bonus Buy

In the feature buy menu, you can choose from these options:

1. BonusHunt FeatureSpins – Costs 3 times the bet, significantly increases the chances of triggering a bonus game. It’s highly volatile with an RTP of 96.34%.
2. Panda-licious FeatureSpins – Priced at 50 times the bet, each spin ensures at least 5 Panda symbols land. It’s highly volatile with an RTP of 96.28%.
3. Never Say No To Panda! – Priced at 100 times the bet, it’s highly volatile, offering an RTP of 96.27%.
4. Jumping Pandas – Priced at 200 times the bet, it’s extremely volatile with an RTP of 96.33%.

Eye of the Panda: Slot Verdict

Eye of the Panda provoked a wide range of emotions from start to finish. Initially, the concept of wild multipliers in the pay table seemed typical for Hacksaw Gaming. However, the first bonus round introduced a unique collection aspect, deviating from the norm, before returning to familiar territory with the second bonus round. This blend of original and familiar elements would have made a more significant impact if it weren’t for the stylish presentation of Eye of the Panda.

The visuals, in classic Hacksaw Gaming fashion, immerse players in an urban jungle where hidden treasures can be found in obscure corners. The residents of this world exude a cool and unique aura, perhaps initially cautious of newcomers but open to those who fit right in.

Just as in the Chaos Crew 2 review, the Bonus Hunt Feature spins proved more engaging than regular spins, leading to bonus rounds more frequently. This was not limited to the 3-scatter ‘Never Say No To Panda!’ round but also included the 4 FS scatter ‘Jumping Pandas’ feature. It plays out similarly to Push Gaming’s classic jar slot, offering the excitement of multiplier wild symbols interacting with each other in the same win. This dynamic means that something ordinary can turn into something extraordinary when Wild Pandas land in the right places. The other bonus round was also enjoyable, perhaps serving as a warm-up for the main event, with the added benefit of collecting wild multipliers for future use.

To top it all off, Eye of the Panda offers a maximum win of 10,000 times the bet, attainable in any phase of the game. While it may not reach the status of a classic from Hacksaw Gaming, it still demonstrates the studio’s ability to create top-notch slots, whether they originate from new concepts, external inspirations, or a combination of both, akin to a restaurant that lets you craft your own unique rice bowl.

Jesse Miller iGaming Writer

Last Updated: April 22, 2024