Thunder Vault Hold & Win

Thunder Vault Hold & Win Slot Review

Let’s get down to the brass tacks with this Thunder Vault Hold & Win, shall we? This little number comes from the clever folks over at Novomatic, and it hit the scene on April 26th. Now, Novomatic, they know their onions when it comes to making slots that just feel right, and this one’s no different, really. It’s got that straightforward charm we all appreciate, but then it throws in this Hold & Win feature, plus a rather nifty Collector symbol and some pretty tempting fixed jackpots that, you know, just add a whole load of thrill to the proceedings. It’s like your favourite old jumper, but it’s been given a snazzy, modern makeover.

The Lowdown on Slot

What's the Vibe? Fruits and Lightning Bolts!

So the theme is a bit of a classic affair of fruit slots, which I personally find quite comforting, you know? We’re talking juicy fruits – cherries, lemons, oranges, the whole gang – plus some lucky sevens and bells. Standard stuff, really. But then, intertwined with all that nostalgia, there's this whole "Thunder Vault" idea. It’s like you’re cracking open a high-voltage safe, especially when you get into the bonus round. It’s not some epic narrative, obviously, but it’s a nice little concept that gives the game a bit of an edge, a sort of sparky personality. You’re spinning away with your fruit, and then suddenly, it’s all about collecting those electrifying prizes.

A Feast for the Eyes and Ears?

Visually, it’s pretty bright and cheerful, just as you’d expect from a fruit-themed slot. The symbols are clear and bold, with that classic look that’s easy on the eyes. Nothing too fussy, which is sometimes just what you need. When the bonus features kick in, though, that’s when things get a bit more zappy – lots of lightning effects and golden glows. As for the sound, well, you can expect those familiar slot machine jingles and whirs, probably with a few satisfying ‘thunks’ as the reels stop, and I’d wager some electrical crackles during the bonus to match the whole thunder vibe. It’s all part of the charm, isn’t it?

The All-Important Numbers: Your At-a-Glance Guide

Just so you have all the important bits and bobs in one place, here’s a little table for you:

How Does This Game Actually Play?

Let’s talk about how this game actually plays. It’s all well and good looking pretty, but the mechanics are where the real fun is, or isn't, as the case may be!

Classic Reels with a Spark: The Basic Setup

At its heart, Thunder Vault Hold & Win is a pretty traditional kind of slot. We’re looking at a 3-reel, 3-row setup, which is just like those lovely old-school machines. And it’s got 5 fixed paylines, so you know exactly where you need those symbols to land. It’s straightforward, no faffing about with thousands of ways to win, which can be a nice change of pace, actually. You’re aiming to line up three identical symbols on one of those paylines, starting from the leftmost reel. Simple as that, really.

Special Symbols Explained

This is where things get a little more interesting than your average fruit machine. We’ve got a couple of special symbols to keep an eye out for:

• Bonus Symbol: This one looks like a golden coin, a proper shiny little thing. It only pops up on reels 1 and 3, and its main job is to help you get into the Bonus Game. During that bonus, these symbols will have cash values or even those lovely jackpot names on them!

• Collector Symbol: Now, this fella is a bit of a star, in my opinion. It’s a big, bold lightning bolt, and it only appears on the middle reel, reel 2. When you get into the Bonus Game, if this symbol is there, it sticks around and, like the name suggests, collects all the values from the Bonus symbols that land. Pretty handy, eh?

What Makes This Slot Stand Out?

The main unique mechanic here, and it’s in the name, is the "Hold & Win" feature. This isn't your everyday spin-and-win scenario. Once you trigger it, the whole game shifts. You’re no longer looking for payline wins; instead, you’re trying to land as many of those value-packed Bonus symbols as possible during a series of respins. And with that Collector symbol potentially hoovering up all the goodies on reel 2, it adds a rather exciting layer to what starts off as a very classic slot experience. It’s this feature that really gives the game its modern kick.

Unpacking the Thunder Vault Hold & Win Bonus Features

This is the bit everyone loves, isn’t it? The bonuses! And Thunder Vault Hold & Win has a rather electrifying main event. Let's break it down.

Hold & Win Bonus Game

This is the absolute bee's knees of the game, to be honest. To get this party started, you need to land at least one Bonus symbol (that golden coin, remember?) or a Collector symbol on each of the three reels during a single spin in the base game. So, reel 1, reel 2, and reel 3 all need to show at least one of these special symbols.

Once you’re in, things change quite a bit. You’re granted 3 respins to start with. The symbols that triggered the feature will stick in place, and any new Bonus symbols that land during the respins will also stick and, crucially, reset your respin counter back to 3. Phew! Only Bonus symbols (with cash values or jackpot names) and blanks will appear on reels 1 and 3 during this feature. If you landed a Collector symbol on reel 2 to trigger it, that bad boy stays put for the whole bonus round, gathering up all the values from any Bonus symbols that land on reels 1 and 3 on each respin. The game keeps going until you either run out of respins or, if you’re incredibly jammy, you fill all the positions with Bonus symbols. At the end, all the collected values are tallied up for your total win. It can get quite intense, watching those respins count down!

Fancy a Jackpot? Here’s What’s Up for Grabs!

Now, during that Hold & Win Bonus Game, some of those Bonus symbols might not just have a cash value; they could actually have the name of one of the four fixed jackpots written on them: Mini, Minor, Major, or the big kahuna, Grand! If one of these jackpot symbols lands and gets collected (or just lands and sticks if there's no collector active for that specific symbol), you win that corresponding prize. The game info shows these prizes as fixed currency amounts, like Mini at 20.00, Minor at 50.00, Major at 250.00, and Grand at 500.00, for example, though the actual Grand prize can go much higher as mentioned before. It's a smashing way to potentially bag a rather lovely sum!

Getting In on the Action: How to Trigger the Goodies

Well, let's be honest, strategies for triggering bonus features in slots are mostly down to good old Lady Luck, aren't they? There's no magic formula, more's the pity. The key here is simply to keep an eye out for those Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, and hope for that crucial Collector or another Bonus symbol to land on reel 2 at the same time. It’s all about the anticipation of that specific combination appearing. Patience is a virtue, as they say, especially with high volatility games like this one.

The Win Potential

The win potential here, especially during the Hold & Win feature, can be pretty decent. If you manage to get that Collector symbol active on reel 2, it really does the heavy lifting, as every Bonus symbol that lands on the outer reels contributes to your total on every respin because it collects them all. Imagine landing a few high-value Bonus symbols, or even a jackpot symbol, early on with the Collector active – your winnings could stack up very nicely with each subsequent respin that brings in more values. Filling the screen is obviously the dream, but even a good run with the Collector can lead to some rather satisfying payouts.

What’s the Final Word on This Slot?

So, after all that, what’s the final word on Thunder Vault Hold & Win? Well, for me, it’s a really solid offering, particularly if you like your classic slots but fancy a bit more excitement than just three-in-a-row cherries. It’s got that lovely, familiar feel from the base game, but the Hold & Win feature, especially with that nifty Collector symbol, just elevates it and can get your heart pounding a little, you know?

If you’re the kind of player who enjoys high volatility – meaning you don’t mind waiting a bit for those bigger wins – then this could be right up your street. The potential is definitely there in that bonus round. For newer players, the base game is super easy to get the hang of, but the high volatility might mean your balance takes a bit of a rollercoaster ride, so just be mindful of that.

And speaking of fruity fun with a bit of a twist, if you’ve enjoyed the sound of this one, or you’re just a fan of vibrant, feature-packed fruit slots in general, you absolutely must give Fruit Party 2 a whirl sometime! It’s a completely different beast in terms of mechanics, with cluster pays and tumbling reels, but it’s got that same infectious energy, some absolutely cracking multiplier potential, and it’s just a proper delight if you fancy something colourful and bouncy. Just a little tip from me to you!

All in all, though, for Thunder Vault, it’s a thumbs up from me; a cracking little game that balances old-school charm with some genuinely thrilling modern features.