ASTRO PUG SLOT REVIEW

Astro Pug is an online slot developed by Lightning Box Studio in collaboration with Microgaming (Games Global). As the name suggests, the slot features a wrinkly-faced pug and other quirky-looking animals and is based on an oriental theme. Astro Pug slot has eight reels and 1,296 paylines, with a geometric reel configuration. Each spin of the reel costs a minimum of €0.50. It is a medium volatility slot with an RTP of 95.70%.

ABOUT THE ASTRO PUG SLOT 

Astro Pug by Lightning Box Studio builds on the success of the Astro Cat slot developed by the company in collaboration with Incredible Technologies a couple of years ago. Both games share several similarities including a similar theme, reel setup and gameplay. 

While the previous game is based on a cat, Astro Pug pays homage to the pug, a quirky-looking small dog breed with a distinctive wrinkly face and curled tail. The slot definitely has an oriental style to it, which is interesting because the pug is originally native to Europe and was only brought to China in the 16th century. Regardless, the far-eastern style of this game is obvious. 

The slot’s background is a traditional Chinese temple, complete with a distinctive red pagoda roof. A traditional Chinese soundtrack, the type you’ll hear in a Chinese restaurant, plays solemnly in the background. However, the game will occasionally break into a fast-paced music number when you land a winning combination while the Astro pug flies comically across the screen. 

GAMEPLAY 

WAGER

Astro Pug is an eight-reel, 1296 payline slot. The minimum bet amount in this slot is €0.50 per spin. The game has a unique geometric reel setup with a  three-three-four-four-four-four-three-three formation. This means the center reels are arranged in four rows and are flanked on each side by two reels with three rows each. Technically, the center four-row reels are considered a single reel, known as a Reelfecta reel. The entire box represents reel three and has 16 individual positions. Each symbol can only be used once. 

Based on this design, a winning pattern can be formed even if the symbols line up on reels one, two and five. As long as the same symbols connect on reels one and two, it can go on to connect with a third symbol anywhere on reels three, four, five or six. However, each symbol can only be used once in a winning combination. 

SYMBOLS

Astro Pug has ten regular game symbols on the reel set. This includes five low-value symbols and five premium symbols. The low-paying symbols are the A, K, Q, J and 9 card suit. The high-value symbols comprised various oriental-themed animal artefacts such as a cartoon-style koi fish, a jade monkey, a red coin bag, a cat, and a baby hugging a giant fortune cookie. 

The kid with the golden nugget pays 1.25x the stake amount for a five-symbol combination, which is a paltry payout for a so-called premium symbol. Other premium symbols pay between 0.4x and 0.75x your stake. The pug, which is the game’s main character, serves as the Wild symbol. Astro Pug also has a Scatter symbol and a bonus multiplier which appears on selected reels. 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

The dog (pug) is the slot’s Wild symbol and it can stand in for all the other symbols except Scatter and other Wilds. This Wild appears only on reels two, three and four in the base game to complete winning combinations. It can also appear on reels two and four during the free spins bonus round. 

Another special feature of this slot is the bone multiplier. It acts as a Wild and makes up for the low payout of the other symbols, multiplying your win by two times, three times or four times for any combination it appears. However, the bone multiplier can only appear on reel two.

ASTRO PUG FREE SPINS FEATURES

The firecracker is the Scatter symbol in Astro Pug and it unlocks the free spins bonus. This symbol only appears on the outer position of the Reelfecta reel. You will need at least five Scatter symbols in a single spin to unlock the free spins feature. 

For the first three spins of the free spins bonus round, the Wild pug will appear on the top-left corner of the middle Reelfecta reel. This symbol then moves around the outer ring of this reel in a clockwise direction. After the first three spins, the pug can keep appearing or a bomb can appear in its place. If you land a bomb, the bonus round ends and you will be paid a consolation prize, which is twice your total bet. 

If you manage to fill all 12 outer positions of the Reelfecta, you will be awarded one mega spin. In the mega spin, the pug Wild will expand to fill all 16 Reelfecta positions, granting the maximum possible win in this game.  

In addition to the slot’s inbuild free spins bonus, you also get free spins in this game through casino bonuses. Online casinos typically grant free spins to new players as a Welcome Bonus to help them get started with their playing experience. Players can also get free spins through loyalty rewards, tournaments and other casino bonuses. 

For instance, EnergyCasino gives players no-deposit free spins after registering and verifying their account. Players can also get Free spins through EnergySpins rewards. 

ASTRO PUG SLOT FREE PLAY (DEMO)

Astro Pug is a fairly complicated game. It makes sense to want to explore the game first in demo mode before playing with real money. This will allow you to familiarise yourself with the game mechanics and bonus features until you're ready to gamble with real cash. 

In the Astro Pug demo, the casino gives you unlimited virtual coins which you can use to wager on games like real money. You can try out different bet sizes to find the right betting strategy for you. 

You can find the demo version of this slot on EnergyCasino. Interested players living in certain jurisdictions may be able to play this slot demo as a visitor, which means they won’t have to register an account on the casino first. However, the law in some locations requires players to register and verify their accounts before they can access game demos.

OUR THOUGHTS ON ASTRO PUG SLOT

Lightning Box Astro Pug has a unique reel configuration which allows it to deliver a very entertaining gaming experience to players. Players will definitely enjoy the uniqueness that this slot brings to their slot gaming experience. But in a bid to make the slot interesting, Lightning Box may have ended up complicating things a little too much. It’ll take some time to really understand the Reelfecta feature and payline system. Many players will also find the payout a little low for so much trouble. However, the game does offer a decent return to player percentage of 95.73%, which means you can be sure you’ll earn good prizes eventually. 

GAME RULES 

Astro Pug is an online slot developed by Lightning Box Studio for Microgaming (Games Global). The slot is based on a fascinating oriental theme and delivers a unique gaming experience. 

Lightning Box Astro pug slot has eight reels, with a dynamic three-three-four-four-four-three-three configuration. The four middle reels form a single reel known as the Reelfecta feature. Winning combinations are formed by matching three or more symbols on any of the game's 1296 paylines. 

• Astro Pug has 10 regular paying symbols. It also has a Pug Wild as well as bone multiplier which acts as a substituting symbol as well. There’s a Scatter icon to activate the free spins bonus round. 
• The main substituting symbol is the pug Wild which stands in for any of the symbols to form winning combinations. It appears on reels two, three and four in the base game and on reels two and four during the bonus game. 
• The bone multiplier Wild will also substitute for other symbols to form a winning combination and applies a two times, three times or four times multiplier for every payout it is involved in. It only appears on reel two. 
• Landing five Scatter symbols on the reels triggers the free spins bonus round. The first three spins in the bonus round will award a Wild pug icon on the outer reels of the Reelfecta. Subsequent spins can either reveal a bomb which ends the free spins or more Wilds. 
• If you manage to get 12 locked Wilds on the outer positions of the Reelfecta, you’ll get a mega spin, which unlocks the game’s highest payout. 
• Astro Pug has an RTP of 95.73%. Note that this is the RTP at the time of publishing this review, but it may be subject to changes in the future. 

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