Three Charge Buffalo Slot Machine Strategies and Gameplay
The Three Charge Buffalo slot machine is an online casino game developed by Realtime Gaming (RTG), one of the leading providers of slots games in the industry. Released in 2015, this five-reel, twenty-payline slot has been gaining popularity among players due to its unique gameplay mechanics, impressive graphics, and generous payouts.
Theme, Setting, and 3 Charge Buffalo Visual Design
The Three Charge Buffalo slot is set against a beautiful desert landscape, reminiscent of the American Southwest. The game’s artwork features stunning visuals, with majestic buffalo roaming freely in the distance. The color palette is predominantly brown, tan, and orange, evoking a sense of warmth and sun-kissed terrain.
At the top of the screen, players will notice three meters labeled "Charge Meter," each displaying a different symbol: Wild, Scatter, or Free Spin. These meters are crucial to understanding the gameplay mechanics and bonus features that follow.
Symbols, Animations, and Sound Design
The symbols in Three Charge Buffalo are well-designed and easy to recognize. The standard icons include card ranks (A-K) from 9 to Ace, as well as traditional slot machine fruit such as watermelon, plum, orange, and lemon. There are also two higher-paying symbols: the Wild Mustang and the Scatter Bison.
The animations on the game are smooth and engaging, particularly during bonus rounds and free spins. The sound design is equally impressive, with an immersive soundtrack that complements the desert setting. The audio effects for symbol combinations and bonuses add to the excitement of playing this slot machine.
Reels, Paylines, or Grid Mechanics
Three Charge Buffalo features a five-reel grid with 20 fixed paylines. Players can adjust their bets using the + and – buttons at the bottom left corner of the screen. The minimum bet is $0.10 per spin (1 cent per line), while the maximum is set to $100.
Core Gameplay Mechanics and Flow
The core gameplay revolves around filling the Charge Meters with matching Wild, Scatter, or Free Spin symbols. Filling all three meters in a single spin will trigger a progressive bonus round called "Three Charge."
Each meter has its unique rules:
- The Wild Meter fills when two or more wilds land on adjacent reels.
- The Scatter Meter is filled by landing at least one scatter symbol anywhere on the screen, with additional scatters adding to the total count.
- The Free Spin Meter is charged by filling the Charge Meters with free spin symbols.
When a meter is full, players can collect rewards in various forms:
- Wilds: All reels become wild for the next spin, potentially generating more winning combinations.
- Scatters: Three scatter bison land on adjacent reels to trigger up to 180 Free Spins.
- Free Spins: The number of free spins awarded depends on how many symbols filled each meter.
During regular gameplay, landing three or more identical icons (with the exception of Wild) will activate a standard payline win, with higher combinations offering significantly larger payouts.
Wild Symbols, Scatter Symbols, and Special Icons
The most interesting aspect of Three Charge Buffalo is its use of special symbols to charge the meters. The game offers multiple bonus features tied to filling each meter:
- Three Charge: Fill all three Charge Meters for a progressive jackpot.
- Free Spins: Fill Free Spin Meter with 2, 3, or 4 free spins to award 20-150 FS with additional FS multiplier of x2-x5 depending on symbols present in the reel grid when FS meter is filled up.