ELK Studios goes retro with its Bompers video slot, the third title in the Gravity Series. The game that uses 6 reels and offers 4,096 ways to win is based on pinball machines that were extremely popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Bompers has a retro feel to it, yet comes packed with innovative bonus features that will keep you glued to the screen of your nearest desktop or mobile device. Thanks to various modifiers, sticky Wilds, free drops and expanding reels, you can hit up to 5,000x the bet in a single spin.

The design of the game draws inspiration from a pinball machine with the reels looking like part of one. They are unorthodox and populated by round symbols falling from above. On the reels, you will see a lucky 7, bar, horseshoe and four-leaf clover symbol that make the higher ends of the paytable. Icons depicted as watermelons, oranges, lemons and cherries fill the rest of the positions. The game is also home to several special symbols that we will explain later in the review along with the duties they perform.

Bompers is playable at a bet ranging between $0.20 and $100 per spin. Just like other ELK titles, this one allows you to simply select a total bet and push the Spin button to set the reels in motion. If you don’t feel like spinning the reels manually, you can use up to 100 autospins and enjoy the gameplay without interruption. A minimum of 3 matching symbols landed on adjacent reels left to right is needed for a prize to be paid out.

This is the first ELK title that uses so-called X-iter modes. It is the extra feature that enables players to choose from different options with a preset number of spins and enhanced odds at a certain prize.

When it comes to bonus features, the one that is available throughout the game is Avalanche. Each winning spin will be followed by an avalanche where winning symbols are removed. Besides, each avalanche expands the reels and increases the number of ways to win. The maximum number of rows can be 8, while the number of ways to win can increase to 262,144.

When it comes to special symbols, the first one we would like to introduce to you is the Bomper icon. Up to 5 of these can be added on any spin and they can turn into Sticky Wilds that can help you complete more winning combos. Then, we have the Mystery Bomb symbol that can turn itself and all neighbouring icons into symbols of a kind. When 2 Mystery Bombs overlap, they will turn into Wilds. Furthermore, there is the Shooting Star symbol that goes upwards and when reaches the top of the reel set, it generates up to 7 symbols with 3 Wilds guaranteed.

Finally, keep an eye on Bonus symbols as three or more of these activate 7 free drops. Each drop starts with up to 5 Bomper symbols added to the reels, meaning that Sticky Wilds can boost your chances substantially during free games.

Although the gameplay in Bompers may strike you as overwhelming due to all the modifiers and bonus features, you should give it a try. It grants loads of excitement along with an enjoyable gaming experience thanks to striking visuals and an engaging music score. If you like previous slot machines launched by ELK Studios, you will love this one. Its RTP is a bit below the industry average, though, at 95.8%.