We know them, we love them, and we relish the feeling of exhilaration they bring – the Sumo Brawls! Given that Japanese culture has, at this point, become a global phenomenon, it’s to be expected it would make its way into Slot games as well. And it definitely doesn’t disappoint, as we can observe with ELK Studios’ Video Slot Sumo Sumo. A game made for martial arts lovers and those especially bored by the mundanity of life. You either love it or steer clear, but either way, for this one we recommend you throw caution to the wind and get a taste of Japan’s action. That is, of course, if you are up for the challenge…
Sumo Sumo – The Basics
ELK Studios’ game, Sumo Sumo, undeniably has a ton to offer, but before you delve into the plentitude of features, you ought to first get familiar with the basics. But worry not, we’ll explain everything from A to Z, so that you are fully equipped to handle the challenge.
Starting off, you should know that Sumo Sumo operates using a 5×5 scheme. Simply put, the game grid consists of 5 reels and 5 rows. You will be awarded a win if matching symbols line up in certain combinations from the leftmost side and connect on adjacent reels either horizontally or diagonally. In Sumo Sumo, there are 259 paylines, which are actually the possible combinations, in which the above-mentioned symbols can land, in order for a win to be awarded to you.
Something crucial to remember at all times is that Sumo Sumo is a high volatility game. Volatility is a vital piece of knowledge for any slot player, regardless of experience, as it relates to both risk and reward. In the case of Sumo Sumo, high volatility means that you have the potential to win big, and we mean big similar to the word’s meaning in the Sumo context of the game. However, the higher the volatility, the more the risk increases. You don’t need a game expert to figure out why comprehensive knowledge about volatility is an absolute must.
Contrastingly to what you may expect from a high volatility game, however, is Sumo Sumo’s RTP. The game has an estimated RTP of 94%, which is by no means good. Best case scenario – you will be investing with a game that has an estimated RTP of 96% or higher. Anything below will most likely mean you will get a dissatisfactory return on investment. Still, the game’s max payout is 25,000x the size of the bet, meaning that if the planets happen to align (and Mercury behaves), you may get a lovely win after all.
Make sure to also take the betting limits into consideration when crafting your strategy. The minimum bet you can place is £0.20, whereas the maximum allowed is £100.
Symbols
You can’t win a Sumo match without knowing the rules, can you? Similarly, before becoming the next overnight success, you’ll need to know Sumo Sumo’s symbols better than the back of your hand. The key thing to remember is that not all symbols amount to the same winning value. Let’s take a look at the two main categories: the Low-values and the High-values.
The Low-value symbols are, in truth, something nobody particularly enjoys, but everybody has to deal with. They’re mainly used as fillers, ensuring the game stays balanced. In Sumo Sumo, Low-value symbols are the Square Cherries, Grapes, Lemons and Watermelons. Before you ask why the symbols are square, it is to commemorate Japan’s square watermelon, which has become loved everywhere across the globe. If you land a five-of-a-kind Low-value win, you will be awarded 0.5x – 2x the size of your initial bet. As you can see, it will be a long while before you make your first million from Low-value symbols.
The High-value symbols, on the other hand, may just prove to be worth the effort. In Sumo Sumo, they are the Red and Blue Sumo symbols. Landing a five-of-a-kind made up of them will give you anywhere from 5x to 10x the amount of your initial bet. We needn’t explain the difference between the Low and High-value symbols – basic common sense does the trick.
Multiplying Wilds
Japan enthusiasts will already know, but we’ll still fill you in on a little secret: nothing in the Land of the Rising Sun fits the standard. For this reason, Sumo Sumo doesn’t settle for regular Wilds but instead offers the feature Multiplying Wilds. In the game, you will also encounter it as Wild Sumo Stack.
The Wild Sumo Stack Feature activates when adjacent sumo symbols jump on top of each other. The feature is triggered when a win happens and identical Sumo symbols jump onto one position, creating a stack, or when Sumo symbols jump onto an already existing stack. The stacks have a multiplier equal to the number of symbols they’re made out of. Furthermore, when you create a stack, you will be awarded a respin, and the stack will move one step to the right. Whenever a stack reaches the rightmost reel, it will again begin moving in the opposite direction.
The respin will end only when there are neither any wins nor stacks on the game grid.
Brawls Feature
You didn’t expect a Sumo match without brawling, did you? In Sumo Sumo, there’s even a feature!
If you are in the middle of a respin, opposite Wild Sumo Stacks on the same row will run at each other, from the two sides of the grid, entering a furious brawl. Of course, because this is a Sumo game, after all, the largest Stack will win. The winner’s multipliers will be multiplied by the value of the losing Stack. The winner will be randomly chosen if the Stacks are of equal value.
Speedboat Bonus Feature
The Speedboat Bonus Feature will be triggered whenever you land 3 Speedboat symbols on the game grid. A Speedboat symbol will appear on the grid with the value of the bet for the particular round. The Speedboat can, quote on quote, see both the horizontal and diagonal lines. If another symbol appears in its line of sight, the boat will zoom in to collect it. When there are no longer symbols in its line of sight, the Speedboat will stop.
The Speedboat can collect several symbols, each with its own benefits:
- Swimmer Sumo – the Speedboat will collect the value of the symbol;
- Wakeboarder Sumo – adds its value to the Speedboat and then attaches itself, increasing its value with each new position. Only one Wakeboarder Sumo can be attached to the Speedboat.
- Ramp – multiplies the Speedboat x-bet value and Wakeboarder counter by its value.
- Harpoonist/ Turbo Harpoonist – adds its value to the Speedboat and increases the value of uncollected Swimmers or Wakeboarders on landing and for subsequent spins when symbols are uncollected.
At the end of the spins, the value the Speedboat has collected is awarded, in addition to any value, an attached Wakeboard has collected.
Free Spins
When a player lands 2 Scatter symbols, they will be awarded 6 Free Spins. Wild Stack Sumos will remain in place during the bonus round. Retriggering the bonus round will give you 6 more Free Spins.
X-iter
Long-time fans of ELK Studios will immediately know what’s up when they hear of the X-iter feature. It’s simply a way to activate Bonus Mode for a not-so-modest price. You can pick from the following options:
- Bonus Hunt – A single game round costs 5x the size of the initial bet and increases the chance of landing a Speedboat Symbols or getting Free Spins.
- Brawl Mode – You can trigger the Brawl Feature for 10x the amount of your bet.
- Speedboat Bonus – For the small price of 50x the bet, you will guarantee yourself the Speedboat Feature’s activation.
- Super Speedboat Bonus – For 100x the bet, you will activate the Speedboat Feature with an added guarantee that all Harpoonists will be of the Turbo variety. Just do us a favour and don’t expect a Sumo fighter with a pair of dorky glasses and a red cape.
- Free Spins – If you’re impatient to grind your way to the Free Spins, for 500x the size of your initial bet, you can manually trigger the feature.
Bottom Line
If you have even the smallest interest in Japanese culture, this one really warrants no second thoughts. Sumo Sumo has it all: an exhilarating theme, a volatility to remember and a plethora of features. Should you wish to become a part of Japan’s nightlife and create unforgettable memories, wait no more and jump straight into the action of ELK Studios’ Sumo Sumo.