If you’re a sports fan, then Break Away is a video pokie game you will love as it has an excellent ice hockey theme. Don’t worry if you’re not a huge ice hockey fan, though, as this pokie has some fantastic features and bonuses which will keep anyone entertained.
Although there are many sport-themed pokie games out there, Break Away doesn’t just rely on its great graphics and ignore the gameplay itself. This 5-reel pokie has 243 ways to win, and extends the excitement with lots of wilds and bonus rounds which can see some significant wins.
As you might come to expect from Microgaming, who has designed this pokie game, the visual impact is beautiful from the minute you set eyes on it. The graphics are so realistic and true to the ice hockey theme, featuring players, referees, and the ice rinks, that we were half expecting a Zamboni to come across the screen part way through the game.
Pair the design with the sound effects and it will certainly spark memories for any of you who have watched a live game before.
While being an online only pokie and not found in casinos, it is one of a new breed of sports themed video pokies. However, it is not one which easily blends into the crowd, and rightly so.
1, 2, 3, Face Off!
Ok, well you’re maybe not starting this pokie game stood in the middle of an ice rink going stick to stick with a burly player, but Break Away’s game play can be just as exciting (and not as cold!).
With 5 reels and a massive 243 ways to win, this is a fast paced and enthralling pokie game. With just a single stake covering all the winning possibilities this gives an excellent opportunity to win with every single spin of its reels.
The game features a Break Away symbol which represents it’s wild symbol, this appears on reels 3, 4 and 5. Reel 3 features an 18 symbol stack, reel 4 has a 25 symbol stack and reel 5 a 3 symbol stack – these long tailed stacks really add to the game play and increases the chances of a big win.
The Puck symbol acts as the games scatter symbol, and completes a winning combination when three or more appear on the reels. The great thing is, if you get both a scatter win and a regular win at the same time then you are paid out for both. If 3 or more pucks appear on the reels then you active the free spins bonus game.
If you activate the free spins bonus game by having 3 or more puck symbols on your reels then you have the chance to win up to 25 free spins. You start with a number of free spins depending on the number of pucks symbols you had (15, 20 or 25), then you are awarded a multiplier for each Rolling Reel win (1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x).
While not the most entertaining free spins round out there, it is certainly an excellent in game feature and gives you a great opportunity to increase the size of your win – which is always a good thing.
OK, so you don’t exactly roll across the ice, but this game does feature Rolling Reels. This feature is activated every time you have any win. The winning symbols explode from the screen and the symbols drop down from above to fill the empty spaces. If you have a new winning line then you’re paid out and the rolling reels explode again, giving you yet another chance to win.
When this is activated during the free spins round, each time you win you’re awarded a multiplier which will increase your win.
A unique touch to this game is the fantastic Smashing Wilds feature. If you’re an ice hockey fan then you’ll know full well how much the players love to smash into each other, and that is not missing from this pokie game. Unexpectedly, a player will suddenly smash the ice in reels 2, 3 or 4, turning that whole reel into wilds and guaranteeing you a win. If you manage to get this on reel 2 then you’re in an excellent position for a whole screen of wilds.
Just a Pokie Game for the Sports Fans?
Definitely not. While its excellent graphics and ice hockey theme will obviously instantly appeal to sports fans, there is an excellent pokie game behind all this which will certainly keep any pokie fan happy.
Break Away’s random Smashing Wilds feature keeps things interesting, and the wild stacks and free spin rounds ensure a good chance of winning big.
Ice hockey fan or not, we’d suggest stepping onto the ice and giving this pokie game a go.