ABOUT
You may remember Hacksaw Gaming's Buffalo Stack 'N' Sync release, which uses the provider’s unique S'N'S engine. Alpha Eagle is a continuation of that series! Hacksaw Gaming takes the stacking and syncing concept to the next level, showcasing once again how unrestrained their innovation is.
Betting Options and Bonus Features
The base game consists of a standard 5x4 grid and 20 paylines. Your goal is to connect matching symbols in one of these 20 paylines. Thanks to the wild symbol, a special symbol that substitutes for all regular symbols on the paytable, making these winning combos is a bit easier.
The main feature, however, is obviously the Stack’N’Sync engine which is activated by the S'N'S symbol. The reel where the Stack’N’Sync symbols landed is cloned onto 1 to 4 other reels and stacks of matching symbols will appear on said affected reels.
Any symbol can be stacked except for The Eagle Claw symbol! Furthermore, if you manage to get an additional S'N'S symbol in the following respin, you’ll receive another respin and more stacked and synced reels.
Occasionally, you'll also land the Golden Stack'N'Sync symbol, which affects all five reels simultaneously. Each respin then brings you premium symbols or wilds stacked across all five reels, and you can also receive a multiplier of up to 100x. Nevertheless, you should be aware that your stack size depends on the number of stars you receive above the grid.
The regular Free Spins bonus game of Alpha Eagle is triggered with the FS symbols. You need at least 3 of these to start it. In this game mode, you receive 12 free spins and your chance of landing both regular and golden Stack’N’ Sync symbols is much higher.
The second bonus round is called the Eagle Link and has extreme volatility. You can trigger it with 3 Eagle Claw symbols. This will launch you into a 2-phase bonus game with a collect and a payout phase.
Both phases are a hold-and-spin style round. You start with 3 spins in your tally, which resets back to 3 whenever you land any non-blank symbols. During the collect phase, only blanks and sticky Eagle symbols can land and no wins are awarded. Your objective is to link up as many golden and silver Eagle symbols as possible. Each Golden Eagle also increases your global multiplier by +1.
Once the collect phase ends, you’ll get to keep your sticky symbols and start with 3 spins. Eagle symbols are no longer sticky however, you’ll start receiving payouts anytime 3 or more symbols link up
You’re able to jump right into both bonus games from the start with a bonus buy option provided by Hacksaw Gaming. It is located on the left-hand side of the reels and costs 100x and 200x, respectively. Alternatively, there are also two optional game modes:
- Bonus Feature Spins - Doubles your bet but you'll be 3 times more likely to trigger one of the bonus rounds.
- S’N’S Feature Spins - For 10x your stake you are guaranteed a minimum of an S’N’S or golden S’N’S symbol to land.
Roshtein’s Take
Compared to Buffalo Stack 'N' Sync, Alpha Eagle is definitely a step in the right direction. I like that the SNS feature isn’t just cheap copy/paste and is actually a bit different. Still on the fence a little bit though about the concept. Everyone loves getting a full screen of symbols in slot games and the SNS makes it much easier. So, it sort of loses its edge since that’s intended and the payouts are adjusted.
