Thunderstruck II Slot by Microgaming

I have always been fascinated by mythology. All the legends, the stories, the powerful gods, both good and evil. Sure, Egyptian, Greek and Roman myths are known worldwide, but Scandinavian mythology has also gained popularity recently, with all the films, series, and video games that feature this particular branch of mythology. If you fancy both mythology and online slots, then look no further than Thunderstruck II, a thematic slot dedicated to Nordic mythology, in which the right combination of symbols of Odin, Loki, Valkyrie and Thor can boost your balance.

So, if you like the mixture of Nordic mythology and a lot of money, I suggest you keep reading this review, because in it, I will give you all the necessary info that you need to know about Thunderstruck Two Slot (also called Thunderstruck II or 2). And what one does need to know about a slot, well obviously the symbols, the minimum and maximum wager, the bonus options and features, does it have a sequel and most importantly, whether this slot deserved the attention it has won over the years.

General Information

After the success of Thunderstruck, Microgaming decided that it’s time to develop a sequel. It was released at the beginning of 2010, at the ICE show in London. I don’t need to tell you much about Microgaming, if you know anything about online slots or casino games in general, you have surely heard this name before. Although it is a sequel, this slot is very different compared to the original. It is a 5 reel slot, with 3 rows and an amazing amount of pay-lines – 243. The game features multiple bonus rounds and a prize multiplier that can go up to x6.

I have to admit that a lot of people, myself included, had pretty high expectations of this sequel. Now, this game went in a completely new direction, but it can’t be said that my expectations weren’t met. The graphics are completely in accordance with the theme and the characters on the symbols are drawn in a very artistic manner, they are not static, they move when something happens in the game. The music is ambient and you can occasionally hear the sound of thunder and rainfall and important in-game events make it even more dramatic.

Norse Gods, Bonus Symbols and RTP

If there’s one thing that definitely sets Thunderstruck II apart from most other slot games, it is the number of symbols. This game features a total of 14 symbols. 6 of them are standard card symbols – 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, then there are four Norse gods – Thor, Odin, Loki, Valkyrie; there’s a Ship, a Castle, Thor’s Hammer – which is a bonus symbol and a Thunderstruck II symbol which is the scatter symbol. You need to have at least 3 symbols bound together for a win, except for the Hammer.

Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II

The cards give you 5, 7, or 10 coins for three symbols, but the higher symbols give you payouts of 15, 20, or 30. The highest prize that you can get is received after having 5 Game symbols and it is 1000 coins. However, there are numerous bonuses which can award you with free spins and multipliers. The return to player rate (RTP) is 96.95%. The RTP was tested by an independent company and this means that long term, the average amount that you’ll get if you wager £100 is £96.95p. This is quite a solid RTP, bearing in mind that many games have an RTP below 95%.

The Great Hall of Spins and other Bonus Features

The most important bonus feature of this slot game is called The Great Hall of Spins. You can gain access to the Great Hall if you get at least 3 Hammer symbols. The Great Hall has four levels and you can reach the next level after receiving a bonus a certain number of times. First, there’s the Valkyrie bonus which you get from the 1st to the 4th time. With this bonus, you get 10 free spins with an x5 multiplier. Then, on occasions 5 to 9 you trigger the Loki bonus which is 15 free spins Wild symbols that appear on reel 3 transform other symbols into Wild symbols.

The Odin bonus consists of 20 free spins accompanied by the Wild Raven feature. During this round, symbols are randomly turned into 2-time or 3-time multipliers. And last, but certainly not least, is the Thor bonus, which consists of 25 free spins where consecutive wins increase the number of times your wins will be multiplied by 5. Once you complete all 4 levels you can select the level you want when the bonus triggers. Finally, there’s the Wild Storm bonus game, activated randomly, which can transform up to five reels into wild symbols.

Thunderstruck II on the Go

Having in mind the immense popularity of both Thunderstruck and Thunderstruck II, I for one wasn’t surprised when Microgaming announced that they will produce a mobile version of the latter. The mobile version is available at numerous casinos and it can be played on Android and iOS devices, phones and tablets. The game plays better on tablets, though, due to the fact that the smartphone version doesn’t support HD. However, a phone will also do for a quick spin or two, just as long as you have a good internet connection. When it comes to the features and the gameplay, it is a 100% copy of the PC version, it has the same symbols, the same bonus features, the same payouts, everything is the same, with the exception that you don’t have to be seated at the computer, you can play while travelling, queuing in the bank and so on.

Thunderstruck vs. Thunderstruck II – Similarities and Differences

I have already mentioned the original Thunderstruck Slot, to which this is a sequel. Thunderstruck is a 5-reel, 3-row, 9-payline slot which was also developed by Microgaming and it can still be played at all Microgaming powered casinos, both in a download and an instant play version. The game is extremely playable and the graphics and animations are particularly good, especially bearing in mind that it was introduced in 2004. The RTP is above 95%. One of the most important features of Thunderstruck is the 15 Free Spins bonus, where in addition to getting free spins your winnings are also multiplied up to x6 if you get the wild Thor symbol.

When I compare the two games, one thing is pretty clear, Thunderstruck Two is an obvious improvement on the original Thunderstruck. That is even more astonishing knowing that Thunderstruck was quite popular and successful. The sequel is more playable, has better graphics and more bonus features, as well as more paylines; in fact, it has a lot more paylines and, also, has a better RTP. I would still recommend you to have a go at Thunderstruck at least with a couple of spins, if not for anything else, just to see the improvement with your own eyes.

Final Verdict – Recommended!

Having said what I’ve said so far, I think it’s pretty obvious that Thunderstruck possesses all the qualities that a thrilling and fun slot game should possess. It features a thrilling theme, interesting symbols, a randomly triggered bonus and a multi-level Great Hall of Spins bonus, a lot of paylines and a good RTP. On a more subjective note, I have to say that time really does fly when you’re playing this slot. All in all, if you are a fan of mythology and are or want to get into slots, then I definitely recommend it.

Other Great Titles to Consider

Thunderstruck II doesn’t feature a progressive jackpot, and, therefore, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to earn millions in the literal sense of the word. For example, one Brit, who won the progressive jackpot of Genie Jackpots Slot earned over £1.35 million. So, if you’re looking for a massive win like that, you should definitely be looking for a game that has a progressive jackpot. Furthermore, a player who won the jackpot at Mega Moolah earned £13.2m. Gonzo’s Quest, on the other hand, has an exciting and unique feature where the symbols don’t spin but fall onto the reels instead.