The previous game in the series, Chronicles of Olympus X UP, has gained popularity, partly due to its strong math model. However, Bolt X UP is a more casual installment, appealing to players seeking a less intense experience. Despite being less visually impressive than its predecessors, it maintains a cool high voltage theme. The X Up feature is the focal point, providing a sense of purpose and allowing for increased multipliers in the bonus round. Expanding wilds also assist players, but it would have been nice to see some new features or innovations. Premium symbols offer decent payouts, with the wild symbol expanding to cover the entire reel and paying 4.5x your stake for 5 of a kind. Collecting X Up scatters upgrades the bonus round multiplier, with 23 tokens filling the meter and awarding a x10 multiplier. The bonus round can also be triggered by landing scatters on reels 2, 3, and 4 in the base game. This awards 8 free spins, with the possibility of earning additional spins during the feature. The Upsizer feature allows players to pay for a higher bonus round multiplier, and the collected scatters reduce the price. The bonus round can also be purchased via the Buy Bonus feature, costing 60x your stake and providing a random multiplier between x1 and x10. The potential payout of 10,000x your stake is solid but reduced compared to previous installments. The inclusion of expanding wilds on all reels allows for payouts of up to 1,093.5x. Overall, Bolt X UP offers a more casual and medium volatile experience for players, appealing to a different segment of potential players. It would be beneficial for Alchemy Gaming to include a bet size of £/€1 in the future. Despite the downsizing, the potential for big wins is still present.
