Despite its simplified mathematical model, Bolt X Up has achieved more success than Africa X Up, which we believe is a superior game. This may explain why Alchemy Gaming has chosen to use similar statistics and features for their FIFA World Cup 2022 game, Football Finals X UP. The medium volatility of Football Finals X UP makes it a well-rounded release that can be enjoyed by players of all types.
The game features a 5×3 grid set in the middle of a crowded stadium, with confetti frozen in the air. However, we have seen more visually engaging World Cup 2022 games this year, and Football Finals X UP lacks in presentation. Nevertheless, the X Up system rewards loyalty and patience as usual, and players who are impatient can use the Upsizer and Bonus Buy options.
The symbols in the game include premium footballs, fans, and players, which can pay up to 4 times your stake for a winning combination of 5 symbols. The World Cup trophy symbol acts as a wild and expands to cover the entire reel when it appears. It substitutes for other symbols to help create wins and pays 4.5 times your stake for 5 on a payline. If you land a wild on all 5 reels, you can win 1,093.5 times your stake.
To collect an X Up token, you need to have 2 scatter symbols in view. These tokens are stored in the X Up meter on the left side of the screen. You need to collect 23 tokens to reach the top-tier x10 multiplier, and whatever multiplier you have achieved is active in the next bonus round. The tokens are saved between bet levels, and if you reach the x10 multiplier, you immediately enter the bonus round.
The bonus round can also be triggered by landing 3 scatter symbols on the same base game spin, which awards 8 free spins. During the bonus round, you can still collect X Up tokens, and landing 2 scatter symbols awards an additional 2 extra spins. The Upsizer feature allows you to pay to upgrade your bonus round multiplier upfront, and the cost is reduced if you have already collected tokens. The Bonus Buy option is not available in all regions, including the UK.
If the Bonus Buy option is available, you can purchase 8 free spins for 60 times your stake. The bonus round will then have a random multiplier between x2 and x10, and the game’s RTP remains the same. Before triggering the bonus round, you can watch a minute of base game play with expanding wilds. The bonus round in our case had a x6 multiplier and played out for the remainder of a 3:35-minute highlights video, which you can watch by clicking the play button below.
Football Finals X UP is quite similar to Bolt X Up, but we have been more impressed by previous games in the X Up series. The generic football visuals in Football Finals X UP may not have much longevity beyond the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Creating a game like this may be tempting, but it takes passion and dedication to create a truly exceptional game. The Upsizer feature is useful if you trigger the bonus round prematurely, as it would be a waste to use it with a mediocre multiplier. The game’s expanding wilds help throughout the gameplay, making it enjoyable and fast-paced. It will be interesting to see which World Cup-themed slot game becomes the fan favorite in November/December, but we doubt it will be Football Finals X UP.
Pros:
– Bolt X Up: Medium volatility, expanding wilds, X Up collection system, up to x10 bonus round multiplier, up to 10,000x stake wins.
– Africa X Up: Underrated debut release, excellent safari visuals, X Up multiplier up to x25, up to 30,000x stake wins.
– Chronicles of Olympus X Up: Greek mythology theme, X Up multiplier up to x50, Upsizer pay option, expanding wilds, up to 50,000x stake wins.
Cons:
– Football Finals X UP lacks visually engaging elements and may not have longevity beyond the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
