Phoenix Graveyard 2

Although it may be a well-known fact that a variety of birds can be found loitering about our cemeteries, with Crows and Ravens often adding an extra element of somberness and demise to any place of rest, when it comes to the more exotic winged creatures, you’re probably less likely to see these guys swooping in to make nest amongst the scatterings of tombs and mausoleums, alike.

Parrots and Macaws to one side, one would therefore assume that the probability of catching a glimpse of a mythological being would be a rarer sight still, right, especially a Phoenix, known famously for its ability to rise from the ashes, conquer death and resurrect life in a constant circle of hope.

Admittedly, anyone unfortunate enough to reside six feet beneath a graveyard may turn at the chance to have a second bite of the cherry, although in ELK Studios’ upcoming haunting escapade “Phoenix Graveyard 2“, is the afterlife as glamorous as it’s made out to be?

Phoenix Graveyard 2 Base Game Play

This latest sequel comes off the back of the 2022 original “Phoenix Graveyard“, a game which heavily utilised symbol splits and Wild multipliers to explode a heap of death-defying action onto our casinos and, true to form, with battling beasts and an additional feature row making their impacts known, that action is more than magnified the second time around as death strives to keep you within its icy clutches!

The 5 reel 4 row game grid takes the form of a gloomy, graveyard crypt, perched in the heart of an eerie midnight scene, within a foreboding cemetery.

The visuals are truly gripping from the off, with anyone prone to a racing pulse at the mere sight of doom getting a fair warning early on…

Above the main reel set sits the game’s Feature Row, an extra 5 positions able to activate an enormity of in-round enhancers and modifiers, from Split symbols to Wild spawns and Respins.

With a dynamic Bonus round and Super bonus round included, action arrives highly volatile, alongside the typical 94% RTP and max win potential of 25,000x bet.

Whilst there is still some hope of life to continue, let’s step into the darkness as we check out all of the core features and rules in more detail…

Phoenix Graveyard 2 Offers Players 1,024 Ways to Win and can be Expanded During Any Game Round

Phoenix Graveyard 2 Base Game and Features

Win spins are formed by combining 3 or more matching symbols from left to right, across adjacent reels, over any of the game’s 1,024 win ways.

10 regular paying symbols are included in all modes of play, consisting of low-paying Ropyals worth up to 0.4x bet for a line of 5 matching symbols, and 5 high-paying character symbols paying between paying between 1x to 2.5x bet for 5 matching symbols.

Wild symbols are also included and substitute for any regular paying symbol.

Phoenix and Reaper Wild

Wild symbols may land in one of two forms, the Phoenix Wild or the Reaper Wild, each able to activate their own features upon showing on the reels.

The Phoenix Wild unlocks a random position within the Feature Row, as well as triggering a Respin.

When a Feature position becomes unlocked, there is the chance for a Feature Row symbol to be revealed, immediately activating its modifier.

Landing the Reaper Wild also unlocks a random Feature row position, as well as becoming a Walking Wild, instigating respins until the symbol completely leaves the left-most reel of the grid.

Land Phoenix and Reaper Wild Symbols to Unlock the Feature Row for Potential Enhancements

Wild Battle

When both types of Wild symbols are present on the reels together, landing the Phoenix and Reaper Wild within the same row or directly adjacent vertically to one another, triggers the Wild Battle feature.

After all current win evaluations have been completed, the battle takes place, with the winner adopting a win Multiplier or both should the battle end in a draw.

A winning Phoenix Wild sees all low-paying symbols removed during the next Respin, whilst a winning Reaper Wild activates the spread of between 1 to 5 feather Wilds across the game grid.

A feather Wild may spawn once a Phoenix has been hit by a split, lost a battle, or when a split occurs on a position that already has 6 ways.

Phoenix Skull and Reaper Skull

During any spin, the Phoenix or Reaper Skulls above the main game grid may glow, either fading to no effect or triggering the respective feature.

Triggering the Phoenix Skull feature sees between 1 to 3 Phoenix Wild symbols land within the reels, additionally unlocking the entire Feature Row.

One Respin then occurs per Phoenix Wild symbol landed, the Feature Row continuing to remain unlocked and applying to any further Respins triggered during the feature.

Triggering the Reaper Skull feature activates a Reaper Wild, landing anywhere within the right-most reel and acting as a standard, walking Reaper Wild.

Whilst the Wild remains in play, any unlocked Feature Row positions remain in an active state throughout the round.

Multiple Split Features can be Unlocked to Increase Win Ways Across the Game Grid

Feature Row

Each base game round sees the Feature Row begin with 5 locked positions, with a Phoenix or Reaper Wild unlocking 1 random position upon landing on the main reels.

When a Feature Row position becomes unlocked, it spins to reveal either a feature symbol or a blank position.

After any win, all Feature Row positions become locked again, unless a Respin symbol or Skull feature activates, or a Bonus Game is playing out.

The Feature Row can reveal any of the following 8 enhancers…

• Split All – all current reel symbols are split, increasing each win way by +1.
• Split Right – selects a random reel position beneath and increases that position’s ways to win by +1, as well as all symbols within its respective row to the right.
• Split Left – selects a random reel position beneath and increases that position’s ways to win by +1, as well as all symbols within its respective row to the left.
• Split Reel – increases the ways to win of all positions in the reel directly beneath by +1.
• Split One – picks one random position in the reel directly beneath and increases its ways to win by between 1 to 6.
• Spawn Phoenix – places a Phoenix Wild within a random reel position.
• Spawn Reaper – places a Reaper Wild within a random reel position.
• Respin – all present Phoenix and Reaper Wilds are locked in place whilst a Respin is triggered.  During the Respin, no further Feature Row positions may be unlocked.

Whenever a split feature hits a Phoenix or Reaper Wild, their multipliers each increase.

Split symbols may increase a position’s ways to win by up to a maximum of 6, after which a further split places 6 feather Wilds within that position.

Wild Symbols Battle for Multiplier Increases and Extra Wild Potential

Phoenix Graveyard 2 Free Spins

Landing 3, 4 or 5 scatters during the same game round triggers the Free Spins bonus round, awarding 6, 8 or 10 spins, respectively.

Beginning with one Phoenix Wild on the reels, each spin sees it remain active within the grid, moving to a new position on every spin.

Any additional Phoenix Wilds that land throughout the round also persist and award 1 extra spin each.

During the feature, all Feature Row positions that become unlocked remain as such, as well as Split positions and Multiplier values on Phoenix and Reaper Wilds.

Whenever a Phoenix or Reaper Wild lands on or moves to a split position, the symbol absorbs the position’s current ways to win value, adding it to the Wilds multiplier value.

Upon leaving that respective position, the ways to win value is returned.

Landing a Super Bonus symbol during any free spins round upgrades the Bonus to the Super Bonus level, unlocking all Feature Row positions and awarding 2 additional spins.

Furthermore, the Powered Up mechanic also becomes active, allowing directional splits to increase ways to win by 2 to 6 and the Split One feature to increase ways to win by 2 to 5.

Trigger Free Spins for Persistent Feature Row Unlocks, as well as Multipliers and Split Positions

X-iter

A healthy menu of 5 purchasable enhancers is available with Phoenix Graveyard 2, which players may opt to utilise should they choose…

• Bonus Hunt – at the cost of 2.5x bet, each spin has more than 4 times the chance to trigger a bonus round.
• Mega Hunt – at the cost of 5x bet, each spin has more than 8 times the chance to trigger a bonus round.
• Split Frenzy – at the cost of 50x bet, a spin guarantees all Feature Row positions to become unlocked and all Splitting features powered up.
• Bonus – at the cost of 100x bet.
• Super Bonus – at the cost of 500x bet.

All X-iter features come with a fixed RTP of 94%.

Upgrade to the Super Bonus for a Fully Unlocked Feature Row and an Active Power Up Mechanic

First Impression

As with any sequel to a past title, the most important factor to consider for any slot studio is the level of progression a follow-on can provide…is there enough to warrant a second, or even third in chain, and how much further can well-established features be pushed before a game loses visual and mechanic prowess in comparison to its predecessor.

Clearly, the team over at ELK know the score well enough by now, adapting a solid split ways model that was Phoenix Graveyard and offering up a worthy counterpart, boasting much of the same way-enhancing, Wild battling delights, whilst swooping an extra layer of additions by way of a Feature Row and Bonus-upgrading enhancements!

Theming has also come along with a full revamp, the studio keeping close to the gloomy roots of old, however adding an extra element of demise by throwing players deep in the heart of a notorious graveyard setting.

A poignant note would be that, although little light and vibrancy is cast by the two dangling lanterns either side of the game grid, the contrast of the flaming Phoenix Wild is a powerful touch and only assists with overall immersion.

Base game play seldom feels standard procedure, and although it may not be easy to witness the Feature Row at its full potential, Phoenix and Reaper Wilds tend to turn up in fairly regular intervals, giving glimpses into what the power of splitting features can do.

Split symbols may not sound overly inventive, or even arguably entertaining at times when working as individual aspects, but the number of activating possibilities are there to be found and, with the help of Wild symbol Battles and multipliers, there really is a great combination of outcomes available, even during the most basic of game modes.

Entering Free Spins, the round is enhanced by the often turned to persistence of features, from multiplier values to the unlocking of Feature Rows, but it proves enough to crank up the heat.

With split ways to win even holding from spin to spin, and up to 6 ways per symbol position possible, the number of win ways can become astronomical across the game grid and landing the Super scatter on reel 6 at any point offers up upgrading opportunities, progressing play further into the Super bonus.

When it comes to games themed around the horror genre, players immediately expect to become captivated by a whole range of emotion-tangling traits, from visuals and sound, to the overall punch that a game provides.

Phoenix Graveyard 2 possesses it all, able to clutch you in an icy grip and drag you to the edge of an unmarked grave, before the bright light of life is cast amongst the shadows to save the day.

Full of thrills, spills and a tantilisingly close dance with death, the ELK roster is set to only bolster as this Phoenix burns onto our screens, bringing hope, fortune and a whole heap of fiery potential.

The screenshots taken of games reviewed on this site are taken from Demo Play, as reviews are often written before games are released for real play.