Push Gaming’s 2019 release, the risky online slot Razor Shark, has become a dedicated favorite among gamers. Well, Razor Shark’s toothy buddies (or adversaries) are back to terrorize players in Razor Returns, so you might want to remove your toes out of the water to avoid being bitten. However, Razor Shark’s major draw was the thrill of adventure, the potential to be dragged over coral by marine monsters and maybe survive them and partake in the ocean’s seaweedy wealth.
Warning bells rang after seeing the new and improved shark characters. Each has been cybernetically enhanced, but the Wild Shark insignia has a gold-encrusted metallic jaw like Netflix’s Arcane’s criminal boss Finn, making it terrifying. When the game loads and players descend to an underwater region with rock shelves, coral, and chained mines, the intimidation decreases. It’s like a long-lost best buddy with a new haircut and eyebrow piercing. Fans of the first get a warm welcome, while new gamers get a more polished design. Not much—the original was pretty too. Razor Returns offers a better music and sharper graphics.
We warily approach bet selection, which offers 10 p/c to £/€100. Players can also engage the Push wager, which increases the base wager by 10% and increases free spins. Consider using it since the Push Bet boosts the RTP from 96.16% to 96.55% and changes Razor Returns’ max win chances. Push Gaming unexpectedly lowered volatility to ‘low’. Sorry, pulling your chain. Naturally, this pointy-toothed beast is volatile.
The grid is larger, with 5-reels housing 5 symbols and 40 paylines. Matching symbols from the first reel on adjacent reels along a payline win. Like the larger playing area, Razor Returns’ low-pay symbols have changed. Low pays include an anchor, compass, periscope, and diving helmet, while the 4 high-pay sharks are back, but toughened up for the sequel. Hitting a successful line with five identical pay symbols pays 0.8 to 1 times the base bet for low and 2.5 to 7.5 times for high. Any reel can hold the evil Wild Shark emblem. A 5 OAK wild win is worth 12.5 times the wager and substitutes all pay symbols.
Razor Returns: Slot Features
Like several book-to-movie crossovers, Razor Returns’ characteristics are recognizable, but Push Gaming added some new ones. Mystery Symbols, Nudge & Reveal, Razor Reveal, Torpedo Scatter symbols, Gamble, free spins, and bonus purchase are here.
Symbols of Mystery
Mystery symbols appear in stacks of 5 on reels in main game or free spins. Mystery symbols activate Nudge & Reveal.
Nudge/Reveal Function
Mystery symbols disclose pay symbols, Wild Shark symbols, or Golden Shark symbols when this feature activates. If pay symbols appear, win lines are paid. When players push spin, Mystery symbols move down one place while other reels spin normally. Repeat until no more Mystery symbols appear.
Razor Showcase
Mystery symbols activate Razor Reveal when they reveal Golden Shark symbols. Each Golden Shark position spins to reveal Instant Prize, Multiplier, Collector, Converter, Nudge Up, or Torpedo scatter symbols. The way they act:
Instant Prize symbols multiply bets by 1x to 5,000x.
A multiplier sign multiplies all Instant Prize and Collector symbols in view by x2, x3, x5, or x10.
The Collector symbol accumulates the values of all Instant Prize symbols and becomes one at the conclusion of the respin. All Instant Prizes are withdrawn from reels after collection. Empty spots cycle through all rewards again.
Converter symbol—spins all pay symbols on the reels. When a pay symbol lands, all like pay symbols become Golden Shark symbols, and Razor Reveal continues. All transformed symbols return reverted to their original kind after the functionality finishes.
Nudge Up icons only appear in Free Spins. Each moves the Mystery Stacks one spot.
Torpedo Scatters
Free spins are triggered by 3 Torpedo Scatter symbols in the base game or Razor Reveal. Three scatters start free spins with an x1 win multiplier, four start with x5, and five start with x25.
GambleFeature
When free spins are provided, players can wager for more. When activated, a Gamble Wheel appears with No Prize and Free Spins Prizes higher than Torpedo Scatter symbols.
Free Spins
Mystery symbols fill reels 2 and 4 during free spins, moving them one position each spin. This nudging boosts the win multiplier by 1. Each free spin ends with the win multiplier applied to all winnings. Free spins continue until no more Mystery symbols appear.
Bonus Buy
Five additional purchase choices are available in Razor Returns:
3 Torpedo Free Spins—106x Bet.
4 Torpedo Free Spins—186x Bet.
5 Torpedo Free Spins—550x Bet.
Random Free Spins—200x Bet.
Razor Reveal—500x bet.
Gamble function affects bonus buy menu RTP values.
Slot verdict: Razor returns
After getting thrashed by the original Razor Shark machine, some gamblers may avoid ocean-themed slots, much as Jaws stopped some viewers from swimming. Razor Shark could also provide huge results when conditions were ideal. Few were more impressive than the 85,000x payment, which shattered the 50,000x highest win. Razor Returns increases that to 100,000x the base stake. According to the first game’s reputation, Push Gaming had to go big to make a successor, and it did, and not just in terms of winning potential.
First, the gaming area has been increased, which should benefit free spins by giving Mystery symbols more room to maneuver. They have more area, and Mystery symbols, via Golden Shark symbols, have more weapons, increasing diversity and giving players more to watch out for than simply pointed teeth. Razor Returns remains a powerful gambling technique. For instance, users might push their luck after triggering free spins or using the Push Bet. Leave the Push Bet off and don’t use the Gamble option for free spins, and the probability of landing the max win is 1 in 397,360,429, compared to 1 in 27,036,048 when you use the Gamble function before free spins.
Razor Returns’ gamblers must make painful decisions, but that’s its appeal as a way to flirt with fortune. As Leon Trotsky remarked, ‘A sledgehammer smashes glass, but forges steel.’ Push Gaming has improved its game design in slots like Big Bamboo, Mystery Museum, and Giga Jar Cluster Link since Razor Shark launched, and it shows. It was always going to be difficult to make a sequel to one of the greatest events in the business, but Push Gaming has done a great job of preserving Razor Shark’s ethos while adding new aspects and pushing others to produce a terrifyingly brilliant sequel.