Raptor 2

Raptor 2 Review

I still remember the first time I laid eyes on the original Raptor Doublemax, and I knew from the start that this would be a special experience. Unlimited exponential doubling multipliers sounded like a Fibonacci fever dream come true, but the game never took off as expected. It became a niche fan favorite instead, and like myself, many players have eagerly awaited this sequel from Yggdrasil. The big question: Is Raptor 2 a bigger and fiercer predator than its predecessor? Read our review verdict further down to find out!

For now, let’s start by covering the basics. The Raptor 2 DoubleMax slot plays out on a 5x3 grid with 243 win ways, but that may change when the bonus round triggers. You can play with bet levels ranging from €0.10 to €10 per spin, which may not satisfy the boldest high rollers. The T-Rex rightfully rules the paytable as the apex predator, with the supporting cast of dinosaurs becoming progressively less threatening as their value drops. You win by landing matching symbols on at least 3 adjacent reels from left to right, and they pay 0.3x to 3x your stake for 5 of a kind.

Raptor 2 Slot - Reels Screen

The cascading reels mechanic and DoubleMax multiplier system go hand in hand, as before, doubling the win multiplier per consecutive cascade. However, this time the multiplier has an upper limit of x2,048. Wild symbols do not appear organically when you spin the reels. Instead, you get a wild symbol in a random position after winning symbols are removed via the cascading feature. Wilds, of course, substitute for any pay symbol to help complete or improve wins, and hold no value of their own in the Raptor 2 slot.

The big new twist in Raptor 2 DoubleMax is the grid expansion feature in the bonus round. You can max out the grid to 5x7 from the start with enough triggering scatters, or increase the grid size by landing scatters during the bonus. This balloons the number of win ways to 16,807, but keep in mind that the 9,493x max win is less than half of what’s on offer in the original game. The highest possible RTP setting of 97% is a step up, though, and other possible RTP settings are 96%, 94%, and 90.5%.

Raptor 2 Features

Most of the features are well-known to fans of this series, but we’ll walk you through all the details below anyway. You can also check our Raptor 2 free play demo game at the top of this page, as this will give you a first-hand taste of the features. Let’s check it all out!

Cascading Wins & DoubleMax Multiplier

Winning symbols are removed and replaced by new symbols dropping down to fill the gaps. Before the new batch of symbols drops down, however, a Wild symbol spawns in one of the empty positions. This process repeats as long as you keep forming new winning combinations, allowing for indefinite winning streaks. The DoubleMax Multiplier starts at x1 in the base game and doubles per cascade up to x2,048, which is the highest possible value. In the base game, the DoubleMax Multiplier resets between spins.

Raptor 2 Free Spins Bonus Round

The Bonus Round triggers when you land at least 3 scatter symbols on the same base game spin, or in the same cascading sequence. The number of triggering scatters determines the number of free spins you get, as well as the grid size. Here is an overview:

• 3 triggering scatters award 5 free spins on a 5x3 grid with 243 win ways.
• 4 triggering scatters award 15 free spins on a 5x5 grid with 3,125 win ways.
• 5 triggering scatters award 15 free spins on a 5x7 grid with 16,807 win ways.

If you trigger the bonus round with less than 5 scatters, landing 3+ scatters on the same free spin (or cascading sequence) expands the grid by +2 extra rows until you max out the grid at 7 rows. If you land 5 scatters on the same free spin, you get +1 extra free spin in addition to the added rows. Scatters pay 2x, 3x, or 5x your stake for 3, 4, or 5 in view, but scatter wins are not boosted by the DoubleMax Multiplier. Scatter wins also do not double the DoubleMax Multiplier or spawn a wild in the empty positions after they are removed from the grid.

Raptor 2 Slot - Free Spins

Raptor 2 Bonus Buy (not UK)

The Bonus Buy menu is located below the spin button, but only for eligible players. It comes with 3 options: pay 80x, 240x, or 880x your stake for the bonus round triggered by 3, 4, or 5 scatters, respectively.

Theme & Graphics

Yggdrasil thunders back to the Cretaceous with Raptor 2 DoubleMax, but the almost psychedelic visuals of the original game have been replaced by a more standard, albeit dense and damp, jungle backdrop. This lush, peril-filled scenery contrasts well with the wooden-framed grid, and the dinosaurs look more menacing this time. The T-Rex is the alpha of the pack, and the symbols drop down with an even heavier thud than before. The tribal soundtrack, while recognizable, is more drum-based and repetitive, creating an almost hypnotic effect and dramatic atmosphere of anticipation.

Raptor 2 Free Play

You’re in for a volatile ride with this game, and the best way to prepare is to play the free Raptor 2 DoubleMax demo game. You’ll find it at the top of this review page, and it allows you to get a sense of the flow of the game, how often the bonus round triggers, and what kind of bankroll you need to stay afloat. When you feel good and ready after your Raptor 2 free play session, you can check our list of recommended casinos to play at below the demo game.

Pros and Cons of Raptor 2

Our Verdict

The original Raptor DoubleMax is a somewhat underappreciated cult classic, and it still holds a position somewhere in my personal top 30 list of all-time favorites. Needless to say, expectations were high when this prehistoric sequel finally came my way for a review. Unfortunately, Raptor 2 fails to hit the same evolutionary height notes as its predecessor, and I have to say that Yggdrasil has made some strange choices with this release.

The core DNA remains the same, as expected, but to my surprise, Yggdrasil has somehow managed to mess up the pace of this game. By removing the turbo option slider that was present in the first game, you’re left with gameplay that feels a bit too sluggish and “heavy.” Despite the spin button turning into a “stop button” when spinning, you cannot click away animations to speed things up, either. A strange design choice, indeed, but not the only one.

Also, the visual experience and soundtrack didn’t quite live up to the original’s trippy, borderline psychedelic experience with glowing mushrooms and whatnot. The bland jungle backdrop gets the job done, but nothing more. At least the dinosaurs are more powerful and menacing this time, though, but the symbol animations get boring after not too long. The jungle drums soundtrack provides a decent rhythmic backbone. However, it simply cannot compete with the far more nuanced and rich audio track found in the original game.

The most baffling changes are found in the math model of Raptor 2. Yggdrasil has, for whatever reason, decided to slice the max win in half, a stark irony for a game that’s all about doubling. You naturally expect bigger and bolder from a highly volatile follow-up like this; instead, we got a significant haircut and capped multiplier. The grid expansion is a decent new add-on, but everything still hangs on how high you can push that multiplier. Personally, I will stick with the original Raptor, and I think most DoubleMax fans will probably do the same.