Thunderstruck 2
Even if Thunderstruck 2 qualifies as a modern classic, it is not difficult to see why it remains popular even today. It significantly improves on the prequel and redefines slot capabilities. For starters, it introduced players to the 243 win-way mechanic with tremendous potential of over 8,000x that can strike at any moment in the Wildstorm Feature.
Thunderstruck 2 Slot Review
Thunderstruck 2 Slot dates back more than a decade and remains a true pioneer and benchmark for Norse mythology pokies. The Thunderstruck slot series was first introduced in the mid-nineties and became hugely popular. The sequel was not announced until 2010 and went only to be one of the most reached for titles ever released. The game may appear old to a younger audience, but it has aged like fine wine regardless. The 5×3 playtable still dazzles with cinematic quality, which hugely impacted its success when it was released. The pokie is stacked with gods, bonus features, and reasonable payout potential for stakes between €0.30 and €60.
Thunderstruck 2 Slot’s most groundbreaking quality at the time of its launch was its reel format – five reels with 243 ways to win. This mechanic needs three or more matching characters from left to right on any row to pay. While the concept sounds common in the current era where win ways can count in the millions, it was revolutionary at the time and crucial to Thunderstruck 2’s appeal.
Nice to know
| Launched | 5th May 2010 |
| RTP | 96.65% |
| Volatility | Low |
| Software | Microgaming |
| Features | Wild, scatter, Wildstorm Feature, The Great Hall of Spins |
| Theme | Norse mythology |
| Paylines | 243 win ways |
| Grid Layout | 5x3 |
| Min. bet/line | $0.30 |
| Max win | 8,100x the bet |
| Jackpot | N/A |
Positive points
- ✅ It helped put the 243 win-way engine on the slot evolution map
- ✅ Wins can go as high as 8,100x the stake
- ✅ There are four free spin packages, each one with a unique bonus feature
Negative points
- ❌ The visuals are dated
- ❌ No progressive jackpot
Thunderstruck 2 – Norse Pantheon
The appeal in Thunderstruck 2 Slot graphics may not be apparent at first, with simple thematic trims surrounding the grid. The 5×3 playtable casts soft light on a stone wall backdrop while royal cards and the Norse deities Odin, Thor, Loki, and Valkyrie appear as symbols. The real treat is in the in-game animations accompanied by a powerful soundtrack that creates a solid sensorial impression.
Game Playability
Joining the mightiest occupants of Asgard requires stakes between €0.30 and €60 per round. Thunderstruck 2 features a control panel placed on the side to help with the procedure as follows:
- Click on the coin stack and select a stake on the ‘QUICK BET’ or ‘TOTAL BET’ menu
- Use the ‘MAX’ button to set the maximum stake automatically
- Click on the hexagonal arrow to spin the reels
- Use the two curved arrows to trigger autoplay spins
Thunderstruck 2 Slot uses the same gameplay procedure in the demo and real money versions. Play the free slot on our website to get familiar with the playing process before chasing real money wins in our listed Microgaming casinos. The pokie is cross-platform and plays on both mobile and PC devices.
Icon Payouts
Cracking the wins in Thunderstruck 2 slot machine requires lining up similar characters from left onwards, and there are eleven to cover. The icons start with the royals A to 9 carved out of stone, followed by a sea vessel and the Bifrost to Asgard. The Norse deities Thor, Odin, Loki, and Valkyrie are the premiums alongside the slot logo. The paytable tracks the potential payouts of each combination, and those of the highest bet are;
| Character | Winnings for Three | For Four | For Five |
| 9 | 10 | 20 | 200 |
| 10 | 10 | 20 | 200 |
| J | 14 | 30 | 250 |
| Q | 14 | 30 | 250 |
| K | 20 | 40 | 300 |
| A | 20 | 40 | 300 |
| Ship | 30 | 120 | 500 |
| Bifrost | 30 | 120 | 600 |
| Valkyrie | 40 | 160 | 700 |
| Loki | 40 | 160 | 800 |
| Odin | 60 | 200 | 900 |
| Thor | 60 | 200 | 1,000 |
| Slot logo | 150 | 400 | 2,000 |
Multiple combinations can trigger in the same round, and each win way counts the most valuable one only. The payouts are similar in the demo and cash versions, the only difference being they can be withdrawn in the latter.
Pokie Bonuses
Thunderstruck 2 online slot offers more than just symbol combinations. The game features lucrative bonuses with different rewards lined up, including;
- Wild
Thunderstruck 2 Slot uses its logo as the wild icon, substituting regular symbols to trigger paying combinations. The wild is also highly rewarding on its own and pays up to €2,000.
- Wildstorm Feature
Thunderstorms and lightning are desirable weather forecasts in the Thunderstruck 2 slot game. During this bonus, Thor enters the scene and electrifies the grid, turning up to all five reels completely wild. This incentive is incredibly profitable since turning all icons wild is worth a lucrative 8,100x the wager.
- Scatter
Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer, denotes the scatter in Thunderstruck 2 and pays when two or more land on any grid position. Scatter payouts are multiplied by the total stake rather than the coin bet, making it the most valuable character. Two, three, four, and five of these items award €60, €120, €1,200, and €12,000, respectively.
- The Great Hall of Spins
Getting three or more scattered hammers also triggers the free spins bonus. There are four tiers in the incentive to be unlocked, which is done by collecting multiple scatter entries. The freebies are accessible sequentially and unlock bigger bonus features the higher one climbs. Each free spin package is attached to one of the four featured Norse deities as follows:
| Deity | Activating Trigger | Free Spins | Bonus |
| Valkyrie | 1st | 10 | All payouts are multiplied by 5x |
| Loki | 5th | 15 | A Wild Magic icon lands on the 3rd reel and transforms up to all 15 symbols into Wild Magic characters.
2, 3, 4, and 5 hammers award 1, 2, 3, and 4 freebies, respectively. |
| Odin | 10th | 20 | Odin’s ravens transform up to two icons wild and attach 2x or 3x multipliers to them. The game can award a 6x multiplier if both ravens appear |
| Thor | 15th | 25 | Plays with rolling reels that remove winning symbols to make room for new ones. The feature comes with a multiplier trail of up to 5x. |
Payout Metrics
Thunderstruck 2 slot machine has a generous RTP rate of 96.65%, the standard for a Microgaming title. This theoretical return rate is coupled with low volatility. Payouts often land on the smaller side, but the pokie can award some big wins.
Summary
There are many reasons for Thunderstruck 2’s success, starting with the high-quality graphics, animations, sound effects, and overall cinematic presentation. The slot may be somewhat old, but it still competes well against modern upstarts. The pokie also hits another homerun with the win way mechanic that is equal parts fun and profitable. Add free spins and the Wildstorm bonus feature to the mix, and the pokie is a rewarding experience.
