Pirots 3 was my first serious attempt at playing a slot game provided by ELK studio. I was initially clueless about the rules and felt lost in the repeated drops. However, I was quickly captivated by the game’s unique style. Set in a western world full of adventure, the game features a group of parrots who have taken on the roles of pirates. One of them, the “boss,” is locked in a cage, eagerly waiting for you to find the key and surprise you with a reward. The looping background soundtrack is both catchy and immersive, as if urging you to waste no time and dive straight into the treasure-hunting adventure.
The four parrots each have their own unique style, sporting pirate-themed cowboy hats, leather jackets, rifles, and eye patches, all of which highlight their pirate identity. The name “Pirots” is a clever play on words, as “pirates” and “parrots” sound similar in English, making the choice of parrots as the protagonists even more fitting.
The battlefield of the game is a 7×6 grid. With each bet, various gems and special symbols drop down to fill the grid, and the four parrots randomly land between the gems. Each parrot can collect gems of the same color adjacent to them, as well as reachable special symbols that trigger unique effects. Above the grid, there’s a gem collection progress bar—filling it up further means achieving higher progress and winning more rewards.
Pirots 3 is developed by ELK Studios, a game provider that has been a prominent player in the online casino industry since 2013. Known for their expertise in creating series-based slot games, ELK Studios introduced their unique X-iter technology, offering players a new way to enjoy slots. X-iter features a set of pre-configured game modes, each with a fixed betting amount and guaranteed player benefits, such as bonuses, special symbols, or unique gameplay mechanics. Higher stakes unlock more rewards.
Pirots 3 is the third installment in the Pirots series by ELK Studios, following Pirots and Pirots 2. Each installment is set in a different thematic environment. The first game took place on the high seas (a fitting origin for a pirate-themed story, right?), establishing the parrots’ pirate identities. The second game moved to Jurassic Corporation, where the parrots coexisted with dinosaurs, who seemingly allowed them to treasure hunt within their territory. In the third installment, the parrots find themselves in a Wild West-themed amusement park. If the theme park storyline continues, the series could expand to settings like a space-themed park or a city-themed park.
CollectR™
Pirots 3 utilizes ELK Studios’ proprietary CollectR™ payout system, where the parrot characters only need to collect gems matching their own color to earn rewards. This system eliminates the complexity of tracking different symbols, making the game simple and easy to pick up. The four parrots take turns moving across the grid, collecting gems that match their respective colors.
The Bandit
The caged parrot, known as the “Bandit,” anxiously waits for a key to release it. Once freed, the Bandit roams the grid, collecting gems of any color and special symbols. When it encounters another parrot, a “dueling ritual” is triggered. If the Bandit wins, it continues to move and collect; if it loses, it is sent back to the cage.
Duel
Apart from the Bandit, any two parrots that cross paths have a chance to trigger a duel. The two parrots quickly distance themselves from each other and begin shooting randomly, with any gems or special symbols hit becoming their loot. If three or more parrots meet at the same point, a duel is guaranteed to be triggered, turning the entire grid into a chaotic battlefield of bullets.
Train Robbery
When a parrot collects gems or symbols with a train car background, the Train Robbery feature is triggered. The parrot boards a train and moves to the other side of the grid, collecting 1 to 3 random special symbols along the way. After disembarking, the parrot can continue gathering adjacent gems of the same color or special symbols.
Coin Game
When the entire grid is cleared, the Coin Game is triggered. Bags of coins with different multipliers and scorpions randomly drop into the center of the grid. The parrots board a train to the top of the grid and take turns using a cowboy-style lasso to grab their desired items. Landing a bag of coins results in a reward, while lassoing a scorpion leads to a bite, poisoning the parrot and removing it from the game. The Coin Game ends when all four parrots are out.
Super Bonus
When a parrot collects three bullhead symbols, the Super Bonus is triggered, granting 5 free drops. The free drops function exactly like normal drops, with the same gem and symbol collection progress and payout mechanics.
X-iter
X-iter is one of ELK Studios’ unique gaming modes. In Pirots 3, X-iter offers 5 predefined modes with betting amounts ranging from $3 to $500, along with guaranteed benefits such as bonuses, special symbols, or fixed gameplay features, providing players with a richer and more customizable gaming experience.
Pirots 3 features a variety of symbols, including gem symbols, single upgrade symbols, all-upgrade symbols, coin bag symbols, wild symbols, peanuts, transformation potions, and bomb symbols.
Gem Symbols
Gem symbols can be upgraded through seven levels, each representing a different payout tier.
Single Gem Upgrade Symbol
Upgrades the payout level of a single gem color, increasing its reward value.
All Gem Upgrade Symbol
Simultaneously upgrades the payout level of all gem colors, enhancing overall rewards.
Coin Bag Symbol
The coin bag symbol represents the current payout multiplier, offering the potential to reach the maximum payout (max win) instantly.
Wild Symbol
The wild symbol can substitute for any gem color. Black wild symbols represent the highest-paying gem.
Bomb Symbol
The bomb symbol explodes surrounding gems and expands the grid, up to a maximum size of 8 rows × 7 columns.
Peanut Symbol
The peanut symbol fills blank spaces, allowing parrots to traverse empty areas.
Transformation Potion
The transformation potion converts gems around a parrot into the same color as the parrot, enabling it to collect them.
Pirots 3 is a feature-rich, beautifully designed slot game with outstanding animations. The character movements are humorously crafted and adorable, paired with lively music to create an enjoyable and engaging experience for players.
In terms of investment and rewards, Pirots 3 is a high-volatility game that offers substantial payouts but is challenging to trigger. It’s a classic high-risk, high-reward type of game. For instance, triggering the Super Bonus, which requires collecting three bullhead symbols, is particularly difficult. The chances improve only when playing with higher bets using the X-iter mode.
Overall, Pirots 3 is ideal for players with a generous budget who seek excitement, are patient, and are willing to take risks in pursuit of big rewards. However, for casual players with a smaller budget looking to win small amounts, this game may not be the best fit.