Top Slot Reviews #1

1 October 2002

By Gayle Mitchell

Since the release of the exclusive Top 200 Slots Guide, I noticed some slot versions on the list that have not been reviewed yet, but they are now!

Since the release of the exclusive Top 200 Slots Guide, I noticed some slot versions on the list that have not been reviewed yet, but they are now!

Below you will find descriptions and the bonus round explained for these slots.

After each slot version, there are three numbers published: the highest payout % in the range, the average hit frequency and the lowest payout % offered by the slot manufacturers to casinos.

A further explanation of these stats and the Top 200 Slots Guide can be found in previous articles right here at http://slots.casino.com

Let's begin our exploration of these 'chart toppers'.

1) Babooshka: (98%,3,88%). What is a Babooshka, you ask? It's a hollow wooden doll painted in fine detail that contains a smaller doll inside it and an even smaller doll inside that one.

These dolls are collectibles in Russia and other Eastern Europe countries. Now isn't that a perfect element to display bonus amounts?

There are 3 bonus events. 'Changing Seasons' when three or more house symbols scattered anywhere on the reels. A cycle stop on summer means the paytable is doubled.

'Babooshka Bonus' is triggered with three dolls on the reels at which time. The player selects one doll thus revealing six smaller dolls, five of which hide bonus credits and one a collect symbol.

Lastly, 'Red Babooshka Roulette Bonus' round asks the player to pick six random numbers from 1 to 9. Now the fun begins as you press the start button that enacts the 'Roulette Light' flashing above the dolls. When it stops, a four digit bonus is revealed. Don't say 'nyet' to this game.

2) Price Check: (98%,3,85%) We know you love it when your supermarket cashier calls for a price check on your grocery items. Expect a lot of this in this new game that has a cartoon supermarket theme.

There are two second screen bonus events that are triggered by scatter-pay combinations. When three or more 'Handyman' symbols appear, the player picks one, two or three of them. Each has a bonus value for a possible top prize of up to 750 coins times your bet.

Cash register symbols on the first, third and fifth reels initiate the 'Price Check Bonus'. The cashier comes across an item in need of a price check. Characters on the screen shout out various prices and the highest price is your bonus award.

The high hit frequency will actually make you yearn for that much hated price check.

3) Rich Girl: (98%,2,85%) The theme here is luxury items and a very wealthy lady. A pampered dog and cat, luxury cars and jewelry make up reel symbols with the 'Rich Girl' symbols moving you to the bonus round. Half the time you will hit a winning combo and a bonus within the bonus occurs quite often.

Three 'Rich Girl' symbols on the second, third and fourth reels trigger the bonus event where you are awarded from three to five free spins each revealing bonus $$.

With a top jackpot of 50,000 coins and high hit frequency, it's worth a spin with the rich girl.

4) Crystal Sevens: (98%,7,85%) The paytable is basic cherry, bar and 7s with the 'Crystal 7' as the wild symbol.

Two wilds and a jackpot symbol net a payout of 49 times the bet while three wild symbols reward you with up to 15,000 coins.

All hits are wins in this game and will return at least 2 for 1. Crystal Sevens is an update of 'Five Times Pay'. 'Crystal Clear' enhanced sound and beautiful graphics are evident with this latest 'Times Pay' version.

5) Deep Pockets: (98%,2,85%) Kangaroos, boomerangs and other Aussie icons are reel symbols for this Australian Outback themed game.

The main 'Deep Pockets Bonus' feature is triggered when three target symbols scattered anywhere display a bonus amount. The player can take the bonus or try for another. The 'Outback Bonus' is initiated when a combination of five kangaroos and/or 'Deep Pockets' symbols land on a payline. The screen displays a triangle of cubes that hide bonus amounts in the top four rows and multipliers in the bottom row. The player selects a path up the triangle for the final bonus bucks.

This game is worth the trip down under to OZland.

6) Lucky Larry's Lobstermania: (98%,2, 85%) The theme is centered around an old New England fisherman named Larry who has a comical and wisecracking accent.

Three lobsters anywhere on the main screen pay 5 times the bet, four lobsters pay 25 times the bet and five of them will reward you with 200 times your bet. Three 'Lobstermania' symbols appearing left to right on a payline trigger the second-screen 'Buoy Bonus' where the player picks one of the 'Lobstermania' symbols revealing 2, 3 or 4 picks to continue this round.

The scene switches to Larry on his boat with buoys in the water marking the locations where he has dropped his lobster traps. Larry prompts the player to select buoy locations until the picks are exhausted. The more lobsters Larry hauls out of the water, the higher the bonus.

The New Englander's wisecracks as the traps are pulled from the water are 'quite a catch'.

Come back real soon as we continue 'fishing' for more top slots.