Merry Money Slot
While many Barcrest slots feel like live casino titles which have been put online, Merry Money fits much better with the current generation of online-focused titles for me. Robin Hood is one of the themed slots now a days and was released in 2013. It includes 3 different bonus features, 2 of which are assigned at random when you get 3 bonus symbols to start things off. There are also stacked symbols, fast and smooth game-play and the kind of attention to detail you only get from the older generation of slots makers like Barcrest.
This slot does look up to date compared too many Barcrest titles. The surround is a luscious forest and the symbols on the reels spin over a dark forest background – a big change from the black or white plain background used in many Barcrest slots. Symbols are dominated by playing cards, which is always a bit of a shame. There is an archery target, Robin Hood bonus symbol, wild bag of gold and a Merry Money logo, which often appears stacked on the reels to balance things out. While the game is playing there is a bass-heavy happy sounding backing track playing. This sounds a little bit like one of the pre-programmed settings on a 1980’s Casio keyboard. Combine this with a sound like a sword being unsheathed when you spin the reels, and you’ll get the picture of an eclectic combination.
Bonus games include a pick-em game called ‘hall of plenty’, a free spins game and a simple game where you pick from one of the archery targets on the reels. These trigger often enough to keep you entertained and engaged.
Setup and Play for Merry Money
There are 10 win lines which are fixed for this game. You can choose from a big range of stakes, ranging from just 1c per line (10c spins) through to $50 line bets for $500 per spin. Auto-play lets you spin up to 50 times without clicking.
Wins from the main game are small and frequent, with the Merry Money logo having the biggest prize. 5 of these on a line are worth 250 coins, with 150 for 4 and 50 for 3. This symbol often appears stacked, which means you can sometimes win multiples of this amount across different lines – especially with the help of the bag of gold wild symbol.
All of the other winning symbols are playing cards. Aces and kings are worth 200 coins for 5, with the others at 100 coins. There are a lot of smaller pay-outs with 10 coins for just 3 on a line, even for the smallest winners of Queens down to tens.
Archery targets trigger the ‘pick-me’ bonus with 3 anywhere on the reels. Getting 3 of the Robin Hood gives either the Hall of Plenty or win-spins bonus games.
Merry Money Bonus Games
The archery target game is the quickest and simplest of the bonus rounds. When you get 3 on the screen they flash ‘pick me’. You choose one with your mouse, and it reveals a multiplier of your stake for that spin. You are awarded that prize, shown those you did not choose, and then it is back to the reels to continue the main game.
Robin Hood leads to more elaborate bonuses. First you select your bonus by clicking on Robin, who shoots an arrow at a target. If he hit yellow you get the Hall of Plenty bonus, if he hits red you get the Win-Spins bonus.
The Hall of Plenty involves spinning a wheel and Robin opening doors which whatever number comes up. The Sheriff is asleep at the end of the hall, and the idea is to get treasure chests (which accumulate wins) and not wake him up by getting chased out of the room by women and children. You can sometimes collect several chests before the Sheriff summons the guards.
Win-spins takes you to another wheeled game. This time you move up a path depending on the spin, getting awarded free spins as you go. When you are done with this part, the game wizzes though your spins – and you’ll be awarded the total at the end.
Merry Money – Conclusion
This is a modern slot compared to many in the Barcrest range and I enjoyed playing it. The 3 different features keep you interested in the game, while the bigger wins come from a combination of the stacked logos and wilds on the reels. The music is not exactly suitable for a slot – though at least it pauses between spins. All-in-all a step in the right direction for Barcrest and a slot which is entertaining enough to be worth a spin – check this one out for yourself soon.
