Super Zodiac Bingo
Once upon a time, it was widely believed that the stars foretold the destinies of everyone who dared to look at them. Most people don’t take astrology quite that seriously anymore, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a major part of modern culture: everyone knows the sign they were born under, newspapers regularly publish horoscopes, and there are still some who care deeply about what the heavenly bodies say awaits them.
The signs of the zodiac have been a popular thematic element in many games, with Super Zodiac Bingo by Patagonia Entertaiment being a perfect example. If you’ve played any of the other bingo-based games developed by this studio, then you’ll know how the basic action works. However, the addition of the 12 signs as a critical component of gameplay makes this a unique addition to the lineup, one that any players might find to be a fun diversion from time to time.
I Saw the Sign
Super Zodiac Bingo opens by asking you for your sign and providing you with a fortune in response. This probably doesn’t have any impact on the game itself, but hey: it’s a fun touch!
The game itself features a display with four cards, each of which displays 15 numbers ranging between 1 and 90. These numbers are displayed in a grid of three rows with five columns. By default, all four cards are active, though you can change the number you want to play by clicking on them individually to toggle each one on or off. Players can also set their bet amount, which will be the same on each ticket played. Keep in mind that you’ll be playing in credits; in most cases, these are worth 0.25 units of your preferred currency (such as $0.25).
Once you’ve determined how much you’re playing for, it’s time to hit the play button and start getting the balls moving! Balls will be released from a round wheel in the center of the screen, which also displays the 12 zodiac signs. As each number is revealed, it will be marked off if it appears on any of your cards. Should you complete a winning combination, there will be a brief pause so that you can see your win before the balls continue to be picked.
The patterns you’ll be trying to make in this game are somewhat unique in that each one is matched to one of the 12 astrological signs. This means two things: one, there are a lot of winning patterns, and 2, it’s difficult to describe them easily here. Some are fairly thematic: Taurus looks a bit like a bull’s head, for instance. Others are more of a stretch. In any case, you don’t need to memorize them; they are displayed for you as a part of the game’s interface, and in any case, winning patterns are automatically recorded, so you can’t “miss” anything.
The patterns and their payouts are as follows:
- Sagittarius: 2x
- Aries: 3x
- Aquarius: 3x
- Taurus: 5x
- Capricorn: 5x
- Libra: 8x
- Pisces: 8x
- Leo: 25x
- Scorpio: 25x
- Gemini: 50x
- Virgo: 100x
- Cancer: 200x
- Full Card (Bingo): 1,000x
Prizes on a single ticket accumulate: if you make multiple patterns, your prizes will stack. For instance, if you make Aries and then Taurus, you’ll win a total of eight units on that particular card.
In all, 33 numbers will be revealed in the main portion of the game. However, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the end of the round. At this point, the game will give you the opportunity to purchase extra balls if you want to try to make more winning combinations. In the center of the screen, you’ll see the price for the next extra ball. If you want it, clicking the button that says (appropriately) extra ball will send another number down the track; if instead you’re done, you can then click the NO button, ending the game.
The price of these additional balls varies depending on the game situation: if you’re on the verge of making a full card, for instance, you can expect to pay a lot for the privilege. On the other hand, with no obvious wins in sight, you might only be charged a single credit. Every time you take a ball, you’ll have the opportunity to buy one more, and can stop at any time. The maximum number of extra numbers is 10, however: after that, you’ll be done whether you’re happy or not.
Dawning of the Age of Jackpots
There are two special features we’d like to talk about. The first is the game’s jackpot, which is available if you play all four cards and spend at least three credits on each. If you meet that minimum bet, then you’ll be eligible for a jackpot that will be listed near the top of the screen. In order to win it, you’ll not only have to complete an entire card, but you’ll have to do it in your initial 33 balls – no extras allowed.
Next up is the bonus game. In order to trigger this special feature, you’ll need to complete the entire perimeter of a card, making a full ring around the outside of the grid. When this occurs, you’ll instantly be taken to a second screen where three panels will be presented to you. Clicking each one will reveal either a number of credits or a multiplier on what you’ve already won, all of which you get to keep. After revealing all three, you’ll be taken back into the main game with the total number of credits you finished the game with added to your balance.
Consulting the Stars
Astrology is all about seeing what the stars have in store for you, and that’s appropriate for Super Zodiac Bingo, as your results will be entirely up to fate, chance, and luck. There’s nothing you can do to change the results you’re given: either your numbers work for you, or they don’t.
The only chance that the player has to influence the game at all comes in the decision to buy (or not buy) extra balls. We’ve gone over this many times in Patagonia’s other games, but the general rule of thumb is that you don’t want to pay for these additional numbers. The game uses a dynamic pricing model that bakes in a house edge, meaning that you’re only giving the house more of your money by making these purchases. Of course, that might not matter to you if the potential payout is high enough, but we want to make sure you understand that there isn’t really any strategy involved with these decisions, and that in the long run, you will lose money by buying.
We See Winnings In Your Future
Overall, Super Zodiac Bingo is one of our favorite games of those created by Patagonia Entertainment. The thematic elements really work: there’s a wheel of signs that keeps track of which ones you’ve hit so far on the round, and the idea of tying all the possible winning patterns to the zodiac itself is a nice touch.
Of course, we’re still only going to recommend this game to those who enjoy specialty games that are built with casual players in mind: those who want deep strategy or tough decisions will want to look elsewhere. But with fast action, plenty of ways to win, and an attractive presentation, this is definitely one of the better bingo-based options out there.
