Freaky Cowboys Slots
With the realm of video slots, the “Freaky” series has been somewhat of a runaway success story. Coming straight from the minds at CTMX/GamesOS Software, Freaky Cowboys is rightly styled and designed so that even the occasional gambler can jump right in. CTMX/GamesOS Software games often stand out in quality, presentation and gameplay.
With a portfolio of solid entries into the genre of video slots games to their name, many are eagerly awaiting the Freaky Cowboys release, but how does Freaky Cowboys measure up to other games in the series such as the successful Freaky Cars?
Quick on the Draw
One thing that fans of CTMX/GamesOS Software’s other “Freaky” games will likely notice is that the layout and graphical design of this game is nearly identical to another one in the series, Freaky Bandits. While the background and symbols are different, the interface, menu and font are identical, as is the striking colorful palette commonly utilised across their various titles. This tells us nothing of the gameplay, but it is a bit disappointing to see so many reused assets.
The cartoonish depiction of the Wild West adds a whimsical touch to the game, and the symbols found in the reels pertain to the well-known aspects of life in the time period. That being said, the menu is clean and presentable, with the options available to the player clearly laid out along the bottom of the screen. Further customisations can be accessed via the vertical menu on the far-left side of the screen.
Being honest, the design of Freaky Cowboys is hardly grounding breaking, but what it does do it does well.
Ready Your Trigger Finger
Freaky Cowboys features the typical staples of video slot games. The paylines are located to the left and right sides of the reels, the bet size and coin denominations can be adjusted at the bottom, with the option to max out your bet given if you don’t want to adjust the paylines in-play repeatedly. While only one coin can be placed on each payline, you have the choice of going as large as $150 a spin if you decide to put all lines in play and max out your coin denominations, a classic big risk/big reward scenario. The auto-spin option gives you the choice to roll 5x or 10x in a row.
The sheriff’s badge serves as the game’s wild symbol, and if you collect at least three of the “safe” symbols, which are scatter symbols, then it triggers the game’s only bonus game, which is detailed below. These are scatter symbols, so you don’t need to line them up to trigger the bonus game.
Prizes from Way out West
Freaky Bandits offers no progressive payouts or score multipliers, but it does offer a jackpot that can grow to be as large as 20,000 coins, a substantially larger amount than what is usually seen in a “Freaky” game. With a prize as big as this, it is easy to see why this game is drumming up major industry buzz. This eye-popping sum can offer the chance for really big payouts, but the real opportunity lies if you trigger the game’s lone bonus feature, which takes you to a Wild West-type shootout in a bank.
This mini-game is very interesting, because it doesn’t rely on blind luck like most video slots bonus games. You are taken to a screen where you can shoot hordes of various bandits that appear on screen. The number you hit determines the prize, with a minimum of 15 hits being needed to win big. What’s unique about it is that your aim and reflexes can actually be the deciding factor in how big your prize is. We would argue that this feature helps this game really stand out, since skill-based mechanics are not often found in many video slots games.
Saddle up and Get Ready to Shoot
Freaky Cowboys is a competently designed, if somewhat derivative, video slots game. The large jackpot and skill-based mini-game offer an attractive proposition to people looking to win big, even if the game’s other features are lacking somewhat. The bright and colorful graphics are appealing to the eyes, and in spite of some of its drawbacks, Freaky Bandits is a game worth looking at. While it may look like just another “Freaky” title, Freaky Bandits presents a twist on what has come before, and for that reason alone it shouldn’t be discounted out of hand.
