Loose Cannon Slot Machine
The last thing you want to be when playing the real money pokies is a loose cannon. On the contrary, you’ll hope to be cool, calm and collected; measured, analytical and tenacious; willing to ride out the rough spots yet implicitly aware that sometimes, you gotta cut and run. Besides, if you throw a tantrum and trash the slot machine, you’re likely to be ejected by casino security.
Loose Cannon is a Microgaming-powered 5-reel video slot that offers 243 ways to win. It’s not the first casino game to be based on a pirates theme and, in truth, it’s unlikely to be last. Be that as it may, Loose Cannon uses a combination of fun, cartoonised graphics, amusing animations and rewarding bonus features to attract your custom. If you want to be in with a chance of winning hidden treasure on the high seas, just read on to find out whether Loose Cannon holds water.
Playing Pirate Games
In order to get started, you’ll need to decide upon your wager. When playing Loose Cannon, your stake is based on coin values that can be set at anywhere from 0.01 to 0.25. This means a maximum possible bet of 37.5 and a potential bounty of 75,000. There are numerous ways to clean up on this fast-paced 5-reeler, with free spins, a pair of bonus features and both wild and scatter symbols.
In base play, you’re simply gunning to score matching symbols on one of the active paylines. The symbols should appear in a row, aligning from left-to-right. Icons include a musket-toting pirate, an Esmeralda-esque wench in a bandana, a pair of crossed muskets, a barrel of rum, a Loose Cannon flag, a sword and treasure map, a cheeky monkey holding a cannonball, a heaving treasure chest filled with rubies and gold, and a compass.
The lowest-paying symbols in Loose Cannons include the crossed muskets, which only pay six for five-in-a-line. Five barrels of rum pays seven, while five treasure chests pays nine. The Loose Cannon flag is a little better, as is the ship captain. These pay 25 and 20, respectively.
The animation, I’m happy to report, is strong. Land three pirate symbols, for instance, and the jolly seaman will flash his gold tooth and fire his pistol.
Setting Sail For Big Bonuses
Pirate players can take advantage of a host of features to multiply their ill-gotten gains. The Wild Cannon expanding wild icon is one to watch out for, as it can grow to cover the entire reel when appearing in the third column. Not only that, but a cannon subsequently begins to fire left and right, with the potential to detonate all 15 other symbols and transform them into wilds. As you will appreciate, the stacked wild feature can lead to some serious pay-outs: not only will the middle reel be entirely wild, but wilds will be scattered across the board to help you form winning combinations. The wild can replace all other symbols in the game except the scatter.
The scatter symbol is another one you’ll be praying you hit. The game’s scatter is the compass symbol, which additionally features an octopus (or is it a squid?). It functions like a normal scatter, appearing on the first, third and fifth reels to engender free spins. While there isn’t a multiplier attached, landing triple scatters furnishes you with up to 15 free spins. The free spins bonus can also be re-triggered during the bonus feature.
To Play Or Not To Play?
Loose Cannon may look familiar – how could it not with so many pirate-themed slot games on the market? – but it does just enough to distinguish itself from the pack. The main feather in its cap is the Wild Cannon feature, whereby a cannon blasts cannonballs at other symbols and turns them wild. Considering this occurs when the middle reel is already stacked with wilds, the potential is there for some serious wins. And while the free spins don’t come with a multiplier (boo!), 15 turns of the reel is pretty generous. It also helps that the feature can be re-triggered.
While the graphics aren’t earth-shattering, they are fun and stick closely to the theme. The betting range, meanwhile, means virtually everyone can have a crack at the jackpot. Some gamers will lament the lack of a gamble feature and a second bonus game, but on the whole, Loose Cannon is diverting enough without them. Give it a go.
