Jackpot Bells Slot Machine
Sometimes, it’s best to keep things simple. For all the complexities of modern online slot machines, some players prefer the core gameplay that has made these games popular for more than a century now, without all the extra bells and whistles that are designed to make them feel more like entertainment than gambling. Classic slots didn’t need bonus rounds, so why can’t a modern game rely on the basics, too?
That seems to be the approach taken with Jackpot Bells by Playtech, a title that might just test the limits of how basic a modern online slot can be. There are no free spins, no bonus rounds, and only a handful of paylines for you to win on, keeping things as clean as can possibly be. Even the theme is designed to be about as familiar as possible, adding to the comfort level. These steps are likely to be welcomed by those who are intimidated by most feature-filled slots, but it’s also likely to turn off a lot of players who want just a bit more out of their online gambling.
Seeing Red
The Jackpot Bells video slot is a new machine, one of the most recent online slots that can be found at sites using software by Playtech. The theme is that of a basic fruit machine, with a simple red design used as the backdrop for some plain white reels. The icons on the reels are nice and sharp, though they don’t require a lot of detail given their simplistic nature. One advantage that this overall approach does have is that it keeps the whole screen nice and clean, giving this a classic, easy-to-use look and feel.
Like most major software providers, Playtech now ensures that their games are mobile-optimized, meaning they can be played from your iPhone, Android, or just about any other device you might imagine. While gamblers do have to play this machine on a set number of lines, you can change the size of your line bet, which gives low limit players some control over how much they want to spend on each spin. A play for free version of the machine is also available for you to test at many online gambling sites.
High Five
The Jackpot Bells video slot is a five-reel, five payline machine presented on the traditional 3x5 layout. The object of the game is the typical one: you’ll want to make matches of identical symbols across your paylines, with only left-to-right combinations scoring wins. In most cases, you’ll need to hit three in a row in order to win a prize, though cherries – the lowest-paying symbol – also provide a small reward for hitting just two in a row.
Along with those cherries, a number of other fruits make up the lower and middle parts of the pay table. You’ll see lemons, oranges, plums, grapes, and watermelons – everything that you would expect to see on a machine like this one. Similarly, the seven acts as the high-paying symbol at the top of the charts, offering up payouts of 1,500 coins if you can manage to hit five in a row.
Hear the Bells Ring
Given the name of the machine, chances are you were expecting to hear more about bells (and jackpots) than you have so far. The bell is actually the only special symbol you’ll find in this game, acting as a wild. This icon not only substitutes for any other symbol in order to complete winning paylines, but it also automatically expands to cover an entire reel when it appears, ensuring that it can help out on every line possible.
These wilds can also earn their own prizes in one very special way. Should you hit them on all five reels at once, the expanding wilds feature will ensure that they cover the entire screen. This will instantly earn you the game’s progressive jackpot, regardless of the size of your bet on that spin.
Frozen Fruit
We’ve said it a few times in this review already, but the key word to keep in mind when evaluating this game is “simple.” There’s just not all that much to talk about, and we’re pretty confident that gamblers will know if they’ll like this one or not based on their own personal preferences. If you are a fan of slick animations, special features, and multiple bonus rounds, then this isn’t the machine for you. But if you’re a player who is happy to just spin and collect prizes when they come, then you might like to play Jackpot Bells, at least for a little while.
