Fortune Fish Slot Machine
From the creative minds at Casino Technology comes Fortune Fish, a Chinese-themed video slots game. As is true with virtually everything they put out, the game’s visuals are not lacking for punch and splendor. Utilising the interplay of the red background and the aquamarine glow off of each other, the game immediately has a recognisable colour palette that looks both enticing and pleasing to the eye. The golden ornamental dragons on top cement the impression that the game cultivates, as potential wealth and riches that await you.
With a visual palette that draws you in, will the Fortune Fish experience live up to its looks?
A fish Out of Water
Just the title alone implies glorious wealth and riches beyond all imagination, but we’ll be honest, we really weren’t expecting to see a Chinese theme implemented. Just based on the superficial appearance alone, Fortune Fish looks to be designed with a similar theme in mind as their Duck of Luck series, which also boasts a prominent Chinese design. But what is even more surprising is that we see nothing even resembling a fish here. We can only surmise that the game’s name is an oblique reference to the fact that fish (along with many other things) are considered good luck symbols in China.
Images from the Far East
The art direction, as always, is gorgeous. Some video slots games are content to either phone it in or stick with a generic but tried-and-true theme that we’ve all seen a million times before. Casino Technology does not content itself with middling mediocrity, as every aspect of the design, the colours, the sounds, and the music jingles all work together to create an immersive and cohesive experience that lends the game a unique personality unto its own.
The symbols largely consist of ornamental pottery, golden objects, Chinese palaces and a dragon’s head. The menu on the bottom is cleanly laid out so that you don’t have to spend an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out just what each part of the interface is supposed to do.
Technical Proficiency
On the more technical side of things, Fortune Fish looks and plays like your average video slots game. There are 25 paylines available to you, and the coin denominations you can bet with range from 0.01 to 0.2 units of the currency you are using to play with. The left button lets you access the game’s sub-menu, and you have the option of changing your coin size and paylines on the adjacent buttons. The spin button is located to the far right, and on the bottom are miniscule switches that allow you to toggle the game’s sound and music, as well as stretch the game to full-screen should one prefer a more engrossing experience.
Red-Letter Day
The game’s maximum jackpot sits at a rather low ten coins and is not progressive, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make some serious winnings. You get scatter and wild symbols, as well as the possibility of winning a whole bevy of free spins. Using all of your available paylines can make racking up winning spins a quick affair, especially with the multiplier in effect.
Plus, if you have the guts, there is another option should your winning spin be on the low end, the “double up” feature. This involves selecting from a facedown card its potential color and suit. Pick right, and you can double or quadruple you earnings, respectively. Pick wrong and you lose everything, so pick the “half gamble” option if you don’t want to risk it all. This feature more than makes up for the lack of a bonus game, as it turns the excitement level up to ‘11’ without too much thought. Casino Technology always have a game start screen that indicates the game volatility with an easy to hard option, this game verges towards the higher end of that on the display so we can be assured it is capable of big wins.
Fish for Your Fortune
The string of hits continues unabated here as Casino Technology has produced yet another winning game with Fortune Fish. It may come off as a little sparse given the relatively low maximum payout, as well as the lack of a bonus game or a progressive jackpot, but do not let that deter you.
Casino Technology has more than made up for that with the “double up” feature, the high number of paylines, and the truckload of free spins made available. With a relatively low playing cost, you won’t have to blow your next paycheck before you hit those winning spins. Simply put, Fortune Fish carries all the charm of the Far East and is a game that is certainly well worth your time.