Slingo X Factor
Slingo X Factor is a pretty shoddy substitute for the ITV talent show, but as online casino games go, it’s a reasonable means of passing the time. How much of the spirit of The X Factor show is channeled here is debatable but in fairness it’s not the easiest task to try and recreate a spectacular big budget gameshow on a 5x5 grid. Especially when you’re trying to introduce the world to the novel concept that is slingo.
What is slingo anyway? It’s what happens when you take bingo and jazz it up by adding in elements of video slots. Depending on your appreciation for each casino game, slingo is either an abomination or the best thing to happen to gambling since the internet was invented. It’s also possible to sit on the fence and equivocate, but what’s the point in being open-minded when you can go for extremes? Slingo might not seem like a particularly extreme game, but after playing Slingo Extreme by the same developer you might change your tune.
Calling All Pop Starlets
A relatively simple game which works well on a range of devices, be they iPhone, Android, tablet or desktop, Slingo X Factor has a few flourishes which should help fans place it in the context of the ITV gameshow it’s modelled on. You’ve got the stage set in the background behind the board. The Start Game button positioned to the right glimmers invitingly but before you can give it a push there’s business to be attended to in the case of your bet. Dollars are the default currency but this game is probably available in other currencies too.
The minimum wager per game is 2 coins and the max bet stands at 100 coins. When you crank everything up to the max, you open the door to some huge wins. Land full house, for example, and you’ll scoop a jackpot of 20,000 coins. Once you’ve set your bet, hit Start Game and you’ll be given 11 spins in which to win something of substance. That something starts with one line, the lowest possible bingo win, but it’s only worth 10 coins at best so you’ll be hoping for something better. Achieve five completed lines and you’ll pocket 200 coins which is a little more respectable, though you’d need to achieve that on every second game just to break even when you’re wagering 100 at a time.
Sing-o When You Slingo
Hit the start button and following a short countdown the action commences. There’s not a whole lot of action to speak of: just the appearance of five bingo numbers below the board. You might not even get the full five due to the appearance of jokers, but their appearance is a good thing for they give you the ability to tick off a number of your choice on the board. In other words, they expedite your path to completing another line. Choose wisely then whenever the joker appears to aid your progress. The design of the joker symbols sits incongruously with the X Factor theme of the game incidentally. What’s a daft red-nosed clown got to do with a pop talent show? They could have made the joker symbols resemble microphones or stars if they wanted to, but nope, jokers it is, just like all the other slingo games by this developer.
By default, the numbers on the board appear in red text, but a smaller portion of them will be yellow. These are the ones to watch out for because yellow numbers can be clicked on to turn them into stars. Do this and you’ll be that little bit closer to completing another precious line. The number of spins you have left remaining is clearly displayed above the board. To the right of this you’ll also find an ‘i’ button. Click on this and you’ll be treated to a playing guide which is actually surprisingly coherent, which is a pleasant surprise.
Slingo X Factor Conclusion
As X Factor tie-ins go, Slingo X Factor is lame. As games of slingo go however it’s perfectly acceptable. It’s no better and no worse than the other slingo games this developer have released, put it that way. It’s a title that you can elect to play for fun or play for real money. Whatever option you choose, you’ll probably have fun for a few minutes and then you’ll get bored and move on to pastures new. That’s generally how it goes with online casino games. You get in, you extract what you can from them and then you move in in search of a fresh challenge.
