Aesthetic Appeal of Cowboy Coins
In terms of aesthetics, Pragmatic Play, drawing from its experience, presents Cowboy Coins with visually appealing elements consistent with the Wild West theme. The game’s setting, although not exceptionally distinct, captivates with vibrant artwork and larger-than-life characters, setting a visually appealing, albeit somewhat conventional, scene.
Innovative Game Grid
Notably, Cowboy Coins introduces an intriguing game grid, structured in a 3-4-4-4-4-3 formation, offering 2,304 ways to win and strategically jiliko placing feature symbols across specific reels. This unique configuration differentiates it from other slots and adds a layer of excitement to the gameplay.
Symbol Breakdown and Payouts
Standard symbols adhere to a left-to-right payout scheme from the initial reel onward, comprising ten symbols in total. These include 10-A royals as the lower-paying symbols, followed by cards, a pistol, and three character symbols as the higher-paying tiles. Successful six-symbol royal combinations yield rewards ranging from 1.25 to 2 times the initial bet, while high-paying jiliko symbols offer returns of 3 to 10 times the bet. Notably, Cowboy Coins does not incorporate wild symbols to facilitate winning combinations.
Base Game Features
Additional symbols to keep an eye out for during the base game include Money, Collector, Payer, and scatters. Money symbols can appear on reels 2, 3, 4, or 5, carrying values ranging from 1 to 10 times the initial bet. Payers exclusively land on the first reel, also featuring values spanning from 1 to 10 times the bet. Whenever a Payer symbol lands, it supplements the values of any Money symbols visible on the screen, and subsequently, the combined value of the Payer and Money symbols is paid out. Conversely, if a Collector symbol appears alongside Money symbols on the screen, its value in addition to the values of the Money symbols is awarded to the player.
Free Respin Feature
Triggering this feature requires landing 3 scatter symbols in the base game. Upon activation, 3 respins are granted, during which only Money symbols or special symbols can land. Money symbols appear on the main grid, while special symbols land on newly introduced reels at the edges. Upon landing, symbols lock in place and reset the respin count to 3. The special symbols include:
- Payer: Positioned on the leftmost reel, Payers augment the values of Money symbols. Super Payers perform this action on every respin.
- Multi Collector: Occupying the top reel, Multi Collectors pay their own value plus a random Money symbol value. Super Multi Collectors repeat this action with each respin.
- Collector: Found on the rightmost reel, Collectors pay their own value along with the cumulative value of all Money symbols in view. Super Collectors replicate this process with each respin.
- Double Booster: Positioned on the bottom reel, Double Boosters double the value of 2 to 5 random Money symbols. Super Double Boosters repeat this doubling effect with each respin.
As the edge reels become filled, +1 additional position is added, but only once. Additionally, the round commences with a number of Money symbols equivalent to the number of triggering scatters.
Buy Free Respins
When accessible, players have the choice of selecting one of five options from the feature buy menu. The options include purchasing jiliko normal respins for 100 times the initial bet, or opting for respins with the Super version of the preferred Special Symbol after the initial respin by paying 500 times the bet. The return to player percentages (RTPs) for all options are prominently displayed on the paytable, ranging from 95.99% to 96.27%.
Slot Verdict: The Final Showdown
Cowboy Coins certainly made a valiant effort, but in our estimation, it falls just short of dethroning the reigning champion in the Western hold and win genre. Nonetheless, there’s much to appreciate about the game, with positives outweighing the negatives. One area where Cowboy Coins slightly falters is in its rather generic presentation. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, the standard frontier town setting with its familiar cast of characters lacks the imaginative flair of, say, a steampunk-infused train barreling through the landscape.
Gameplay Features: A Deeper Dive
Pragmatic Play’s decision to take a more conventional approach isn’t necessarily a drawback. After all, it’s the game’s features that truly shine, with both the base game and bonus game versions of Money symbol collecting adding depth. From the straightforward base game to the more sophisticated respins round, each special jiliko symbol may not be groundbreaking in concept, but they serve their purpose well and can significantly enhance gameplay. The option to purchase preferred special symbols adds an extra layer of strategy and appeal for players. While an “ultra” option featuring all four super special symbols could have been intriguing, the potential cost would likely be prohibitive. Even so, the respins feature holds immense potential, offering the chance to win up to 30,000 times the initial bet.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, after the dust settled, it’s clear that Cowboy Coins didn’t quite surpass the reigning champion in the Western hold and win category. However, this doesn’t diminish its value as a game. In fact, Cowboy Coins demonstrates a commendable level of creative ingenuity in its approach to constructing potentially rewarding gameplay experiences. Some may even argue that its base game is more engaging, though that remains open to debate.