TaDa Gaming continues to grow the TriLuck slot series with the launch of 3 Royal Joker. The new slot machine offers a unique take on the traditional five-reel slot by introducing the new Power of Wheel (pow) mechanic; three unique bonus Features; and four jackpot tiers. As shown through the original press release provided for this review, the maximum win offered through 3 Royal Joker is capped at 3,000 times the player’s wager. Additionally, there is an optional Bonus Buy available when allowed in jurisdictions permitting said option.
The power is a key aspect of 3 Royal Joker’s rewards. A large spinning wheel situated above the reels displays twelve sections containing various prizes. These can be either one of four jackpot levels – including Grand, Major, Minor & Mini jackpots – or a multiplier of the player’s bet ranging from 3x, 5x, 8x or 10x. There are two ways that players can receive a pow. It can be awarded in the form of either a reel coin or a scatter.
Once received, players have the ability to display the amount on the wheel, as well as send colored energy to one of three treasure chests located above the reels. Although the pow can award an immediate prize, it may also aid in the activation of one of 3 Royal Joker’s larger bonus Features.
The three treasure chests create the previously mentioned TriLuck system. Each color represents a different type of gameplay modification. The Blue Nudge will continue to nudge coins on the reels until no more coins land. The Blue Nudge creates a potential way to collect additional coins. The Green Expand expands the standard 5 x 3 reels to a 5 x 5 grid, giving players more space to find winning combinations. The purple Free Games allows players to enter the Free Games mode.
One of the defining characteristics of the TriLuck system is that it is entirely possible to activate multiple aspects simultaneously. Players can potentially activate up to two or all three of the options. Depending upon what players activate, this can cause them to significantly modify the normal layout of the reels. Industry-wide, this is becoming a popular method for slot designers. Developers are finding success in creating more diverse and variable bonus rounds by utilizing many interrelated mechanics instead of focusing on just one high profile bonus.
Players earn five Free Games when landing three scatter symbols. However, the Free Games offer a different environment than normal gameplay. Only coin and scatter symbols exist in the Free Games mode, which means that collecting coins and progressing towards receiving Power of Wheel is the primary focus during this time.
Additionally, every time a player receives a Power of Wheel, it upgrades the current value being displayed on the prize wheel before awarding its value. Therefore, multipliers and jackpot amounts can increase throughout the duration of the Free Games. Overall, this adds a defined level of progression to the feature and does not provide simply more Free Spins under the same rules as the base game.
The relevance of 3 Royal Joker extends beyond its visuals and Features because it takes two established concepts – fruit slots with Jokers and progressive jackpots and combines them with advanced Features like expanding reels, multiple jackpot tiers and interconnected bonuses. The decision to do so makes commercial sense. Traditional slot machines visually depict recognizable casino images; however, they can now incorporate elements typically found in newer feature-rich slot titles. For New Zealand-based gaming industry analysts, 3 Royal Joker is yet another example of how international game providers are updating traditional forms of slot games without completely abandoning their traditional identities.
Additionally, 3 Royal Joker serves as another outlet for TADA to promote its proprietary mechanics, specifically Power of Wheel. The Power of Wheel is featured as both a standalone mechanic and as part of other slot titles. Thus, the company is continuing to brand its feature mechanics.
Ultimately, 3 Royal Joker was created with variety as its main focus. The game offers four jackpots; three tri-luck bonus Features; and a 3000x maximum win. Ultimately, what sets 3 Royal Joker apart from other slot releases is how these systems can work together to allow a typical-looking fruit slot to evolve into a much more complex and engaging bonus game.