Gremlins

Gremlins Online Slot (Red7): Overview

This slot is inspired by the cult classic film 'Gremlins' from 1984. Although the movie had a sequel and inspired several additional products, including a physical slot machine from WMS, this is likely the first time these mischievous creatures appear in a digital slot format. Why it took this long is unclear, but we owe it to Red7 for reviving Gizmo and friends in this context. Branded slots can stir a deep emotional connection. Fans of the original film hope for a faithful adaptation that delivers on nostalgia. When successful, it's delightful, but when it misses, the feeling of letdown can be quite severe. So, what does this new Gremlins slot bring to the table?

The game begins on a pleasant note. The music is a remixed version of the film's classic soundtrack. The game is set up in a 5-reel, 3-row grid that captures the essence of Billy's room, the site of many of Gremlins' significant plot points, like when Gizmo got wet or fed after midnight. For an optimum experience, play in landscape mode. The game's atmosphere has a perfect retro 80s flair. Players can adjust their bets between 20 cents up to 100 dollars or euros per spin, setting off the adventure.

The paytable is packed with essential details, starting with the symbols. Lower-value symbols include standard playing card royals from J to A, alongside symbols like popcorn and a milkshake that occupy the mid-tier category. High-value symbols feature 3D glasses, a microwave, and the Gremlins Logo, the latter offering the biggest regular payout of 25 times your stake when you match five. The Gremlin itself is wild, substituting for other symbols and granting 50 times the stake for a similar combination. With a competitive RTP of 96.47%, the slot appears to have a high volatility, though this isn't officially confirmed. Navigating through dead spins and minimal wins can be tricky, but with persistence, ample bonus games are eventually unlocked.

Gremlins Online Slot (Red7): Features

Central to the features is the Gizmo Bonus Symbol, found on reels 1, 3, and 5, requiring three to activate the Bonus Selector. The background shifts to a lively movie theater setting, with cheeky gremlins causing chaos in the audience. Bonus games' names will cycle on the screen until one is selected randomly for the next round. There are five intriguing bonus games available:

• Splashing Wild Free Spins : Enjoy 8 free spins, during which any wild symbols dive into the water to stack on the reel. Trigger additional spins by landing 3 more Bonus Symbols.
• Gremlin Link Free Spins : This begins with an allowance of three lives. Every spin that misses a Stripe symbol costs a life. When Stripe appears, it replenishes lives to 3. An added reel shows Gizmo multiplier symbols with x2, x3, or x5. The feature ends when lives are depleted.
• Avoid the Sun Free Spins : This feature has limitless free spins. Upon completing 8 spins, Persisting Wilds become active. These wilds stay in place when they land. A Sun symbol now comes into play, which when reaching 11, ends the feature.
• Gizmo Box Hunt : A selecting game spanning 4 levels with 9 boxes each. Open boxes to find Cash Values, 'Level Up', or 'Collect'. Progress with 'Level Up'; end the game with 'Collect'.
• No More Cash After Midnight : Players guide Gizmo along a multiplier trail to a roast turkey. Spin a wheel numbered 1-12 to advance. Landing a number moves Gizmo unless it's 12 (midnight), which ends the round, applying the current multiplier to your total bet. Multipliers can reach x100.

During the main game, water can splash on a wild symbol, causing it to multiply, reminiscent of the movie. Known as the Stripe Wilds feature, it adds random extra wilds on the reels. Additionally, with one or two Bonus Symbols, this can increase their number ( Freebie Bonus feature). Lastly, wilds might randomly turn into Bonus Symbols ( Bonus Entry feature).

Gremlins Online Slot (Red7): Verdict

One way to interpret Gremlins is through a nostalgia lens; the other is purely as a slot machine. Nostalgia-wise, Gremlins excels. The recognizable settings, characters, and music offer a heartwarming nostalgic experience. However, viewed as a slot without bias, the game falls short. There's an initial rush when the game loads up and spins begin, but repetition quickly sets in. Achieving even a line of five is challenging. It's as if Red7 has taken cues from Blueprint Gaming, attempting to replicate their branded slots but coming across as a mere imitation, especially for fans of those games.

Getting the Gizmo symbols can take a while, but the resulting bonus games are particularly engaging, notably the free spin rounds where the best returns are possible. However, unlocking them is far from easy. During the game tests, 'No More Cash After Midnight' was the most frequent bonus, though with only a top prize of 100 times the stake, it doesn't offer much incentive. Red7 has limited potential wins in a single session to 250,000, seeming more a technical restriction than an achievement goal. Fully covering the grid with wilds can yield up to 1,000 times the stake, albeit difficult to achieve.

Have Gremlins relied too heavily on their brand for success? Maybe. Nonetheless, the game provides moments of fun when luck and perseverance align. Test sessions suggested more frustration than thrill. Perhaps our expectations were set too high. All in all, Gremlins delivers an adequate, albeit slightly underwhelming experience. As with all branded games, if the subject holds personal significance, it's hard to resist a trip down memory lane.