A warm welcome once again to another great casino slot machine review from GamblingInformation.com. I’m Ed Roberts, a big video slots fan and one of the expert editorial team here at the site responsible for research and reviews of the best online casinos.
In this review we’re going to be looking at a modern take on classic “pub” slot machines from the market leading software giant, NetEnt. Mega Joker is a superb looking game and gives a fantastic mix between the new technology of video slots, and old school electro-mechanical games from the past. I’ll be showing you the ins and outs of the game, as well as some hints and tips on how to get the most from your time with Mega Joker.
About “Mega Joker” Slot Machine
As I’ve already hinted, Mega Joker is a visual treat of a game. If you can remember those great looking (and great sounding) “fruit machines” that were popular in pubs and arcades up and down the country then you’re going to love this one.
This is a lovely 3 reel slot game with a traditional look and feel. It’s great for beginners or casual gamers because the minimum coin size is only £0.10, but it’s also fun for those with a little deeper pockets because the maximum is £1.00 with a 10 coin per spin limit. Even better than that, this games gives you access to not one but two progressive jackpots. To see a classic style slot game with modern features like that is rare indeed, and NetEnt deserve big credit for daring to pull it off.
Visually this game is very nice indeed – and very authentic. Symbols are all the vintage classics including lucky 7’s, bells, lemons, cherries, melons, and more – as well as the Joker himself of course. To go with the old school feel this machine doesn’t have any music soundtrack to accompany play, just some lovely sound effects sampled from actual old school slots of reels clunking and authentic winning sound effects.
Important Symbols
This is an area where NetEnt resisted the temptation to break with the old school vibe and use special symbols like scatter or wildcards.
Just like the pub machines Mega Joker is modeled on, you won’t find anything but the reel symbols here. Personally, I think this is the right decision – and whilst I can’t find anything scientific to back me up, it seems like this old 3-reeler lands a winning line a little more often than its more complicated modern video counterparts…
Payout Table and Win Potential
The best standard payout in the game is 2,000 coins, which you’ll win if you line up 3 chests in a row. Although that’s not much in comparison with some of the newer “all singing, all dancing” 5 reel video machines, that’s still pretty good for a simple 3 reeler.
However there’s a twist here. Mega Joker has a Super Meter mode that you can play with – and if that’s your game then you want to be seeing three Jokers in a row to get that 2,000 reward.
But what’s the difference? Well you get another chance, because in this mode lining up three 7’s will bag a 2K purse as well.
But there’s more – this game also has a progressive jackpot. The more people play, the bigger it gets, and it’s possible to win the progressive completely at random with any spin you make. Certainly tempting to put a few pounds down on this simple vintage-style game just in case it really is your lucky day.
Like all NetEnt games you can get a full payout table from the in-game settings menu – if you’re used to the complex tables with the modern 5 reel slots this one might be a little shorter than you’re used to, though!
Bonus Features
Once again – there aren’t any! Remember this is a faithful simulation of a classic electric 3 reel arcade slot. No second screen games, no bonus free spin rounds, no special accumulators. Because of this this game is actually really fun to play because any wins you have are instant, right in front of you. There’s no waiting for a bonus game to play out to see if you’ve actually won anything. I like this simplicity and I personally find this a relaxing and fun game to play because of it.
Game Settings and How to Play
Mega Joker’s simplicity means there’s only really one decision that you need to make – normal play or Super Meter mode?
In normal mode you can bet with any of the standard coin values up to the game maximum and you’ll win as per the payout table. I love the fact that there’s even a old fashioned “Collect” button to withdraw your winnings.
In Super Meter mode you need to make bigger bets, which can range from 20 all the way up to 200 coins. Any winnings get banked inside the Super Meter. Betting bigger has distinct advantages – for example, if you’re wagering 200 coins you only have to show one Joker character anywhere on all the reels to be awarded a mystery win of anything from 100 to 2000 coins.
On top of that, don’t forget the progressive. Every time you place a max bet you qualify for a chance to be the random winner of the progressive jackpot. So despite its face-value simplicity, Mega Joker actually offers a lot of chances to win.
Game controls are as simple as you’d expect, allowing you to adjust volume and see your full play history. Because there aren’t loads of 3D effects as found in the modern video slots this game runs beautifully on all devices, even slow old laptops and old mobile phones.
If you’d like to experience a great version of a traditional 3 reel slot from days gone by, try this one out for free right here on GamblingInformation.com. But remember, if those multiple chances to win have tempted you then you must sign up with a NetEnt casino and play with a bit of real money. If that’s tempted you, remember to sign up to one of the great casinos like LeoVegas or CasinoHeroes using our very own exclusive sign-up links and you’ll enjoy some superb and exclusive welcome bonuses on us. Good luck!
