Now this Wombat cannot tell a lie, the Bar-X Hot Spins slot title from Electrocoins and Inspired conjures up all sorts of promise, right? I have just discovered what this game is about… maximising the fun meter to number 10.
This game leaps straight from the Inspired Gaming slot cupboard of fun with a homage to fruit machine gaming.
Don’t expect free spins or the classic bonus game that are the usual fare of the slot world. Head to a game like the Jingle Spin slot or even Jungle Spirit if that’s what you’re after. Here there’s a single horse to chase, the Hot Spins Bonus game. Buckle up wombat fans, there’s fun to be had!
Look and Feel
Screenshot
This game has a look that’s straight off a pub fruit machine with clear bright icons that are the timeless fare of many a good fruit machine the world around. It’s a retro vibe that’s on show here and that’s what you’re here for my pals. Think of the Shopping Spree slot and add a few more bar symbols and you’ll be close.
Okay wombat fans, so I’m going to hold my paws up with a teeny bit of exasperation, a rare thing from this furry game lover, but just be ready for the slot’s repetitive electronic sound effects. You’ll be wondering whether you have a tick in your ear listening to this lot. My top tip, silence the sound effects or at least lower the volume! In the game’s defence, it’s trying to be a traditional slot.
Bar-X Hot Spins Gameplay
Bar X Hot Spins is played over three rows, five reels and ten pay lines, just like the Shamrock lock slot machine which is also from Inspired Gaming.
Not only that, but this fruity game will play like a dream across all your devices. You can up or lower your bet with a simple toggle icon-so far so easy.
The high-value symbol to keep a look out for is a mega golden BAR icon: five on an active pay-line will have you dancing with joy with a 250x your-wager prize. That’s good enough to have me warming up the barbie coals and inviting the mates over.
Next up is a fancy gold X, then a white and black BAR symbol and a red X icon. These high-scoring icons will give you wins worth between 5x and 40x your wager if you play your reels right.
The lower value icons of the card deck are the Jack through King and then a blue and red lucky number 7.
The Wild is an eye-catching pink number set against a subtle gold background.
Hot Spins Bonus
To trigger the big money bonus action you need to secure a line win that’s greater than 4x your wager.
The reels will expand from five reels to four separate sets of reels each with five mini reels. In this mode, you can opt to go gung-ho and gamble your winnings, or if you’re playing it safe you can choose to collect and end the feature. What can I say, the best stuff comes in small packages.
During the Hot Spins mode, a Wild can appear on the third reel alone, and when this happens it is replicated across the other set of reels to hopefully push your win into the stratosphere. Nice work Inspired Gaming!
If you love to sit back and enjoy the view then hit the Auto-play button (this is not available in all jurisdictions such as the UK) and you can dial in up to 100 spins while you try and cash in.
The other cool feature here is that you can increase your wager “Bet Up” to eliminate some of the lower-paying symbols from the reels.
Spin Chance
Spin Chance is a nifty feature that sets off if your balance goes below the current bet level, but is still greater than zero.
Spin Chance offers you the chance to bet your remaining as an additional spin at your current bet level.
To start the feature, select ‘PLAY’ to start moving the pointer along the meter. Or click the ‘NO THANKS’ button to exit proceeding with your remaining balance.
If the pointer comes to rest on the green segment, you get a spin at the current bet. If the pointer stops on red, you lose your remaining credit.
Wombat Summary
Bar X Hot Spins is a timeless slot that will take you on a time warp to the time of fruit machine gaming on big old one-armed bandit machines. It’s so traditional, that you can even hit your space bar to set the reels in motion (why did they ever get rid of this feature in newer slots anyway?)
The Hot Spins bonus, the replicating Wild and miniature reels spice things up in this traditional game.
And let’s face it, the big appeal is those line wins of up to 250x your wager. A retro classic with some fun moves.
Wombat Score: 4 out of 5
Great for a nostalgic taste of yesteryear gaming.