In medieval royal courts and town squares, just as in table and casino games, jokers have always enjoyed a special status. Their roles may differ a bit and their jokes may not be equally funny, but Vegas jokers are certainly a breed of their own and a very special kind of this popular jester figure. The same is true about Vegas Joker by GAMOMAT, Powered by Bragg, a joker-themed game that stands out from the rest. Let's see how and why.
General Overview
Vegas Joker is a low-volatility game played on a 3x3 grid with 5 paylines, which is already quite telling: the game is inspired by traditional slots in which simplicity is key. The low-paying symbols are taken from card games and correspond to each of the four card suits: clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds. Mid-paying symbols are bars and bells, while sevens are top-paying ones. The only symbol with multiple roles and functions in the game is the joker.
First, it counts as wild and expands across the entire reel. Second, each joker gets a random multiplier of up to 5x, and if you land more of them, they are multiplied together to up to 60x. Last but not least, they can deliver wins just like a value symbol: multiple wilds on one line count as a combo of top-paying sevens if this is the highest win on this line. And that's not even all: if landing a joker symbol does not result in a win, it remains in position and automatically triggers a one-time respin on the other reels to give you another shot at scoring a win.
Artwork and Appearance
Visually, the game is streamlined, stripped to the basics, and devoid of needless bells and whistles that can distract from core slot action. The grid is placed on a harlequin-patterned background in purple and fuchsia, and trimmed in gold just like all game symbols. Amusing animations occur when joker wilds land, while all game sounds are smooth, nonabrasive and pleasing to the ear, especially the sound of reels stopping never feels unpleasantly mechanical but soft, short and sweet. This latter is perhaps the most common slot game element a player experiences spin after spin after spin, which makes it all the more important: would you play an engaging slot with annoying and grating sounds? Neither would we. All these game design choices are deliberate and align with the traditional slot design that's been time-proven and works like a charm, showing that the studio understands its players and caters to their expectations down to a tee.
Features and Mechanics
Speaking of features, there isn't a lot to explain and that's actually a good thing. With a 3x3 grid and one special/functional symbol, the gameplay inevitably becomes quite straightforward, which appeals to fans of classic machines and traditional slot action unburdened by excessive functionalities, extra features and other trappings. The player simply tries to land 3 matching symbols, preferably top-paying ones, and looks forward to landing joker wilds. They drive excitement and expectation in this game as they don't just help create winning combos, but also boost them with their multipliers.
There are, however, two mini-games you can play which are optional and skippable: the card gamble and the risk ladder gamble, hallmarks of this distinguished studio as they are present in all their releases. The first one is a simple double-or-nothing: guess the color of the next card from the deck to double your win - or lose it if you guess wrong; while the second one takes you up and down a ladder with increasing and decreasing payouts. Wins can also be split with one half safely secured and the other half gambled, cash out at any time, and the entire procedure can also be skipped entirely. Needless to say, the card gamble, especially after a few lucky guesses, can turn out to be very powerful and could significantly multiply your wins. Since this is an optional feature, slot purists are able to simply skip it, while everyone else can happily try their luck, diversify their gameplay session and further boost their payouts.
Our Final Verdict
In a sea of slots overflowing with features and whatnot, developers who know how to keep it simple and fun unavoidably stand out with their games. They have confidence in their titles, as well as in the pure and unadulterated pleasure only core slot action can provide. It's a recipe that's been entertaining players for more than a century now because it simply works - just like this back-to-the-roots title that draws from the best original casino games offer. It's the kind of title that can make both operators and players laugh - all the way to the bank. Simple makes perfect, as the saying goes, and this applies to Vegas Joker as well.
