Introduction The Wicked Winnings series has been a staple in online casinos for years, providing players with a taste of classic slot machine gameplay combined with modern features. Released by Aristocrat Leisure Limited, also known as Playtech’s partner in the US market under license from IGT, Wicked Winnings II is the sequel to the original game released in 2009. The new installment promises even more excitement and chances for players to strike gold.
Theme As its name suggests, Wicked Winnings II revolves around a classic casino theme that resonates with many enthusiasts of old-school Wicked Winnings II slot slots. However, it’s worth noting that this is not strictly an ‘old’ slot; rather, the design takes inspiration from traditional land-based casinos and combines them with sleek visuals to create an immersive experience for modern gamers. The overall aesthetic aligns itself closely with what players have come to expect from top-tier online games – simplicity and ease of use combined with intriguing visual effects.
Design Visually speaking, Wicked Winnings II is built on a simple yet effective premise: it’s comprised entirely of the classic reel symbols players know all too well – diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs, bells, bars, sevens, cherries, and an ornate wooden door that pays out handsomely. But don’t let this straightforward presentation fool you; beneath its surface lies a level of intricacy not often seen in such timeless themes.
Symbols The base game relies on the classic symbols any experienced player will recognize immediately: bars (2-5x), cherry (10-50x multipliers for three, four or five appearing respectively), lemons and oranges are absent from this particular version, while sevens hold a specific significance with higher wins – 25-200 times your stake in single coin wins.
In Wicked Winnings II we find that most symbols can award wins starting at $2 to up to $20 times the total bet per symbol combination when they appear consecutively on reels two through five, excluding Wilds and free spins awards from influencing this outcome as both have their respective roles outlined below.
Payout The payout structure is typical of classic slots; there are some surprises hidden within Wicked Winnings II’s paylines. The slot machine features a total of 5 x WinLines (paylines) to offer players the chance for multiple wins per spin. Payouts are generated from left to right, except Scatter which pays both ways.
Here is an example of payouts based on combinations in winning lines: Single Coin – Lines:
- Cherries or Lemons: $2-$1000 x stake
- Orange (3-5) / Fruit Combo 2 and/or Bar (4/5): $20.00-$50,000 x stake
Wilds In a welcome departure from the norm for its time of release – released in March 2011 – Wild symbols allow substitution only on reels two through five; there aren’t any instances where it will expand or go wild elsewhere which can be an issue with this particular machine.
Additionally there is no progressive jackpot but players hoping to walk away victorious will look towards its free spin round offering multiple features such as bonus rounds and guaranteed wins of at least x25 the bet – an enticing possibility indeed for those looking forward to their next win.
Scatters The Wicked Winnings II game comes equipped with scatter symbols: a ‘W’ (which is Wild) appears only in this second iteration along its namesake logo appearing on reels 1,3 & 5 respectively as stated previously under wild. To clarify there are indeed three wilds – two of which aren’t represented but we’re focusing here. These unique scatters come together forming a W when positioned correctly.
Bonus Features While offering fewer than many online games available currently within the same genre this slot still boasts an impressive feature set, with more than one surprise waiting around each corner. There are four unique types of symbols – which appear only on specific reels throughout gameplay They help you build up 20 extra free spins where no matter how much your next bet is it will be multiplied by ten during the bonus round – adding both excitement as well as opportunities. These are then joined in play from single coins but may contain ‘Guaranteed Win’ versions giving you either of two guaranteed wins upon entry depending on a prior combination found; another interesting choice awaits you.
Free Spins The most notable feature, one that takes the cake when compared to its predecessor – and all other slot games offering this feature within their own set of symbols – free spins can grant extra life onto those particular reels providing even better chances at striking gold while participating. Although they don’t function like progressive jackpots we still managed several wins in what seems an abundance throughout different tries.
RTP Playtech states that the slot machine offers 95,01% RTP making it competitive against many other casino games but let’s not get too far ahead here yet – before we dive any deeper into gameplay there are some slight specifications which can greatly impact how enjoyable this experience is overall so be sure you know what awaits.
Volatility This particular game can fit anywhere in between low and high since it offers players the freedom to play lower stakes up until $500 max. But for those new to slots who don’t wish to commit financially prior, they’ll find several levels of volatility which could influence decisions made per session or so we believe based on data found after hours spent trying different strategies without significant luck.
Betting Range Another important aspect players should pay close attention too – because just like any online game offering multiple denominations there exists both single- and multi-coins, a system also known simply by the term ‘bet levels’ within slot terminology where amounts can range from $1 up until as high as ten dollars. Although we didn’t feel need to use higher amounts during our analysis periods they will definitely prove useful should you find yourself growing comfortable with betting sizes on hand over time.
Max Win For seasoned veterans and those alike interested in the maximum amount achievable – it doesn’t exceed twenty five thousand times total wagers placed within respective sessions combined but don’t worry if we missed a thing as we did here there are plenty chances available through different gameplay strategies like taking part throughout ‘free spin’ rounds which can pay out significantly due to the possibility of multiple awards each turn and guaranteed payouts even without winning combinations appearing anywhere else.
Gameplay We observed Wicked Winnings II has made several adjustments from its previous release, some positive while others had room for growth based solely off playstyle feedback & internal observations done during extended testing periods; which showed us there’s no real difficulty at all within obtaining regular pay-outs – an obvious change indicating that players might benefit much more this time round.
Mobile Play As mentioned earlier one of its main attractions lies in allowing compatibility across various mobile operating systems for gamers who prefer portability, although some might say it lacks the overall excitement experienced via full computer screen setup there’s nothing wrong with choosing whichever way suits them best – both options included here should fit perfectly within any gamer’s needs.
Player Experience Overall experience felt pretty good considering how simple and uncluttered all elements were presented. Perhaps due to its more straightforward presentation this game could turn out easier for those trying classic slots but without a clear progressive jackpot in view they still maintained interest levels we found.
Now looking at what separates it from other titles released by similar companies today some might say that although not the best developed compared others available within same sub-genre; perhaps even less so than a lot of others yet despite minimal differences between them its user-friendly interface provides several benefits which compensate sufficiently.
Conclusion Wicked Winnings II brings plenty to the table with more ways to play while providing opportunities unlike older slots, keeping excitement going round after round at varying stakes – in spite of minor issues encountered here & there during gameplay. For both newcomers looking for an authentic experience or those interested in a slot that will grow on you gradually over time without breaking bank (considering payout ratios) – try this title out today if you wish something classic yet with improvements.
We’re grateful to Playtech/IGT’s licensing agreement allowing us coverage opportunities, we cannot verify accuracy of numbers used above – please be aware and use them only for entertainment purposes.