Big Red Lantern
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Reels:
5
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Bonus Features:
Yes
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Coin Values $/£/€:
0.01-5.00
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Max Coins:
1
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Max Per Spin $/£/€:
5.00
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Winning Lines:
243
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Wild Symbol:
Yes
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Scatter:
Yes
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Progressive:
No
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Software:
Bally
A Classic Asian Slot with All-Reels Play
The lanterns that this slot is themed on have a distinctive Asian look – as do all the symbols. Some of these are detailed. You will find traditional drums on the reels, along with a dragon and a red envelope containing coins. Fu babies play an important role. These are wild symbols, which can make a big difference when all-ways play is used.
In terms of game-play, this slot uses the basic free spins bonus. You’ll need at least 3 of the big red lanterns from the title to trigger this. Those same lanterns can help you trigger a big win.
Reel-Ways Setup of Big Red Lantern
This slot dispenses with win-lines. While ‘reel-ways’ sounds like it might be an interesting new setup, it is an all-ways system. This means that consecutive symbols, and not win-lines are key to triggering prizes. You need 3+ consecutively from the left. Individual wins are smaller when this setup is used. You make up for this by having the potential to hit up to 243 wins in a single spin. Symbols do come stacked on the reels. This will help to make those multi-line wins more frequent.
You can spin all these winning combinations from 50c and up. If you bet higher, it will be in increments of 50c. Individual casinos will set the max bet.
Traditional Winning Symbols
There are a lot of Asian themed slots out there, though few use symbols as traditional as these. The higher paying symbols have coloured backgrounds, while the lower paying symbols do not. This does help to see whether you have a bigger win or a smaller one. A nice touch with Big Red Lantern is that there are no playing card filler symbols. At the same time, having a lot of unique symbols does give the reels a crowded look and feel.
Golden dragons, standing proud and looking stern, are among the highest payers. This is joined by an elaborate looking circular pagoda, and the golden envelope with coins coming out. Those coins have the square removed from the bottom. Lowe paying symbols include the traditional drum with red ribbons coming out of the side.
Fu Baby Wilds
In any all-ways setup, wilds have an extra-important role. They can connect groups of symbols, often helping to trigger multiple win-lines at the same time. A Fu Baby (a traditional pale baby with distinctive make up) is the wild in this game. This will substitute for every symbol except for the big red lanterns, which are the special bonus symbols.
Red Lanterns Trigger Free Spins
In most slots, 3 bonus symbols anywhere on the reels will trigger the bonus. Big Red Lantern from Bally does things differently. This bonus symbol needs to be on consecutive reels from the left. You get 10 free spins with 3 of them – and some big cash prizes if you are lucky enough to hit more.
Other than some music and faster game-play. This bonus game is identical to the base game. You can trigger for more spins, and the total that you have won will be counted up on the top left corner above the reels.
Detailed Traditional Asian Design
Compared to many free slots, the symbols are super-detailed. There is not much around the reels, with only red squares either side which say ‘reel ways’. The background of the reels is a beige colour, perhaps representing an ancient Chinese scroll.
Lanterns are the stand out symbol. These have been designed in a striking red colour with a green background. This contrasts with the other slots, which are in golds and blues. These, like all the symbols, land with a distinctive clicking sound – emulating the mechanical slots of days gone by.
The pagoda symbol also stands out. This has a flame effect behind it, which could be a vivid setting sun. Overall, the symbols are top quality. Having no ‘fillers’ does give the game a crowded feel, though it does not take too long to tune into the action. In addition to the clicks, you’ll get some jingles and traditional Asian sounds, for example a gong being struck.
Will the Big Red Lantern Land You Some Good Fortune?
The Big Red Lantern slot machine uses a tried and tested formula. Asian symbols, with wilds in the base game and a free spins bonus round is the ‘bread and butter’ of Far Eastern slot gaming. Reasons to play include the high-quality production. There is a shot at some big wins. Wilds, combined with an all-ways wins system always gives you potential.