Loaded Slots

Every person who rolls up to a slot machine hopes to walk away richer than when they appeared. They want, in short, to be loaded when they depart the casino – whether it’s a land-based vegas casino or online Spanish casino and every type in between. So it is that Microgaming have dubbed this five-reel, 25 payline video slot Loaded, in honour of those starry-eyed punters.

Loaded is one of the older slots in the Microgaming archive. The software developer has retained the game owing to its popularity, which has scarcely waned despite the onslaught of brand-new slots continually flooding the market. The premise of the game isn’t too nuanced, it must be said: the reels feature plenty of jewellery and swag, with a particularly urban feel. Indeed, the setting for the game could well be The Source awards ceremony.

Swag And Bling

The concept of Loaded is wealth. Every symbol connotes a different product of affluence, whether it’s in the form of a huge white mansion, a purple-and-gold Rolls-Royce, a golden turntable, a docked super yacht or a crystal-style plaque stamped with a treble clef. There are also slick character symbols including a pouting femme with an afro, a redhead female in a pink suit and cap, a brunette female with long hair partially covering her face and a pair of male gangsta rappers in chunky gold necklaces.

Loaded is considered a penny slot machine, but the jackpot is certainly not one to be sniffed at. You can hit 7,000 coins in regular play, but given the multipliers and bonuses on offer, you could potentially win up to 560,000 if all you’re ducks are in a row.

Loading Up Loaded

So that’s the concept. But what about the gameplay? On the surface, this video slot accords to Microgaming’s tried and tested formula, with five reels, 25 paylines, wild symbols and free spins. Gamers can stake between 0.01 and 0.25 per payline, meaning Loaded is paradoxically aimed at low-rollers rather than high. The maximum bet one can wager per spin is 500 coins and all wins pay left-to-right except the scatter, which pays any.

Three matching symbols in a row is enough to win you a pay-out, though naturally enough, four- and five-in-a-row combos are where the real money lies. The game’s wild symbol is the surly rapper with the red bandana who is wearing a gold chain with a triple 7 pendant. Functioning much in the manner of a traditional wild, it can replace all other symbols in the game except the scatter. The wild can also appear on any of the five reels, and comes with a 3x multiplier. The scatter icon, incidentally, is one of a hand clutching a microphone. Scatters hold the key to free spins. Simply hit three anywhere on the reels and you’ll trigger a round of free spins. Refreshingly, Loaded puts the power in your hands, letting you choose just how many free spins you want. You can either choose a dozen free spins with a 4x multiplier, 16 free spins with a 3x multiplier or 24 free spins with a 2x multiplier. It pays to play a few dummy hands for free to get used to which option brings about the best return. If you’re eager to get going, but are not sure which bonus to opt for, I’d probably recommend the median option – 16 free spins with a 3x multiplier.

The free spins bonus is a little different from those offered by most slot games, but on the downside, it cannot be re-activated during the feature itself.

Be A G And Gamble It All

If you’ve been lucky enough to match three or more symbols in a row on any of the active lines, you’ll slide straight through to the double or nothing feature. Simply guess the colour of the concealed card – black or red – to double your winnings or lose everything. Those feeling especially emboldened can repeat the procedure, resulting in a possible return of four times your initial win if you guess the correct suit.

Let’s Get Loaded

Loaded is a fun five-reel slot game with high pay-out potential. Though you might find the concept and execution to be a little stereotypical (isn’t there a better way of embodying wealth than by flashing pics of super yachts and mansions?), the gameplay itself is solid. If blind-themed slots are your thing, you’re unlikely to care that the game is a little dated: you’ll spin those reels with glee regardless and if playing for cash we recommend checking out our top reviewed Microgaming casinos.