Zuma Slot Review – A Worthy Adaptation

Basic Features

Keep in mind that while there is also a physical slot version of Zuma, the online version is NOT a port – the two are very, very different. While the physical slot is rather unique, with an interesting cross-shaped configuration that looks like something straight out of the original game, the online version sticks to a more traditional 5-reel layout. If you’ve played any other online slot before, then this one is no different. Its basic features are identical to those of most other slots, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but considering how creative its source material got, I was kind of left wishing for something a little bit more here.

Zuma Slot
		Software:	Blueprint Gaming	Double option:	Yes
		RTP:	95.00%	Mobile version:	No
		Progressive:	No	Coin value:	£0.05
		Autoplay:	Yes (Only Some Casinos)	Bet value:	£0.05 – £1000
		Quick spin:	No	Max. bet:	£1,000.00
		Reels:	5	Free spins:	yes
		Paylines:	20	Bonus round:	Yes

One thing that definitely deserves commendation and props is the art style. The visuals were inspired by the puzzle game in the best possible way – it’s immediately very clear that this is, in fact, Zuma. The Aztec influence has been preserved and expanded upon with additional symbols and images, most of which have been created specifically for the slot and not just lifted from the game like so many other licensed slots do. The pictures are all pretty, colourful, creative and distinct, and while there’s also the usual letters and numbers that we expect from most slots (from A to 9), the rest of the symbols are so well-drawn that I felt like I could forgive it just this once.

Paytable

Zuma has 13 symbols in total, which is actually quite a lot for a 20-payline slot. About half of them are letters, but the good thing about them is that they’re actually drawn and stylized in a way that doesn’t feel out of place, which isn’t something I can say for a lot of other slots. Getting 3 of those can net you 5 times your bet, while getting 5 on one of your paylines will give you 50 times your bet – so not a whole lot, but it’s better than average, I’d say. The only difference between the various letters is how much you get for lining up 4 of them, which can vary between 10 and 15 times your bet – not enough to recoup your investment when you’re playing on all 20 paylines, but it’s something.

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The real show stoppers are the mask symbols, which are all really beautiful and well-crafted. Getting 3 of these isn’t really going to give you much – 10 to 20 times your bet, which is fairly standard. Get more than that, though, and you’re in for a treat! Getting 5 in a row on one of your paylines will net you between 150 and 500 times your bet, which is really good for a smaller slot like this. Still, that doesn’t even come CLOSE to what the Zuma logo symbol (which acts as a Wild, able to substitute every symbol except for a Scatter) will give you. Getting 5 of those will reward you with 10,000 times your bet – the biggest non-jackpot win I’ve personally seen on any slot.

Bonus Rounds/Free Spins

Several slots, such as Playtech’s Gladiator and Microgaming’s Game of Thrones will allow you to gamble your winnings on luck, letting you double them if you’re lucky. The systems offered by those games are rather simplistic – you bet on one of two outcomes, and then chance decides if you’re right. As you can see, this system is rather prone to abuse – I mean, what’s to stop the computer from just picking the outcome where you lose every time? That’s why Zuma has an, in my opinion, far improved system. Instead of betting on one of two outcomes, you instead get to spin one of four wheels, each one with its own multiplier. The higher the multiplier, the lower the chance to win.

But while the “gamble” bonus feature is interesting and unique, the “free spins” bonus round is not, at all. It’s barely even there, to the point where it makes you wonder just why the developers even bothered to include it if it doesn’t really do much. When you get 3, 4 or 5 Scatter symbols (represented by the frog – the main character of Zuma), you get treated to a screen in which you need to select one of five Aztec gods. Each of them will give you a different number of free spins, but the number is entirely random – you just have to pick one and hope for the best. That’s all there is, really. It’s as bare bones of a bonus round as you can possibly get. If it were up to me, I would have created a more elaborate bonus game that pays homage to the original, because as it is it really seems like the round is just there because the game needed one. In fairness, you CAN get up to 16 spins, which is pretty good, but that doesn’t really make up for the lacklustre feature.

Experience of Playing the Slot and Other Recommended Games

If you like the original puzzle game, then “Zuma Slots” is definitely a fantastic option for you. Despite the fact that its bonus game isn’t particularly memorable or detail, the fantastic gambling option and the fun and quirky graphics, not to mention that absolutely delicious 10,000x win waiting for you more than makeup for it. Even if you’re not particularly fond of the original, this slot still offers plenty to keep anyone satisfied for a while! In case you’re looking for a different slot that has more puzzle-like elements, then I can recommend you Gonzo’s Quest without a shadow of a doubt. While not based on pre-existing puzzle games, it incorporates a lot of elements that are very common to the genre. If instead, you’re looking for something with very fun bonus games, then I’d recommend South Park – a slot classic that’s also one of the best in the genre, and a prime example of exactly how to make a good bonus round.