In its latest slot game, Crazy Tooth Studio invites players to the skies for a balloon ride with The Incredible Balloon Machine. This unusual title may throw many fans for a loop because it completely lacks a grid or reels.
Crazy Tooth Studio is known for pushing the boundaries of the slot gaming world. The Incredible Balloon Machine not only pushes those boundaries, it throws them to the wind.
| The Incredible Balloon Machine Slot Summary | |
|---|---|
| Software Provider | Microgaming and Crazy Tooth Studio |
| Payline Number | 0, new game type |
| RTP | 96.75% |
| Minimum Bet | $0.20 |
| Maximum Bet | $50.00 |
| Wild Symbol | No |
| Scatter Symbol | No |
| Bonus Features | WiNCREASE, Multiplier, Pick Bonus |
| Jackpot | 3,082x bet |
Symbols and Winning Combinations of The Incredible Balloon Machine Slot
One of the first things you’ll notice about The Incredible Balloon Machine is a distinct lack of design features. Gameplay takes place against a backdrop of a blue sky where clouds meander lazily across the screen. The main play area is enclosed by uninspiring bronze latticework, and the most interesting graphic on the screen is the bronze pipe apparatus that holds the spin button and pressure gauge.
As for gameplay, The Incredible Balloon Machine deviates from the traditional slot by doing away with the grid and reels entirely. The familiar setup is replaced by a central spin button, a pressure gauge, and balloons to inflate. You play by holding the spin button to inflate a balloon. Once the pressure gauge reaches the yellow section, your wager is placed. From there, numbers appear on the surface of the balloon, and the aim is to inflate it as much as possible and click the ‘Collect’ button before it pops. The bigger your balloon gets, the more you win. This is the WiNCREASE feature at work.
This may sound simple; however, each balloon has a random popping point. You will also encounter many dead spins: moments when the balloon pops before reaching the wager stage of inflation. These elements counter potential strategies of consecutively collecting small wagers. This gameplay style is repetitive at best and frustrating at worst.
The music also left a lot to be desired. The backing track is a jazz-funk drum line interspersed with the release of a steam valve. Overall, the music felt out of place with the game’s setting, and we ended up muting it.
Bonus Features of The Incredible Balloon Machine Slot
Thankfully, The Incredible Balloon Machine does have a couple of special features to break up the monotony.
The multiplier feature triggers randomly during base gameplay: a series of light bulbs numbered x2, x3, x4, x5, x7, and x10 appears on the screen and lights up until one is highlighted. The selected multiplier is then applied to your win, so you can score big if you’re lucky enough to land a high one.
The second special feature is the Pick Bonus mini-game. This feature can also trigger at random during base gameplay when a black or gold balloon appears. Regardless of whether it pops or inflates to full size, the mini-game will start. You’re led to a new screen where you choose one balloon from several on-screen. Once clicked, your chosen balloon will reveal a prize, which may be credits or a multiplier. Balloons can also reveal the text ‘Advance,’ which leads you to the next level, or ‘Continue,’ which ends the mini-game and returns you to the base game.
Verdict
Despite its 96.75% RTP and medium volatility, The Incredible Balloon Machine is a relatively low earner even with the multipliers and enticing wins of up to 3,082 times the bet.
We felt that, despite its unique gameplay, The Incredible Balloon Machine does not live up to the potential inherent in its innovative approach. This slot quickly became a repetitive chore with too few features to offset the tedium.
The Incredible Balloon Machine is a definite miss for us. However, if you would like to try your hand at balloon inflating, we recommend playing the demo version first to avoid spending coins unnecessarily.