The release of slot games based on popular movies is not uncommon in the online gaming industry. Games such as ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ and ‘Bugs Bunny – Wild Mushroom Slots’ are just two examples where movie tie-ins have led to well-designed slots. In this review, we will delve into one such game: Chicken Run by Microgaming.
Theme
The slot Chicken Run is based on the 2000 computer-animated comedy film of the same name directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park. The story revolves around a group of chickens who hatch an escape plan to reach England from a farm owned by a menacing rooster, Mrs. Tweedy. In this adaptation for slot machine gameplay, players take on the role of these brave hens as they attempt to outrun their pursuers.
Design
Chicken Run’s design follows Microgaming’s typical template but with distinct features that tie back to its movie theme. The game’s layout includes 5 reels and 3 rows with up to 243 ways to win, meaning players have a relatively high number of combinations available when they spin the reels.
Players begin by choosing their bet from the game’s control panel. There are no customizable betting options like different coin values or paylines; however, Microgaming slots often utilize this ‘ways to win’ system which has become standard in modern slot machines. Each option corresponds with a specific stake size and multiplier applied throughout gameplay.
Symbols
As expected from a movie-themed game, the symbols take on their character-based personas. The primary icons include:
- Ginger (the protagonist)
- Rocky
- Mrs. Tweedy
- The Colonel
Lower-paying symbols represent various farm-related objects like baskets of eggs, carrots, and even hens pecking at corn.
Payouts
The payout structure mirrors those seen in other Microgaming slots: progressive multipliers awarded on a winning combination as the multiplier increases with each consecutive non-winning spin. In addition to Ginger offering 10 coins for five-of-a-kind, higher-value characters are rewarded according to their rarity:
- Rocky – up to 50 coins
- Mrs. Tweedy – up to 100 coins
- Colonel (scatters)
These values may seem low considering the complexity of some modern slots; however, remember that payouts increase in line with staking.
Wilds
Ginger acts as a wild symbol for this game and can replace all lower-paying symbols except scatters when part of a winning combination. Wild substitutions help significantly since they’re quite common throughout gameplay, contributing to more wins.
Scatters & Bonus Features
Players will find the Colonel on each reel – these act as scatters in Chicken Run and initiate free spins. Collect three or four (reel positions) for bonus rounds offering 10x -25x multiplier payouts based upon an initial spin before rewards begin.
When the player lands five scatter symbols of any character, it activates a re-spin round with higher multipliers up to x1000 than other features provide; but each additional symbol merely resets the game back onto normal payline format after completion.
Free Spins
Collecting two scatters unlocks free spins. The amount granted depends on how many characters are visible when this feature triggers – here is where players may face a significant setback: 3 Ginger symbols award up to ten bonus rounds while having four (and even five) lead only ten times fewer.
During each round, wilds expand across reels providing substantial help in the quest for more coins. There’s no limit on free spins other than those triggered when they hit the required amount again.
RTP
The return-to-player percentage sits at approximately 96%, an impressive figure but somewhat offset by its lower-end bet range and less diverse symbol distribution compared to games offering bonus rounds within gameplay itself.
Volatility
Chicken Run displays moderate variance levels throughout – players can expect more consistent results rather than large swings from round to round when wagering smaller amounts; whereas increased bets contribute to enhanced probabilities for winning combinations landing, thus potentially improving chances of receiving bigger payouts due purely statistical reasons alone
Betting Range
The game does not cater well to lower budgets since maximum coin value per line lies at 50 and only three bet sizes (x2- x5) exist within a broad range that encompasses almost all types of gamblers regardless their available capital amount on hand. So those seeking higher-value betting options should look elsewhere, unless obviously Microgaming releases an update which includes these.
Max Win
It’s possible for players to achieve substantial sums from individual combinations depending upon the bet size applied at time when said combination occurs – though no top jackpot exists; progressive multipliers help generate wins reaching maximum amount achievable as shown in slot settings window.