Island 2 Slot
It’s bigger, it’s better, and it’s packing plenty of punch, from the Russian-based developer Igrosoft comes the sequel to the original Island casino video slot game.
What do you think of when you hear the word “island”? Do you imagine beautiful beaches, boundless sunshine, and the gentle sound of waves crashing upon the shoreline? In a surprise twist, Island 2 actually veers away from such images and sticks closer to a Long John Silver-type theme, if the salty sailor (who has only three toes, by the way) lounging on the boat is any indication.
The gameplay has a charming retro feel to it and it certainly boasts a more basic appearance, but that actually makes it come off as a game that you would find on a casino website circa 2001. This is alone actually makes Island 2 quite an endearing title in today’s all-action animate affair. The credentials are all there, but does Island 2 have enough skill to bring it all together in one concise slots package?
8-bit Brilliance
The game’s animations and 8-bit sound effects are decidedly retro – if you heard this game’s sound effects without any context, you’d probably assume it was coming from an old NES game. The visuals are basic and lack any sort of superfluous flair – the menu buttons on the bottom flash sequentially in a tantalising pattern that advertises the riches that await you.
The menu is laid out in an intuitive manner and the characters on the bottom can occasionally be seen performing a variety of amusing animations. The game’s visual design is pretty basic to be sure, but some people may actually like that. The symbols on the reels consist of standard nautical fare, including dolphin, seagulls, a note in a bottle and the like. The background consists of little more than an endless expanse of water.
Lost At Sea
From a gameplay standpoint, Island 2 offers just nine paylines. That’s not really an issue considering that Island 2 lets you bet up to 25 coins per line, giving you the chance to bet as many as 225 coins per spin! Oddly enough, you cannot adjust the coin denominations – there is but one value that cannot be changed.
On the bottom are switches to change the number of paylines active (available only in odd numbers), the pay table, the game in play, as well as the option to bet the minimum or maximum in a single click. There is an auto-spinner available, and quite pleasantly it doesn’t just stop at an arbitrary point – it keeps spinning until you tell it to stop, offering a degree of control not often seen in other video slots games. There are wild and scatter symbols in play as well.
Take A Trip To The Island
Island 2 lacks a progressive jackpot and opportunities to win free spins. That said, in spite of its no-frills appearance, Island 2 actually offers quite a few opportunities to win prizes.
First off, there is a crazy 5,000-coin base jackpot in place – just line up five “Island!” symbols to win! Second, there is a score multiplier. And finally, the game offers two bonus games to play. The first one is offered any time you get a win – you can pick from a selection of cards, and if your card’s combined value is higher than the dealer’s then you double anything you’ve won. Beware though; you lose everything if it’s less.
The second round is triggered if you get at least three island symbols on any active pay lines. The sailor lounging on the boat on the bottom will try to swim to the island out in the distance. If he makes it, you win a big prize. But if he gets caught in a trap, then you win nothing.
An Island Retreat
With a visual style that harkens back to the days of the Internet’s formative growth phase and gameplay that’s deeper than meets the eye, Island 2 might just surprise you with everything that it offers. The interface is super-easy to use and the game doesn’t include a lot of weird gimmicks or features that complicate matters. When playing this game, you get the idea that the makers wanted to return to the roots of the series while adding in a few flairs to make it unique and interesting.
While it might not look impressive, Island 2 offers easy gameplay and big bets that will appeal to both casual and hardcore players alike. If you are looking for something new and interesting to play, make Island 2 your next slots game of choice.
