Badlands Bounty Slot Machine

There’s something stirring way out west. There’s trouble brewing, a storm coming, and if you know what’s best for you, you’ll stay well out of the way. But if you won’t heed this warning, at least proceed with caution.

Ah, Badlands Bounty. This is a proper slot that throws in all the tropes you’d expect of a Western adventure set in a lawless 19th century outpost. The game comprises clean, minimal design with a sparse soundtrack that nevertheless sets the tone nicely.

A twang of a guitar is all it takes and suddenly you’re out there, kicking sand from your spurs and listening out for the hiss of rattlesnakes.

A Bounty of Gold

Badlands Bounty unfolds within a 3 x 3 framework, but eagle-eyed players will spot the addition of a fourth reel on the right hand side. What’s this? That’s the bonus reel. Every time you roll the reels, the bonus reel spins to show the multiplier that will kick in should you notch a win on the main 3 reels. This could be a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5x bonus, depending on how charitable the game’s feeling.

While the action unfolds across the 3+1 reels, in the background a sand-strewn gully, flanked by rocky outcrops, nicely sets the scene. In these badlands, the only thing you can rely on is your trusty sharp-shooter. Judging by the bullet holes punched into the Badlands Bounty sign, you’re not the only one who’s packing heat out here.

Wanted Dead or Alive

Before you can chase down outlaws and administer a bout of restorative justice, there’s a few formalities to conclude, like setting your maximum bet. This can range anywhere from 0.10 to 10. Even with the maximum bet selected, this isn’t a high stakes game, let’s be honest. Still, as with any slot, it’s now how much you wager – it’s how much you win.

With persistence, there’s gold to be won on Badlands Bounty alright. Other in-game options include the ability to adjust the speaker, ambient and effect volume and, more intriguingly, to select fast game play, perfect for those who are perennially in a hurry. There’s also an autoplay option, tucked away on the bottom left of the screen, where players can select the number of hands to be auto spun.

Good Games Demand Bad Men

Among the various symbols to be spotted on the reels is a wanted poster of a bowler hat-wearing man named Sean. He’s just one of the outlaws you’ll be required to chase down as the game develops. The others comprise Pedro, a Mexican in a sombrero, and Jack, who sports a fedora. You can do anything you like in Badlands Bounty so long as you do it while wearing a hat.

The paytable reveals the value of the various gaming symbols. At first glance, these values look derisory. 0.50 for 3 aces? 2 for 3 Jacks or Pedros? 5 for Seans? Is that it?

Nope, that’s not it. You see, every win you score will then be multiplied by the value of the corresponding bonus displayed on the fourth reel. If that’s a 5x multiplier, your winnings will suddenly start to look more respectable.

Besides, there are other ways to walk away with your honour intact and your pockets bulging in Badlands Bounty. The bonus symbol will see to that. A gold sheriff's star, the symbol is prone to appearing anywhere and at any time on the bonus reel, whereupon the earnings can begin in earnest. When the sheriff star appears, every Sean, Pedro and Jack visible on the reels will be awarded a random prize.

Risk and Reward

It’s impossible to have reward without a little risk. In Badlands Bounty, that comes in the form of a card gamble. With this feature activated, click on the Gamble button, where players are obliged to bet on the colour of the next card, red or black. Get this right and it’s possible to continue the sequence up to a maximum win of 140.

It’s a similar story with the ladder gamble feature, in which the player has to step up the ladder or land on a lower value step. Once again, up to 140 can be won in this way.

Badlands Bounty isn’t the most complicated of slots, but its 3-reel plus 1 bonus reel configuration makes for some nice little wins that can gradually add up to a decent-sized pot. The stakes may be low, but there’s still money to be made and fun to be had chasing down outlaws in rattlesnake county.