Feng Shen Slot Machine
Feng Shen is an Asian themed game, with an atmospheric oriental setting. It’s made up of 20 paylines, 5 rows and 3 reels and filled with a sense of mystery and adventure. The design sports an impressive animated spin action, and graphics that jump to life with every twist and turn.
This slot is not primarily for the English speaking market, though. All the words are written in Chinese (presumably Mandarin). So if you can’t read and interpret this language, you may have a bit of a struggle. That said, those familiar with slot machines will be able to fathom much of the action, as the buttons are familiar and fairly obvious. But you won’t stand a chance on the game’s instructions without an app to translate, and the game itself offers no such assistance in its settings.
Yin and Yang
Bets start at 0.1 coins and go up to 50 coins, with all 20 paylines in play throughout. Opt to use the start button manually, or activate auto spin by pressing and holding the start button (the big green one on the bottom right of the screen), as opposed to the additional auto spin button you will find in most other slots. Each win is calculated on the highest combo of 3, 4 or 5 matching symbols (shown from left to right on the reels) and with any bonuses added to your total prize. Once you score a win, it will be displayed in your total, shown on the screen throughout.
In Feng Shen, the wild is represented by the yin and yang, an ancient Chinese philosophical and religious symbol, depicting opposite and contrary forces coming together – and the basis for pop culture jewellery and posters in the 1990s. This evocative symbol substitutes for all others on the base game reels. It’s also the highest paying symbol on the board. Five of them will award you 2,000 credits.
The next highest paying symbol is the sage old Chinese gentleman with his long white beard, reminiscent of Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, played by Sir Ian McKellen. He is followed by a raven haired Chinese lady with an impressive ornate headdress. Then there’s a younger Chinese gentleman (who looks a bit like a modern day TV magician), and a brunette lady. The lower paying symbols are still pretty ferocious: a dragon (that quintessentially Chinese icon), a fiery Phoenix, a bird and a wolf creature.
Thunderbolts and Lightning
The aim is to land least 3 of the wild symbols, triggering the bonus game. Once you’ve achieved it, the screen goes appropriately wild, with ripples of lightning and thunder bursting across it in a visual spectacle that’s very impressive.
But it is not only at that point in which the animations amaze. Every time you land a combination it's quite the adventure, with each character coming to life and travelling through a small animation. Those elegant looking ladies become fearsome warriors and the animals leap into action, roaring, breathing fire and suchlike. The graphic design is truly stunning on this game, using the latest and smartest technology and there's a real sense of momentum and excitement to be had when playing it.
But, back to the feature (not the future). Once this is activated it provides an extra three rounds and a whole host of new rewards with it. Here we meet 5 symbols in the shape of coloured hieroglyphics, each with their own attached prize, enabling you to rack up the points.
Some Dreamy Tech
Feng Shen video slot features software by Dream Tech, a developer who’s only been in the market for a couple of years, but is blazing a trail no less. The up and coming software house is based in the Philippines and creates reliable games primarily for the Asian market – as is clearly evident here. There’s no download needed to get started with Feng Shen, so you can be up and running as soon as it is loaded (and the time this takes depends on your device speed and broadband connection).
Although be warned: once you’re in the game, nip off to make a cup of tea, or click on another webpage in your browser to check an incoming email and when you return, the slot will have paused and need to reload. It’s super annoying if you’re a multi tasking type, but fortunately the top class animations warrant your undivided attention. Just don’t leave it alone to answer the door.
Keeping Your Options Open
The language barrier can cause considerable confusion, so much so that Feng Shen is likely to prove far less popular outside the Asian market than within it. This game has some strong features, truly excellent graphic design, a high return to player percentage (in the region of 96%) and is a joy to play. But with so many other good oriental theme slots on the market, it’s likely that English speaking punters will go elsewhere.
If you’re into this vibe and looking for other options, you might want to consider the free Sakura Fortune slot from Quickspin. This is a 5 x 4 slot, with 40 paylines and features a warrior princess battling evil emperors. Or you could try Chinatown, for more yin and yang action and the chance to win a x 1000 jackpot and 120 times your wager in one fell swoop.
The Legends of China
The soundscape is very effective at evoking the atmosphere and folklore of the ancient Chineste dynasties. So too is the display: the reels are placed onto a grey stone mausoleum, with creepy gargoyles watching and creating a hauntingly spooky effect. In the far distance, blue skies, mountains, mist and sunshine can be seen, setting the scene of rural China in days of yore. In Feng Shen you really feel that you’ve been transported to intriguing Far Eastern lands.
Play for real money or play for free, the choice is yours. Although we would recommend you begin with some practice sessions before splashing the cash. All things considered, this is not the place to start if you’re new to slot machines. But if you’re game for adventure and up for something out of the ordinary, give Feng Shen a go.
