Judo Ferret Slot
Even without glancing at the graphics or bothering to familiarise yourself with the storyline, there’s no disputing that Judo Ferret is a great name for a game – any game.
In this case, it’s a video slot game, one from NuWorks, and while in action it proves more pedestrian than its title might suggest, there are still plenty of positives to playing it, positives that extend to more than merely boosting your bank balance.
Makers NuWorks aren’t known for creating the most beautiful of games and the sound effects they deploy aren’t much to shout about either. The genius of the company lies in the features and jackpots they pack into their slots.
Their 5-reel slots are deceptively feature-filled. On first glance, there’s nothing special going on. Start spinning the reels however and a world of happenings sucks you in and spits you out hours later, exhausted but elated. At least that’s the plan...
The Asian Persuasion
NuWorks describe their 5-reel, 25-line slot as having ‘an Asian theme’, because ferrets are obviously synonymous with all things Asian. The judo connection in fairness makes sense; the ferret doesn’t make sense in any context, but it doesn’t matter – since when have slots had to make sense?
Aside from a preponderance of Asian-style lettering, of the straight-line sort that might be scrawled with a stick of charcoal, the game has a backdrop that includes Chinese characters and which could possibly be a temple of some sort. The detail doesn’t matter – it’s what’s at the top of the screen that counts.
That’s where you’ll find the game’s jackpots – that’s jackpots in the plural, because Judo Ferret has more than one. In fact, it has 3. Why 3 jackpots? Because they can and because specifying multiple pots is a trick that NuWorks are fond of. On the top left you’ll be able to discern the value of the major jackpot, while to the right you can make out the value of the minor and mini jackpots. The jackpots pay out at random so there’s no real way of knowing when they might drop. All you can do is spin the reels, cross your fingers and pray it’s your lucky day.
Take Control
The controls across the bottom of the screen, below the reels, are laden with buttons and options of all kinds. Above the green spin button there’s a speed control with 5 settings to hasten or slow the reels as you see fit. There are also controls for setting the number of active paylines – 1-25 – and the maximum bet per line. The autoplay button has 3 options below it, allowing you to specify 5, 10 or 25 auto spins.
To access the rules and help section, look for the vertical button concealed to the far left of the reels. To the far right, its counterpart links to the paytable.
Creature Features
As if ferrets wasn’t enough, there are other creatures to contend with in Judo Ferret – look out for a squirrel and a chipmunk joining in. Other symbols include a gong, punch bag and belt, in keeping with the game’s martial arts theme. The remainder of the symbols is made up of playing card values – 9, 10, J, Q, K and A. The game’s protagonist, the judo ferret himself, serves as the wild symbol and will substitute for all other playing symbols except for scatter.
The scatter symbols goes to the gong. It can appear anywhere on the reels and has the power to triple any winnings. Land 3 gongs anywhere in view and you’ll activate the game’s bonus feature. This is where the martial arts aspect of the game comes into play. Deploying a format they’ve also used in Duel of the Deep, NuWorks will require you to select a fighter, in this case to play for free slot spins.
The number of spins you win can range from 6-15, a figure which will be boosted with a multiplier of 2-5, according to the number of scatters you initially landed. Retrigger the feature during free spins mode and you’ll be awarded 5 free games with the original multiplier attached.
The other feature NuWorks have built into Judo Ferret is a grouped wilds bonus. This will be awarded if the judo ferret symbol appears on all the reels. Judo Ferret isn’t the best game NuWorks have released, but the bonus feature is great fun and with 3 jackpots up for grabs, you’ve got a triple incentive to give it a shot.
