Haoshi Cheng Shuang Slot Machine
One of our favourite things about reviewing Chinese themed slot machines is trying to figure out what on earth the titles mean - we’re not ashamed to admit that our Mandarin skills are a little bit shoddy. Well, after a little bit of googling, we have come to the conclusion that Haoshi Cheng Shuang -the new Playtech slot machine – can be translated as “Good Things Come in a Pair”. We also found out that the slot has the same title as a 1962 Chinese rom-com flick (it’s safe to say that we won’t be adding that to our must watch list any time soon).
So, good things come in a pair. This Chinese proverb begins to make plenty of sense as soon as you start spinning the reels of the Haoshi Cheng Shuang video slot which has a unique double symbol feature in the base game. This essentially means that you can end up with ten-of-a-kind wins over the 5 reels and 30 paylines, making for some tasty prize payouts indeed. On top of that, the Playtech video slot also comes with the usual wild wins and free spins for that extra bonus boost.
Seeing Double
Normally, if you are seeing double whilst spinning a slot machine then you’ve probably had a bit too much to drink - and drinking when you gamble is probably one of the worst things you can do. However, if you see double when spinning this free Haoshi Cheng Shuang slot machine, then there is no need to worry, because the game is designed with symbols that randomly appear in pairs. These icons depict all sorts of wild creatures and flowers that are associated with Chinese culture, from lotus flowers to koi carp, peacocks and dragons.
While the game does stand out with its special twosome icons, it doesn’t do anything completely genre-defying. The symbols are fairly predictable when you compare them with other oriental games and they are rendered with some perfectly pleasant, albeit a bit ordinary illustrations. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, however, since the game is sure to strike a chord with plenty of punters by playing it safe with the design.
Ten-in-a-Row Wins
The double-icon element of this slot machine isn’t purely for aesthetic purposes. In fact, these two-in-one icons can play a significant role in the prize-winning potential of the slot by allowing players to line up anywhere between 3 and 10 matching icons over the 5 reels. So, if you find five double dragon icons, for example, you will be in for a 2,500x line bet multiplier reward. Four double dragons and a single dragon on a payline will equate to nine-of-a-kind, returning a 1,000x line bet prize. You can review all of the different prize payouts by opening up the game’s paytable.
As with any online slot, you will need to place some cash bets if you want to win some money. The wagers available begin from the minimum of 0.30 credits with the option to increase the total stake up to as much as 3,000. If you fancy giving the game a go, then you can find it online at Genting Casino with no download needed and Skrill payments accepted. Alternatively, you can play for free here to get a hang of the unique double-icon feature.
Double the Bonus Fun
On top of those double-up symbols, this slot machine offers some additional bonus elements. The first of these is the ‘Wild’ icon that can substitute for symbols to complete line wins, counting as a double when it replaces the butterfly, fish, robin, peacock or dragon icons. Five wild symbols across the reels will payout the biggest win in the game which weighs in as a 20,000x line bet multiplier. The wild icon cannot substitute for the lotus flower scatter because this symbol - which can also appear as a double - doesn’t need to abide by a payline pattern to award up to 10 free games. Find six scatter symbols to win 10 free spins, five to win 5 free spins and 4 to win a x2 total bet prize.
Oriental Slots from Playtech
The development boffins at Playtech software have been busy in recent months, having released a whole variety of slot machines - many of which have had a oriental twist to them. While many of these new games fall under the game genre bracket, each one has it’s own special gameplay feature to make it stand out. Take Ri Ri Sheng Cai, for example, with its gold symbols and progressive jackpots. Then there is Liu Fu Shou, a gambling game that is more like Candy Crush than a typical slot machine.
Double the Fun
Haoshi Cheng Shuang is all about the power of two with its unique double icons that can combine on the reels to award some hefty prizes. Of course, with a payout percentage of 96.66%, the slot will still take in more money than it pays out over a long period of time. Nevertheless, the special gameplay elements will give punters something different to think about from the usual video slots.