Panda Manga Slot Machine
We take once again the road to the East and travel towards ancient and mysterious civilizations that have fascinated people in the West for centuries.
Panda Manga is a fresh and light take on Asian culture as a theme, happily blending references to both Chinese and Japanese cultures. The unique result is a high quality video slot game that will appeal to a reasonably large public, especially to players with an interest for East Asian cultures of course.
But there is more than that to this 888 Holdings creation, and if you want to find out more about Panda Manga then read on our full review of the game.
A cultural mix
The visual universe of Panda Manga is largely inspired by the popular Japanese comic books of the same name, while adding some traditionally Chinese elements to the mix – in the shape of multiple adorable pandas.
The reels are framed by a painted scene of pagodas and bamboo plants, a panda’s favourite, under a deep purple starry night sky. Everything is still and quiet, so no need to expect some explosive animations here. Panda Manga is one of those games best enjoyed with a cool head, at least before the actual action begins!
Despite its simplicity, Panda Manga manages to create an endearing universe and will not fail to catch the eye of the players from the very first moment.
How to play
Panda Manga is set on five reels with a maximum of 25 paylines running across them. You can adjust your game settings thanks to the commands located at the bottom of the game screen.
For instance, use the (+) and (-) buttons to modify either the amount of your bet or the number of paylines you wish to play on. The numbered side tabs flanking the reels can also help you activate or deactivate paylines. Coin denomination ranges between 0.05 and 5 credits, and the Bet Max shortcut is there to help you go all-in with your current settings in a single click.
Once you feel ready, simply hit the Spin button to set the reels into motion. You will harvest the cash prizes corresponding to the winning combination(s) that you land on activated paylines once the reels have come to a stop. Alternatively, and if you would rather not spend too much time clicking on the Spin button, you can use the Autoplay mode by determining a number of spins to bet on in a row. Use the corresponding buttons, sit back and watch the magic happen!
Manga universe
A single glance at the paytable of Panda Manga is enough to realize that all the symbols carry a distinctive Japanese feel.
The first four icons are classics, all taken from a traditional card game. The Jack, Queen, King and Ace have the lowest payouts of all symbols, but they will show up on the reels more frequently. The font they appear in appears to have been drawn with a few skillful and delicate brush strokes.
Moving upwards, we find a handful of Cherry Blossoms, a folding Fan and a paper Lantern, some Sushi Rolls, a beautiful Calligraphy and a cute Japanese doll. Keep in mind that all combinations of basic symbols pay from left to right and can add up for bigger payouts!
Final special treats
You will find two extra special icons in Panda Manga ready to make the game a little more fun and unpredictable.
The Panda symbol acts as the Wild card of the game, here to substitute any basic symbol and create new winning combinations, with a little luck! It is also the most valuable symbol so do not miss it!
The Temple is a Scatter that awards Free Spins regardless of its position on the reels. During those free games, the Doll, Calligraphy and Sushi Rolls also become Wild.
Lastly, the Temple also awards a special bonus of up to 50 times the amount of your bet, if you are lucky. And do not forger that the Free Spins can be re-triggered over and over again!
Cute and efficient
Panda Manga does not bring any original features to the mix, but it is a solid game with a lovely design, albeit simple. The game-play is classic yet entertaining and the different elements of the game coexist harmoniously for a better immersion for players.
So if you are looking for a game with decent payouts and a largely Japanese theme, you definitely want to give Panda Manga or one of 888's other anime games like Evangelion a try!