Fire 88

There are a number of symbols in Chinese culture that stand for good luck or purport to bestow the individual with a slice of fortune. I know that the colors of gold and red are prevalent when it comes to imbuing an individual with luck and prosperity, while the number 8 has long been viewed as the luckiest number for a Chinese individual.

Similarly, the dragon symbol, while perhaps more well known for symbolizing special powers, power and strength, it is also a symbol for good luck for those that are worthy of it. So the question you have to ask yourself is with all these portents of good omen littering the reels of Pragmatic Play's new Fire 88 slot, what could possibly go against you when playing the game?

That's a good question and we'll answer that in a little more detail as we take you through what this interesting 3-reel slot has to offer. As with most Pragmatic Play games, the attention to detail in the presentation is very good and the sounds and graphics are well animated, but is there a bit more substance to the game than pretty looks and sounds?

Let's take a look and find out what the Fire 88 slot has to offer.

Overview

• Game: Fire 88
• Developer: Pragmatic Play
• Reels: 3
• Pay Lines: 7 (non selectable)
• Minimum Bet: 0.07
• Maximum Bet: 35.00
• Jackpot: 888x
• Free Spins Bonus: No
• Other Bonuses: Yes
• Progressive: Yes
• Volatility: Medium

Where can I play the Fire 88 slot?

If you are looking to play the new 3-reel Fire 88 slot at a quality online establishment then why not take a look at what Spartan Slots has to offer. This highly-regarded casino boasts a high number of top quality games alongside new releases each month and new players get a fantastic bonus when they sign up.

For the best value deal, sign up with bitcoin and you will receive an amazing 400% deposit bonus which will give you five times the amount of money to play with. Best of all, you don't receive this bonus on only your first deposit, you get it on each of your first three bitcoin deposits with the site.

Even if you elect to sign up using a standard payment method, you can receive 25 Free Spins when you join and then on your first deposit you will get a massive 200% Deposit Bonus. That is not all though as you will then receive a further 100% Deposit Bonus on your next three deposits after that and then on your fifth deposit, you get another 175% Deposit Bonus to complete the offer.

With Free Spins and plenty of free bonus cash available for new customers, regardless of how you elect to deposit, no wonder Spartan Slots is one of the top casinos for attracting new customers to try their vast array of slot and casino games.

Presentation

As you would expect with a Pragmatic Play slot, the presentation of the game is up there with the very best and even though this may only be a three-reel game, it is clear that Pragmatic have given the game every care and attention to make it look and sound as Chinese-themed as possible.

The backdrop of the slot are some gently licking flames behind the reels and this is accompanied by a relaxing Chinese-sounding musical accompaniment and a variety of similar sounds which kick in when you trigger certain wins and features on the slot. In terms of the audio and visual features, the Fire 88 slot looks great.

The reels are colored red and gold and are very easy to discern, as are the different symbols on the reels. The progressive jackpot prizes (of which there are three) are displayed at the top of each reel and the main controls for the game are located at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on the large 'I' icon will bring up all the information you need about the slot.

What's on the reels?

On the reels are a small number of symbols and these are single, double and treble bar symbols (which are the three lowest paying symbols on the reels) and then the higher value symbols include a green coin, an orange-yellow colored gemstone, the 88 symbol which is bathed in fire and lastly the Wild symbol (which is the Dragons head).

One thing to note, all wins must comprise of three symbols and the two lowest bar symbols only pay out a fraction of your total bet. If you place the highest bet available of $35 per spin for example, three single bars pays only $15, while three of the two bar symbols on a line pays $30 per spin, so you need to land more than this in order to earn a profit from a win.

Wild features

The in game Wild symbol is the Dragons head and this serves two purposes. Firstly, you can use the Dragons head along with other standard symbols on the reel to complete a win, although this does not come with a multiplier attached.

However, if you land two Dragon Wilds on a line then you get a free re-spin of the remaining reel to see if you could possibly trigger another win. If you land three of the Dragon Wilds on a pay line then you win the biggest value prize in the slot, which at $35 per spin equates to $1,250.

Free Spins features

Other than the re-spin bonus outlined above with the two Dragon Wilds landing on the reels, there are no Free Spins bonus features on the Fire 88 slot.

Other bonus features

There are two other bonus features that you can access when playing the Fire 88 slot and these are accessed when you land the 88 symbol, but with the Jackpot banner shown across the bottom of the symbol. These banners are added randomly to some of the 88 symbols on each reel during each spin.

If you land three of these on a line across the reels, then you trigger the Jackpot Bonus game and this is where the biggest jackpots in the game can be won, including the massive 888x your total bet top jackpot prize.

The bonus round begins with you receiving a nice payout from your spin and then you head into the Jackpot Bonus game. Here you have a selection of nine different coins available. Simply select these until you reveal three of one of the jackpots shown at the top of the reels. These are the Mini jackpot (38x your total bet), Major (88x your total bet) or the Grand jackpot which is a massive 888x your total bet.

After the bonus has been won the payout will be paid to your account and the base game will begin again.

Best feature of the Fire 88 slot

Without doubt the best feature of the Fire 88 slot is the Jackpot Bonus game. Here you can win some sizeable amounts of money and even the smallest win is still 38x your total wager, and on top of that you also get a sizeable pay out for triggering the bonus round in the first place on your original spin. That allied to the high-quality presentation, that is now become a hallmark of all Pragmatic Play slots and a decent Wild symbol that crops up regularly in the base game to land you some valuable wins all make this a fun and enjoyable slot to play.

What does the Fire 88 slot lack?

While the Fire 88 slot does have some decent bonuses, I feel that if you are going to have bonus features on a slot then a Free Spins round is always a good idea. I think a small Free Spins round would have added a lot to the slot and given the game an even greater focus. That's not to say the game is poor because it lacks this, it isn't, it is very decent three-reel slot, but for players who want a little more depth to their play it would have been a solid addition.

Conclusion

The Fire 88 slot has some fantastic features for a 3-reel game and offers a more in depth play than most other 3-reel slots I have played. The soundtrack and presentation is sublime and the fact that this is a medium variance game means that it has a nice mix of bigger value wins, combined with lower value wins and the occasional huge win. However, this is a slot that can be feast or famine. On one session, I hit the Major Progressive jackpot within 10 spins of starting, on another, I had nothing of any note for over 100 spins. So sensible bankroll management is the key to get the most out of this tricky and enjoyable new slot.

Ratings

• Presentation: 17 / 20 - The presentation of the Fire 88 is superb. Pragmatic Play have put a lot of thought into how this slot will look, play and sound and the result is a three-reel game that is very easy on the eye and ear and which offers superb game play. The animations when you win are also great fun to trigger and the sound effects when you hit the re-spin when you land two Wilds is also great. All in all this is a slot you cannot fault in terms of presentation, but just lacks a bit of pizzazz in the background to really elevate it to the top spots.
• Game-Play: 14 / 20 - I tend to find most three-reel slots like Fire 88 a bit repetitive, but this slot is different. The size of the wins you land, allied with the amount of times you hit a winner (in general) is very good and means that you can really get into playing the game and before you know it an hour will have passed. That is always the sign of a good slot that engrosses the player and offers them fair and frequent rewards.
• Bonus Features: 14 / 20 - For a three-reel game, Fire 88 has a great selection of bonus features. The Wild is not just the highest paying symbol in the base game, but it also has a re-spin option when you land two on a line. The Jackpot Bonus game is a fabulous addition and the fact that you win on your Wild Re-spin and when you trigger the Jackpot Bonus also adds to the enjoyment when playing.
• Entertainment Factor: 14 / 20 - Although most three-reel games don't have the depth of some slots with more reels, the Fire 88 slot packs an awful lot into its game. The base game is fun to play and doesn't get particularly repetitive especially when you are chasing those big wins and bonus features. Regular decent sized wins helps keep your balance topped up too and that always puts a smile on the players face.
• Play Value: 12 / 20 - On average this is a medium variance game, but it can be a feast for the player and it can also be a bit of a famine at times. Sensible bankroll management is the key to enjoying the best of the Fire 88 slot and the ability to know when to walk away from the game when you land a sizeable win will also enhance your enjoyment. For a medium variance slot though, I feel this offers slightly better than average payouts when you do land a bigger value win.
• Overall 71 / 100 - There really is a lot to like about the Fire 88 slot. It captures the eye and is pleasing on the ear and the game play is enjoyable and offers the right mix of reward and risk. The addition of the bonus game really does help the game offer a little more than the typical 3-reeler and the fact that you have a trio of progressive jackpots to chase, one with a sizeable payout, also makes the game more appealing to those bigger progressive jackpot hunters too. This is another fine effort from Pragmatic Play and well worth a closer look.

Good Luck!

Next Offer: Aztec Gems