Wizards Slot
To say that competition between online slot game developers is fierce would be a massive understatement. The money flying around the industry right now is nothing short of breathtaking. While the big names are making the headlines, small time developers are still doing their best to provide players with plenty of thrills and spills.
Drive Media is attempting to put its name into the mix, but in all honesty, it has made quite of hash of its effort to do thus far. Many of Drive Media’s releases have been critically bashed, with the brand attempting to put things right with its latest release Wizards.
Fantasy is something that most real money slots developers tend to dabble in from time to time; some even do so to great effect. That being said, have Drive Media being able to conjure up something magical with Wizards? Let the following review reveal all!
Out of the Hat and into the Fire
History tends to speak for itself when it comes to the design of Drive Media games, as they seldom tend to roll out anything of note. However, Wizards appears to be slightly different, as while it’s not perfect, it is by no means as bad as some the developer’s prior efforts. The theme of the game is based around the wonderful world of wizardry, which probably explains the bright purple backdrop. Around this you have the usual payline indicators, but even with the out of place colours featured it doesn’t take too much away from the haunting theme of Wizards.
Within its symbols Wizards keeps up its theme, even if a few bland looking icons do make an appearance. Wizards, castles, and wands all appear on the reels of this game, as it taps into a few obvious clichés. The main issue we have with the symbols is that once again Drive Media has stuck to the 2D design approach. It means that the symbols do appear flat and actually represent a wasted opportunity, as Wizards could have showcased more oomph.
Casting an Array of Magical Spells
Have you ever played a Drive Media game before? If so, don’t expect any surprises when it comes to function, as Wizards pretty much plays out like every other game from the developer.
Sadly, with 9 paylines, 5 reels, 3 rows, and low to medium variance play there is very little to get excited about here. We aren’t just saying that for the sake of it either, as while this game is designed with “classic” intentions, it’s really rather boring in-play.
Flicking through Your Spell Book
As per usual, Drive Media have hampered what could have been a very good game with the same old tired looking control panel. It’s the usual silver bar, with an array of oversized buttons, with it being fiddly to use at the best of times. The controls just don’t fit the game, so Wizards really does suffer because of this.
Drive Media really needs to go back to the drawing board when it comes to controls, because Wizards proves (once again) that this approach just isn’t working.
Making Something out of Nothing
Wizards at least delivers something of note when it comes to bonuses, as the game isn’t completely devoid of action in this department. For starters, through the max bet of 1800.00 (and 9.00 minimum bet), you’re able to spin the reels in the hope of landing one of the three progressive jackpots up for grabs.
The triple-header of jackpots is a nice touch, with the wild symbols and free spins throwing a little extra toil and trouble into the action. It’s not a bonus bonanza by any means, but Wizards does have a few nice elements that keep the game ticking over.
Wizards Whips up Some Hit and Miss Slots Action!
It really isn’t hard to see where Wizards has gone wrong, as Drive Media have yet again phoned it in when it comes to game development. That isn’t to say that Wizards doesn’t have an upside, as the bonuses (cliché gamble game included) and theme are generally okay, which does give players something to take a bite out of. We must also say that the UI of Wizards also has a few positives within it, in spite of the rigidly flat looking symbols.
Problems to one side, any player who must try his or her hand at a Drive Media title can shockingly do much worse than playing Wizards.
