Batman & The Penguin Prize

The original 1960s Batman series, with its comic book kitsch, live-action acting, and bright color scheme, remains a cult classic today. Playtech celebrates this fact with Batman & the Penguin Prize, the latest slot from that company in its series of games with themes of Batman and/or the DC Universe. In this simple-yet-addictive game, the Penguin presides over the reels, offering a free spin immediately following every base play win. Things can get more serious from there – as players will see, this slot is all about momentum.

Theme

The original Batman series of the 1960s is the inspiration for this slot. Cast members Adam West (as Batman), Burt Ward (as Robin), Alan Napier (as Alfred), and Burgess Meredith (as the Penguin) are among the gaming symbols, each erupting in an animated celebration sequence when involved in a win. Other game symbols include the tools of the trade: golden busts of the penguin, umbrellas, purple tophats, and Batman’s bat-shaped boomerang. The bat signal acts as wild. As in other Playtech games on the DC / Batman theme, animation and overall gameplay are seamless. The background, design scheme, and sound material all successfully evoke the 1960s.

Betting Options and Functions

The unoriginal theme of this slot conceals a very original gameplay and betting structure. There are no paylines to this slot, only ‘ways to win–’ winning combinations of the same symbol on the reels at a given time – of which there are 96 in base play. Coin value can range from 0.01 to 5.00 times the betting currency, for an overall bet range of 0.25 to 125.00 for each spin. The info button launches a pop-up menu explaining paytables, bonuses, and the like.

With a theoretical RTP of 96.06% and a medium-low volatility, players should not expect massive wins out of bonus play, but rather more consistent ones of small or medium size. This is offset, however, by the availability of four progressive jackpots that can be won on any spin, at any time. These jackpots are shared across all of Playtech’s DC Universe slots and can get to be quite large.

It should also be said that game controls are not in their usual places, and may take a moment to find. Bet size can be adjusted by clicking on the gray semi-circle to the left of the reels, where turbo play can be toggled as well. Auto spin accessed by holding down the spin button to the right of the reels.

Features

The central feature of this slot is a simple one. The base play takes place on a three-reel, five-line matrix on the left-hand side of the screen, while the Penguin looks on with a sneer. After any win, no matter how small, the Penguin respins a matching set of reels on the right side of the screen. In these cases, players have the chance to win twice for the cost of one spin.

But it doesn’t stop there with two more levels. When the Penguin gaming symbol wins on the right-side reels of a Penguin Respin, a new bonus is launched, in which a superset of reels appears, with each one turning up blocks of two-by-two super symbols. And a win on this level launches yet another bonus level, in which a superset of two reels, turning massive three-by-three symbols. In the lower two levels of the game, there are 64 ways to win. In the upper two levels, there are a whopping 4096. Kazow!

Our Take

Batman & the Penguin Prize somehow manages to dwell in that space between old and new, satisfying both and diminishing neither. This is a well-made, thought-provoking slot that will never leave players bored. Those who enjoy the design should consider Playtech’s other slots on this theme.