Games that involve the art of fishing have been with us for many years. Way before the digital age, the producers at Subbuteo, who were better known for their football releases, produced a board game based on the sport.
Now fishing arcade games are becoming popular online, with a range of providers utilising the sport for the themes of their games. Slot providers in particular are now offering fish themed slot games such as Fishin Frenzy, a game that has a retro feel with vibrant graphics and colours of the sea.
A School of Choices
The original Fishin’ Frenzy slot has spawned a host of sequels, all of which are produced by the creative games developers at Blueprint. They have many games in the Fishin Frenzy series such as Fishin Frenzy Jackpot King and Fishin Frenzy: The Big Catch.
There’s a big selection available but there are times when the originals are going to be the best.
Gone Fishin’
The very first Fishin’ Frenzy online slot was released by Blueprint in 2014. It takes us to an undersea world where we can find the colourful aquatic creatures that play a big part in every title across the series.
In the original game, the action takes place on a reel grid that contains five rows and three columns. This 5×3 set up allows for ten fixed pay lines and, to win a prize in this stage of the game, we have to line up matching symbols across one or more of those lines.
Included in that list of images are some generic letters and numbers which represent playing cards from a standard deck. The rest of the symbols relate to the fishy theme. There’s a stork, a blue fish, a lifebelt, and a seagull.
Tastier Fish
There are two special symbols in this game and one of them is the Fisherman. This is the wild icon, and its job is to replace other base game images and form a match wherever possible.
There is just one symbol that the wild cannot replace and this is marked as the scatter. This comes in the form of a fishing boat and, when at least three of them drop into view on the grid, a free spins round is activated.
Depending on the number of scatters that have dropped, between 10 and 20 spins are the reward. The gameplay during this section is very different from other free spins rounds. Here, those blue fish come in different sizes and they all have differing cash values.
The cash total can mount up but, in order to land the prize, the fisherman symbol needs to drop. He is a scatter icon in this game and his task is to reel in all the fish that have landed. The totals are then added up and awarded to the player’s bankroll.
As one of the oldest slot games online, some have said that the original Fishin Frenzy is a little basic. It’s certainly true that newer slots can often contain more bonus features but that free spins round is different to most.
It’s also the case that many players like to keep things simple. Without the more complicated bonus features in play, it’s easier just to focus on the reels and the ways in which cash prizes can be landed.
Back to a Fishin’ Future
Nostalgia plays a big part in many online slot games and that look back to a classic age of gaming helps to boost the popularity of Fishin Frenzy. In other titles, developers use familiar fruit images that have been seen in bars and physical casinos for years so that element of nostalgia is important for many games.
This is one of the reasons why the Fishin Frenzy series has been so enduringly popular. The nostalgia theme is greatly in evidence and it’s one that can appeal to a range of players.
Clearly, those who can remember playing video arcade games from the 1980s and 1990s will be drawn to this type of title. In addition, there is an increasing trend for younger players to go ‘retro’ and to experience games that are from outside of their own generation.
Moving Forward
Beyond the original Fishin Frenzy slot, there is the option to move on and tackle some more complex titles in this popular series. There’s the Fishin Frenzy Megaways title which expands the grid and offers more ways to win in the base game.
Elsewhere, Fishin Frenzy Power 4 Slots takes things to an even higher level. Here, there are no fewer than four separate slot grids, each of which can match the familiar symbols in order to reel in some cash.
Grab Your Fishing Tackle
A cross over between arcade gaming and slot play is a perfect way to target two different types of audiences. This concept can take many forms and we’ve also seen it in a ‘clusterpay’ system where payouts are made for forming clusters or symbols, rather than the traditional way of matching them across a pay line.
With Fishin Frenzy, things are a little simpler and it’s all about retaining that feeling of nostalgia. There may be an obvious look back to the past but this kind of match up can also be an important part of slot gaming’s future.
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