The Chicken Run casino slot machine game is a popular online gaming option developed by Novomatic, an Austrian-based company known for its wide range of video slots. The game is set in a farm yard where chickens are making their escape from the farmer’s clutches. This review will delve into the various features and strategies associated with this slot.
Theme
The theme of Chicken Run revolves around the Great Escape, as depicted in the 2000 animated film "Chicken Run" by Aardman Animations. Players take on the role of assisting these plucky hens to break free from Chicken Run their cage and make a dash for freedom. The game’s setting includes a colorful farm yard with various props such as chicken coops, tractors, and a barn.
Design
The design of Chicken Run is reminiscent of classic slot machines, with vibrant colors and cartoon-style graphics that bring the characters to life. Players will notice two main reels on either side of the screen, each containing 5 rows of symbols, alongside three additional bonus reels located above. The overall layout offers an immersive gaming experience, allowing players to fully engage in the game’s storyline.
Symbols
The standard gameplay is initiated with a set of eight basic symbols featuring various chicken breeds (Cockerel, Bantam, Silkie, etc.), farm equipment (Tractor, Plow), and farming-related items (Bucket, Feeder). The more exotic chicken breed symbols award varying amounts when matched in combinations. Landing 5 matching symbols will reward players up to a maximum of £2,000 for the rarest birds.
Payouts
Chicken Run offers relatively low-paying standard games with rewards ranging from x1-x20 times the bet amount depending on the number and types of bird matches made. This modest payout scheme compensates by offering a Wild symbol which can form winning combinations in various positions across the reels.
Wilds
The game’s main attraction lies within its unique feature of the ‘Escape’ mechanism, where matching 5-7 chicken symbols (except for Wild) trigger the bonus free games rounds. These will also award players with up to £10 times their stake value based on a combination chart. Landing at least one Wild during these triggered bonus games increases potential payouts tenfold.
Scatters
Chicken Run features Scatter symbols, recognizable by the farm coop icon, that activate additional winnings and bonuses when three or more appear anywhere across both sets of reels (left & right). The minimum threshold required for awarding ‘The Great Escape’ feature has dropped to 2 coops but will still remain tied to bonus free games.
Bonus Features
Players have access to several in-game features including:
- Feeder Bonus : Lining up any two chick and duck symbols awards an instant reward, doubling your bet if they appear within the same spin.
- Escape Free Games : Landing at least 5-7 hens (excluding wilds) leads to between 10 to a staggering 50 free spins where rewards may grow five-fold due to higher multiplier wins.
Free Spins
The primary benefit of playing Chicken Run is access to these bonus rounds that allow additional winning potential via their elevated multipliers and longer play sessions without requiring individual stakes increases. Players have several chances throughout gameplay, although the base game does not include random wilds generation as part of regular sequences like those found within some slots.
RTP & Volatility
Novomatic has published official statistics for Chicken Run stating its RTP is 95%, which positions it slightly above average when compared to similar online slot offerings. However, higher-risk players seeking greater returns may prefer alternatives since this title’s moderate volatility limits potential gains from big wins on most spin sequences.
Betting Range & Max Win
Wagers can be placed using real money at a range of stakes varying between 0.01 and £250 per line; maximum bet is set at just over £120, considering some games offer fixed upper values but might cap the total bet for certain bonus rounds or in-game combinations. This makes it possible to win a theoretical maximum payout capped at $200k (£143k).
Gameplay
Once activated by three coops anywhere on reels, 50 free spins kick off where any winnings are awarded with multipliers that rise each subsequent spin up until five-fold during this round alone, ensuring the ‘Escape Bonus’ delivers increased potential for substantial returns if luck falls in favor of players. Chicken Run incorporates a return-to-player (RTP) rate around average compared to most Novomatic slots while providing a chance at 50% or more added back as winnings via bonus multipliers.
Mobile Play
Fortunately, both versions are compatible with mobile platforms allowing seamless gameplay anywhere – smartphones and tablets run smoothly in both landscape & portrait mode ensuring user experience aligns closely across differing devices used for gaming sessions. All key features (free spins, escape sequences) translate efficiently between computer interface and portable play options offering players the same thrilling entertainment value wherever they go.
Player Experience
The overall gaming atmosphere is engaging yet non-threatening thanks to colorful visuals that create an immersive farm yard setting where hens break free from captivity as you tap buttons along a familiar layout providing clear cues guiding new or returning players through features, risks & payout schemes. Novomatic delivers here once more with their design elements incorporating standard slot mechanics into visually-appealing, exciting gameplay sessions designed to keep gamblers interested and satisfied.
Overall Analysis
While Chicken Run’s base rewards might not reach sky-high limits comparable to those found in top-performing games available on most platforms today it remains an entertaining experience worth consideration. With both a decent RTP figure compared to many slots currently listed online alongside bonus-free rounds offering real potential value increases during successful escape sequences & increased stakes across play sessions players who invest time into learning specific strategies related specifically around the game’s more profitable mechanics may potentially unlock consistent payouts – one more aspect which places it on par with current market leaders in slot machine gaming options.
