The Karate Kid Slot
Here is a slot machine that delivers a punch, with no low blows to worry about. Join Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi as they bring the classic tale of The Karate Kid to a casino near you. It may have taken 35 years or so to bring this movie to slots players, but the wait is finally over thanks to a licensing deal between games developer Everi and Columbia Pictures.
The Karate Kid video slot is available at land-based casinos, although it can’t be found at online or mobile-optimized sites at the time of this review. It’s a pity, because like many titles from the Everi slots range, this is a fantastic-looking game that comes with a host of bonus features, many of which are related to the movie.
If The Karate Kid passed you by back in the 1980s, you should take some time out to watch it. Directed by John G. Avildsen, who made the original Rocky film, this is another tale of an underdog overcoming the odds. Ralph Macchio plays Daniel the kid, who has just arrived in Los Angeles. Pat Morita is the caretaker of the apartment block where Daniel lives, who goes on to teach Daniel-San the karate skills needed to defeat the bad guys.
A couple of sequels, a forgettable 2010 remake, and a new web-based series that stars a grown-up Ralph Macchio and original baddie William Zabka have kept The Karate Kid popular for over three decades. Let’s take a look at this exciting slot machine to see if the transfer from the silver screen to the slots terminal has been a success.
Everi at Its Best
If you have never heard of the games developer Everi before, we’ll have you know it’s one of the top suppliers of slots and services to over 1,000 casinos around the world. Unfortunately, there’s a very limited selection of online and mobile-optimized games in its collection, but you can find a couple of top titles here. Check out Mata Hari or the Royal Elephant video slot to get a feel for what the Everi team are capable of. If you want to play The Karate Kid video slot, though, you will need to visit a land-based casino.
Formed in 2015 when casino technology providers Global Cash Access Inc. purchased Multimedia Games Inc., up-and-coming games developer Everi is based in Austin, Texas. The combination of GCA and MGAM brings together talents that are unrivaled in the business.
Global Cash Access had many years of experience in developing software that enables casinos to provide a completely secure gaming environment, while the Multimedia Games range offered gamblers a fantastic selection of slots. Their innovative TournEvent feature allows players to compete against each other in slots tournaments, which have been recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world.
The merger has created a powerful business, with the Everi gaming company now ranking as one of the top suppliers to casinos across the globe.
A Polished Slot Game
While Mr Miyagi put Daniel through a tedious training regime, with tasks including waxing his car (‘’Wax on, wax off’’) and balancing on a pole, you certainly won’t get bored spinning the reels of this exciting game. You won’t be able to practice on free The Karate Kid video slots, but with just one coin needed on each payline to play for real cash, you won’t need to stake a fortune to get started either.
The bet level can be raised to suit your budget using the simple command buttons beneath the reels. Fantastic graphics that include clips from the movie will immerse you in the world of this game. Elements of the soundtrack come straight from the film and add to the drama as you help Daniel and Mr Miyagi to line up winning combinations of symbols across the reels. Special symbols will trigger some rewarding bonus features that can boost your bankroll whenever they occur.
Everi slots are known for their innovative features and all are guaranteed to play fair at all times. They also come with high return-to-player percentages and the potential to land some massive prizes.
Online Karate Action
While The Karate Kid isn’t available online, there are a couple of similar games that can be found at the top real money online casinos and mobile-optimized sites. Perhaps our favorite is the Karate Pig video slot from Microgaming. Although the title is clearly inspired by the movie, it’s a cartoon-style game where a variety of cute animals are taught martial arts by a wise pig.
This five-reel, 40-payline slot comes with features such as stacked wild symbols and free spins, plus some fun side games. Players earn karate belts as they move through the bonus rounds. Once seven belts have been collected, it’s time to enter the Final Showdown against a boar. Pick your moves against this opponent to win some of the best prizes, claiming up to 800,000 coins on your way to victory.
For some more realistic martial arts action, try the Rising Samurai slot from Skywind. 25 paylines cross the five reels, where beautiful geisha girls and fearsome warriors pay out up to 7,500 coins. The mask is a wild symbol, while Mount Fuji acts as a scatter icon that launches a free spins feature. At the end of the eight free games, your total win will be multiplied by the number of wilds and samurai symbols that appeared on the reels throughout the round.
A Kick-Ass Game
Although you will need to track this game down at a land-based casino, if you’re a fan of the film it will be well worth the effort. Like all Everi slot machines it looks fantastic, with a huge touchscreen panel that stands out on the casino floor. It will seem like you are part of the movie when you take these reels for a spin, feeling every kick and punch (don’t worry, that’s not to be taken literally) as the exciting features are awarded.
A select number of games from this popular developer have made their way online. We sure hope that The Karate Kid will soon be available to players at the top sites, as it would be a shame to miss out on all the action it has to offer.
