Maltese Fortune Slot Machine
IGT have done the business before when it comes to animal-themed slots with some of their most famous slot machines including Cats and Kitty Glitter. However, Maltese Fortune is the first foray for the developer into the wonderful world of canines... unless you count the bizarre Firehouse Hounds release but the less said about that, the better.
This 5 reel, 30 pay-line slot machine is certainly one for dog lovers. It is a slot machine that is available on the Game King Enhanced Video Slots platform. It possess high volatility so players should take a deep breath and prepare themselves before pressing that spin button. A maximum bet of 600 credits with a potential maximum jackpot win of 1,000 credits taking into account 1 credit bet per pay-line per game.
Theme
If you have come here expecting to experience an exotic slot that revolves around the wealth and opulence of royalty on the island of Malta then you will be very disappointed. The Maltese part of the title relates to the pedigree dog that looks like it deserves a starring role in Beverley Hills Chihuahua.
The dog theme might not be to everyone's taste but deep down we all love a fluffy little pooch don't we? Ever since that scene in Dumb and Dumber where Jeff Daniels asks who ordered the foot long and that little guy pops his head out from the back of the Mutt Cutts van.
OK, so not everyone loves dogs but it does provide a sound base for a theme with so many varieties to ensure there is a wide selection of symbols and features that can be used within the game to give it a real depth.
The reels boast all sorts of well-groomed pooches on them from the title Maltese to the immaculate chihuahua to the people's favorite of the pug. The diamond encrusted regular symbols further express the glittery feel to this slot.
A Wild symbol that is represented by shiny doggy bones pretty much sums up the vibe of this slot machine. It has the power to substitute for all other symbols, except for the Scatters, to create any winning combinations.
The dog collar encrusted with diamonds is the symbol that represents the Scatters. These are the key to the free spins so you will definitely want to keep an eye on these. You should be warned that there is a lot of sparkly action going on and it can get a bit confusing at times with all the canine glitz and glamour but you will soon get the hang of it all.
Features
Free Spins Bonus – Hitting three or more of these dog collars encrusted with diamonds Scatters across the reels will trigger the free spins bonus round and players will be given 15 free spins to start. The free spins can be re-triggered if you hit three or more Scatters on the reels during a free spin. You will once again be awarded an additional 15 free spins. It is possible to earn up to 225 free spins.
Extra Wilds – This is a feature that comes alive during the free spins. Underneath the reels there are pictures of a Maltese, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, and Pug. Next to each are three diamond symbols.
When a diamond symbol appears on Reel 5 it will move to fill one of the diamond symbols next to the Maltese dog image beneath the reels.
When all three diamond symbols are filled then every Maltese dog symbol on the reels will turn Wild for the remainder of the free spins. Once all the Maltese dog diamond symbols are filled then the diamond symbols next to the chihuahua will start filling up every time a diamond appears on reel 5. Once all those diamond symbols are filled then all the chihuahua symbols on the reels will also turn Wild. This process can continue until all doggy symbols turn into Extra Wilds. The potential for big wins if you turn all the doggy symbols Wild can be massive.
Summary
A dog-themed slot does not exactly set the pulses racing but when you stop for a second and see that there are free spins with Extra Wilds up for grabs then things become a little more interesting. This is a typical IGT slot where little happens in the base game but when the free spins are triggered the reels become a bit more intriguing. You will enjoy the odd session on this slot machine because the free spins are a roller coaster ride but other than that this slot offers very little.
