Banzai Slot
Many slot game players, if not every single one of them, are looking for an engaging experience when they choose a new game to put their money on. Many players demand a certain degree of realism and a believable universe to immerse themselves into, and most of the time slot game developers are just happy to oblige.
Let’s take Banzai from Roundstone International for instance; this video slot game was directly inspired by Japanese culture and aesthetics, with a particular focus on details and playability to make it accessible to all players, even to total beginners.
The result is a captivating game with low variance, meaning that every spin has a very decent chance to trigger some kind of cash prize. The 5x3 layout of the game puts it among the most modern of the genre, and you have a few surprises on the reels to look forward to as well.
So whether or not you have played any Roundstone International slot game in the past, take a look at our full review of Bonsai if you want to get an idea of what lies ahead for you.
Some Peace and Quiet
Bonsai is one of these slot games that bet everything on ambiance and provide players with a believable and engaging atmosphere. Games with a Japanese theme are not especially rare, starting with Japan O Rama from Rival for instance, but Bonsai takes a bit of a different approach.
Instead of going for the rather stereotypical sushi restaurant approach, the game is taking players on a journey to discover the more tradition side of the Land of the Rising Sun.
As a result, you will be transported to a traditional room with tatamis and paper screen everywhere. The transparent screen let you catch a glimpse of a thick bamboo forest in the background, while the command bar in the bottom of the game screen sticks a natural, wooden look as well in order to blend in even better.
Bonsai takes a popular theme and infuses it with new ideas, supported by good graphics and impeccable reel animations to compliment them. In terms of graphic quality, Roundstone International games can be a bit of a hit or miss, but Bonsai is definitely to be put amongst the hits. As for the gameplay itself, we will have a look at it in our next section.
Sharpen Your Sword
Looking at the basic rules, Bonsai is quite similar to the vast majority of modern slot games, especially to other Roundstone International creations. The reel set features 5 spinning reels with 9 paylines that you can choose to activate thanks to the arrow-shaped buttons in the command bar underneath. Adjust your line bet in the same way and spin the reels when you are ready to go.
You can start playing with as little as 0.01 credit into play on every activated payline. Now remember that Bonsai is a low-volatility slot game, which means that modest cash prizes are likely to be triggered often during the game. For bigger wins, on the other hand, you will need to keep the reels spinning for a while and bet as many credits on them as you dare. The autoplay game mode will help you do so automatically whenever you see fit.
The most common symbols in Bonsai are katanas, Japanese dolls, temples, bamboos and bonsais, naturally, with a maximum reward equivalent to 10,000 times the size of your current line bet. On the reels too, the attention to details is flagrant.
Big Wins are within Reach
There are a few more special features available in Bonsai that will come in handy when you most need them. Combinations of katanas, for instance, can trigger free respins to give you an extra chance of scoring a more valuable combination next. Note that there are now wilds in Bonsai, which should not surprise you if you have some experience with Roundstone International slot games already.
The samurai helmet is an elusive reel symbol, worth up to 20,000 times your wager and able to trigger the Bonsai bonus feature. Use your samurai skill to wield your sword and defeat your enemies to score some extra cash prizes and restore the honour of your clan in the process.
Beautiful and Generous
Bonsai combines aesthetic beauty and playability to attract players to its reels, and the result is very convincing. The absence of wild could have been a problem, but the game is simply too addictive and generous that you will end up forgetting about it entirely.
Do keep in mind that, as in many other Roundstone International games like Zodiac Slot or Tattoo Shop for instance, Bonsai has a low variance that will demand a little bit of perseverance from your part if you want a chance at winning the biggest rewards on the reels.
