Big Kahuna: Snakes & Ladders Details Page

Software (9)

It's reliable and safe, which is a good starting point when talking about casino software., And of course, that's one of the things Microgaming is known for. There is great functionality in this game, and it is capable of creating that involves the player in a "big picture" quest. Options are plentiful, including Quick Spin, the ability to track certain game stats, and sound controls. The graphics package is solid, and navigability is no problem at all.

Easy to Understand (9)

The "game within a game" involving the campaign to recover the Big Kahuna's mask is something that must be digested, but there is nothing that is too confounding. At least the player knows that the free spins get triggered automatically and randomly, so there is no wondering about what exactly has to happen to qualify one for that game. As usual, there are great Help files available for any situation where you stumble.

Graphics & Sounds (9)

The graphics are clear and clean, and that is a positive. There is never any doubt, visually speaking, as to what they are. All the buttons and symbols are neatly lined up for the sake of ease of navigability. The sounds are particular to the game, which is good, and they leave open the opportunity to eliminate all or some of them. This way, you can customize the experience.

Theme and Concept (9)

There is nothing that is so unique about the overall theme itself, which is Polynesian in nature., But it is a nice extra when you can build in bonus games that take advantage of the storyline. For example, the Snakes and Ladders Bonus Game gives you the opportunity for a big payoff by climbing to the top of the mountain, but that climb is a challenge in and of itself. There is danger too, as you don't want to get bitten by the snake.

Game Features (8)

The Free Spins Bonus Game happens at random, which is, I guess, either a positive or negative, depending on how you look at it. From the positive standpoint, you don't have to do anything special to have it triggered. On the negative side, there are only five free spins available with the game. But all wins are doubled, and in fact are quadrupled if the winning combinations achieved involve the wild (Big Kahuna). The maximum amount available to be won in the Free Spins game is 200,000 coins. The Snakes and Ladders Bonus Game provides drama, as well as potential windfall, if you do well. There are 30,000 coins available as the max payoff here.

Betting Options (8)

You can bet a minimum coin size of .01 up to .25. With fifteen paylines, and a maximum of 20 coins, you can have a maximum 300-coin bet in this game. That's not horrible. You can get the maximum bet quickly by clicking the brown button that says "Bet Max" at the bottom of the interface.

Jackpots (9)

The biggest payout that is advertised is in the Free Spins Bonus Game, in which you can win up to 200,000 coins if everything in the world goes right. The Snakes and Ladders Bonus Game has a maximum bonus jackpot of 30,000 coins. The biggest "regular" jackpot pays out when you get five wilds (Big Kahunas) on an enabled payline, in which case it is 5000 coins. Another symbol, the Mask, pays off handsomely too, at 2000 for five in a payline.