Hook's Heroes Slot Review

The pirate theme has taken precedence over many games, and some of them do it lousily, while others have managed to provide entertaining and intriguing products to players. Hook’s Heroes from Netent definitely falls into the latter category, providing fun with its merger of two themes. While pirates is the obvious main theme for this one, it also has an underlying theme of puppetry and pantomime. You’ll be able to see this from the opening video package, which shows a theatre and a stage with props and characters, which is where the reels and surrounding imagery comes from. There’s also one of the quirkiest pieces of music included in the game as well, which only serves to enhance it even more, and this is backed up by quality graphics, intriguing game play and special features to keep you fully entertained.

How Do the Reels Look, Matey?!

Well, there’s a very simple answer to that question, and that’s that they provide a standard video slot layout with five reels and three rows on offer. Of course, in order for them to really fall in line with the main theme, there’s going to be some pirates on them. Well, you’re absolutely right. Because apart from the usual slot game icons of A, J, K, Q and 10, there are five different members of the ship’s crew to spin your way through. This starts with the chubby guy with a patch over one of his eyes, followed by what appears to the be the oaf of the crew, with his buck teeth and plastic duck on his head. In addition, you’ll find a curly-haired, braced pirate, a girl who looks very much uninterested in being a part of the crew, and this is all topped off by the bandana-wearing, dreadlocked guy.

Alongside its reels and rows, Hook’s Heroes also offers up a total of 20 separate pay lines, none of which are able to be customised. However, if you do wish to change things around, you can alter the bet amount that you place per spin. This is changeable via both the coin value and the bet level sections. The coin value begins from $0.01 and will then increase up to its maximum level of $1 per line. Meanwhile, you can change the bet level from its minimum level of one, and then up to the maximum of 10. This provides all players with the possibility of placing a total overall wager of $200 per spin. There has also been a ‘Max Bet’ button added to reach this level instantly, as well as an ‘Auto Play’ button, which allows up to 1,000 consecutive spins of the reels at the same wager level.

Let’s Go Sailin’ the High Seas

There’s a wonderful selection of special features included in this game, which starts off with its wild icon. This icon is represented by the captain of the ship, who, naturally, has a hook for one of his hands. He will substitute for all other symbols on the reels, except for the scatters, and in doing so, will form winning combinations.

The really entertaining side of this product though, comes from its scatter icon. This is represented by the crew member who is dressed in an alligator costume, and if three of these appear anywhere on the reels, you’ll trigger the freespins round. Pretty ordinary so far. However, before the round begins, you’re able to select one of three features to activated for the duration. Each features has a different number of freespins included with it, with the ‘Fairy Feature’ offering up seven, the ‘Mermaid Feature’ providing 10, and the ‘Pirate Feature’ granting you 15.

Selecting the ‘Fairy Feature’ option will see each of your freespins offer up between two and five overlay wilds placed on the reels in random positions. If, on the other hand, you select the ‘Mermaid Feature’, you’ll find that all wins formed will be multiplied by two, unless the win contains one or more wild icon, in which case it will be multiplied by four. And finally, the ‘Pirate Feature’ will see that wins are calculated on the number of visible symbols on the reels, rather than on winning bet lines.

The game also has a ‘Feature Spins’ addition, which is triggered during the main game should two scatter symbols make an appearance. This awards you with one free re-spin of the reels, with a randomly chosen feature included.

The Pirates Rule All!

Netent really know how to provide players with entertaining and compelling games, and Hook’s Heroes is definitely no different. It’s cram-packed full of additional extras, offers up some amazing graphics and audio, and in the process manages to merge two themes into one well organised product.