Musketeers Slots
The Musketeers video slot is a slot for all and all for the bonus. The relatively small 15 paylines are surprisingly value packed. Holding no punches, this swashbuckling slot features two wild symbols, three bonus games, plus a potential triple level jackpot.
These dashing French guardsman also command a fast pace across the 5x3 reels. You'll need a trusty steed to keep up. Volatility, though, is more measured, leaning to the lower end of medium. We certainly experienced a good smattering of base game small wins, with some big hits from bonus rounds.
With software by Capecod Gaming, the free Musketeers slot is one of a host of latest releases. Some of these great titles like Calaveras and Tuareg are pushing the quality benchmark for this developer. Musketeers, however, is slightly more hit and miss. In some areas it shines brilliantly, whilst in others it doesn't quite hit the mark.
As mentioned, there's an impressive bounty of bonus features on offer here. Action and entertainment aren't lacking. There is, however, a lack of finesse in the detailing, which is under par for the software team.
Wagers offer a very familiar setup to players who know their Capecod Gaming titles. The 15 paylines are adjustable, allowing penny slots players a chance at the reels from as little as 0.01 per spin. The jackpot, though, can only be achieved by playing all 15 paylines. Wagers here range from 0.15 per spin to a max bet of 15.00.
So, with sword in hand, and truth and honour in our hearts, we set forth to examine gameplay and paytable.
Win 1000x Your Line Bet on Romantic French Reels
Against an impressionistic, hazy purple sunset the 5x3 reels are framed with ornate gilt carvings and romantic roses. Symbols of wealth nestle alongside the famous characters and they're all intricately illustrated. The team have plumped for styling that evokes 17th Century France, when the story's set.
There's isn't a soundtrack so much as a series of chivalric sound effects. The reels spin to a drum roll. Monks hum ominously in the background. Wins are heralded with trumpets or whoops from the Musketeers. Unfortunately, the overall effect doesn't quite come together.
The details in illustrations are overly fussy and difficult to read. Sound effects grate after a while and the bonus feature animations aren't the strongest. Admittedly we're being picky, but Capecod Gaming have produced superb quality in other titles and, naturally, you come to expect a lot.
The paytable reveals a familiar structure for this developer, but somewhat scaled down, compared to others. Low paying jack through king playing cards offer a payout range of 10x - 100x your line bet. The three Musketeers offer prizes from 15x - 150x your line bet. Then, with prizes of 20x - 500x your line bet, we have Cardinal Richelieu, the iron mask and Milady de Winter.
Finally, the crown jewels are on offer as the game's top fixed jackpot of 1000x your line bet. Overall these payouts, combined with lower bets, mean less prize potential than similar titles.
However, gameplay quickly reveals features that serve to boost win lines and real cash potential. The relatively limited 15 paylines actually features pays both ways. On top of which, there are two wild symbols to base gameplay to help out with action and cash boosting.
Milady with a hat on is called a 'Jolly'. She serves the function of wild by substituting other paying symbols. D'Artagnan represents the other wild and will expand to fill an entire reel when he appears.
Achieve Big Wins in a Bounty of Bonuses
The biggest cash boosts in the free Musketeers slot will most likely come from the bonus features. These have some superb value from a real cash perspective as well as from an entertainment point of view.
The game features two scatter symbols that can trigger three bonus games. You'll need five of the ruby red necklaces to activate the brilliant Necklace Bonus.
In this mini side game you're on a three stage, mystery treasure hunt through the village, in search of the lost ruby necklace. Uncovering up to five objects will award you handsome prizes. You don't, however, want to discover the collar, which will automatically end the bonus.
Five of the horse and carriage scatter symbols will trigger the Carriage Bonus. In another fun side game you must select the black or white horse to gamble your luck on. On a grand Parisian street, a number of carriages will ride by. You will be awarded prizes for any that are pulled with the horse you picked.
The final bonus available is the Duel Bonus. Achieved by landing a mix of the two scatters across the reels it's another fun mini game. In fact, it has to be our favourite Musketeers bonus. Dust off your fencing skills as you challenge your opponent in combat.
Outside the city gates players have three potential challengers. Select one of them to do battle with, and the sword fight begins. By defeating them you'll earn a real cash prize and, in our experience, this can be a generous round. We've won prizes of up to 60x the total bet.
Finally, at eligible online casinos, there are three levels of jackpot available for some lucky gambler. If the silver, gold and platinum jackpots tempt you, you must choose a casino that activates the jackpot and play for real money.
Mobile Optimised, But Not Smartphone Friendly
As with many other titles for this 100% Italian developer, the game is mobile optimised and browser based. This makes it well suited to accessing from your smartphone or tablet, when you're not sitting at a desktop.
We have found, though, that the fussy, detailed graphics don't suit the small screen of a smartphone. A tablet should just about be ok and an iPad would work well. However, the free Musketeers slot is not ideal on pocket sized screens.
If you're eager for a smartphone option, then Bomber Fruit's simplicity of design works well. So, too does the gorgeous new release, Calaveras.
Gimme More of the Same
Online slots that showcase as many features as the free Musketeers slot are hard to come by.
Netent's Starburst is a great example of a pays both ways payline structure with expanding wilds in its base game.
For superb duelling bonus action you can't beat dragons fighting each other for your real cash prize. Leander Games offer this in their stunning Dragon Slot By Ciruelo.
If it's more Musketeers you crave, then Quickspin's charmingly chivalrous The Three Musketeers will fit the bill nicely. Where it lacks the depth and volume of Capecod Gaming's bonus features, it makes up for this in gorgeous looks.
The Musketeers Video Slot is All for One
Despite a few picky misgivings about detail of theme, the free Musketeers slot certainly has a great deal to impress. This literary-themed slot at first appears to be limited on paytable and paylines. However, gameplay quickly dispels many of these concerns with features and cash boosting possibilities that keep giving.
The bonus rounds are engaging and immersive, with handsome rewards. Pace is fast and volatility will suit the broadest range of players. It's just a shame there are those niggles with soundtrack, graphics and smartphone suitability. Ultimately, that may just stop this slot from being one for all.
