Loco The Monkey

Loco the Monkey: Slot Overview

Back in 1990-something, the first Latin American hip hop group to hit it big and score platinum was the South Gate, California outfit Cypress Hill. One of their early breakouts, Insane in the Membrane, not only introduced the wonders of sopranist rapping, it also brought the word ‘loco’ to a mainstream audience. Ever since, it has stuck as a way to describe someone getting all wild and crazy. Developer Quickspin has used the word to name their primate populated slot Loco the Monkey. Loco is a frisky chap who brings not only a bit of cheek to the reels but plenty of wild driven action as well.

As often is the case, Quickspin has gone for bright and cheerful when they designed Loco the Monkey. The 5-reel, 50-payline grid bursts with lush tropical fruit, grinning monkeys, all set amidst thick green jungle. A little less friendly is an upturned jeep on the left-hand side as well as a couple of snakes, wrapping their way around the slot’s frame. Are the serpents benign, dangerous, or tempting? For now, everything comes across as pretty friendly, but looks can be deceiving.

Players swing into the thick of things on any device from mobile to desktop by picking a bet from 25 p/c to $/€100 per spin. While it might not be the most raging beast in the jungle, Loco the Monkey is nevertheless rather volatile, rated by Quickspin as 4 out of 5. So not the most volatile the studio has made, yet it’s up there all the same. RTP should suit a broad range of players with a slightly above average value of 96.15%. Potential is possibly higher than you might imagine too, given the cutesy vibe, which we’ll get to soon.

Winning combinations line up on the cobweb of paylines when at least three land side by side from the leftmost reel. One exception to this rule is the highest paying banana symbol which pays a small consolation prize when two of a kind land. Should five bananas land, players pick up a win of 10x the bet. Fruit makes up the rest of the premium symbols too, such as pineapples, berries, limes, and mangos, worth 3 to 4 times the stake for five of a kind. The remaining symbols are several of 9-A card icons that stick out from the bunch due to their plain, monochromatic nature.

Loco pops up as the wild symbol on reels 2, 3, 4 or 5. In its basic form, the Loco wild substitutes for all other symbols in the game except the scatter. Loco is used extensively during the features too, as we will see.

Loco the Monkey: Slot Features

If you’re going to use the word Loco you have to be prepared to follow up with some wacky behaviour. Otherwise, you end up looking tame. Fortunately, Loco the Monkey backs up its boast by including plenty of wild driven action.

It starts when 4 or more monkey wilds land on the same base game spin. This activates the More Monkeys! Respin mechanic. All of the triggering wild monkeys turn sticky and are locked in position while reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 respin. If another monkey wild lands, it is in turn locked for another respin. As is often the case in this type of feature, respins continue to be awarded as long as new wilds land. When no more wilds land up, a win evaluation takes place with the locked wild configuration. Free spins cannot be triggered off Respins.

Monkeys appear again on the golden idol scatter symbol which lands on reels 1, 2, or 3. When 3 land at the same time, the Monkey Frenzy! Free Spins feature is triggered. This bonus comes with 10 free spins and sticky wilds. Whenever a Loco wild lands, it is locked into its position for the remainder of free spins. It’s possible a new wild will land in a position already occupied by a sticky wild. When this happens, a multiplier is added to the original wild, incrementing by 1 up to a maximum of x3. Land 3 bonus scatters on a single free spin to win 5 additional spins.

Loco the Monkey: Slot Verdict

This being a Quickspin slot, Loco’s looks are easy on the eyes, the sound effects are of a high standard, and the game comes with plenty of personality. Don’t expect a jolly old time in the jungle with friendly monkeys peeling exotic fruits while picking critters out of your hair though. Loco the Monkey is one of those games that might look all innocent on the surface but can actually be pretty unforgiving behind the playful simian smiles. Perhaps a clue is in the title because Loco does live up to his name from time to time.

On the bright side, it’s not every day you see a hold and win style feature comprised of wilds. While not a frenzied gorilla beating its chest to ward off intruders, Loco can be tough. However, he can also be pretty giving as well. Get a bunch of sticky wilds in the right place during Monkey Frenzy! Free Spins, (a few multipliers won’t hurt), and the game can produce wins as high as 6,829 times the bet.

As is the case in a number of Quickspin slots, Loco the Monkey contains a level of adorableness that makes it easy to warm to, although some players will unavoidably find the looks too childish for their taste. The reel and payline combination is awkward at times, but for some mischievous gaming that can bite or reward, Loco the Monkey might well make for an enjoyable gaming session.