Lost Boys Loot

Lost Boys Loot (iSoftBet): Overview

With regulators growing increasingly concerned over the use of graphics that could appeal to kids, it's a bit surprising to see there are still developers out there who create video slots that look more like something that came with your children's Fruit Loops box rather than a virtual gambling machine. Based on the classic story of Peter Pan, the latest from iSoftbet is a somewhat mixed bag that manages to be both packed with extras, while lacking something in the action department at the same time.

Load up the game and the first glance is a pleasing one, we have to admit, with the game's 5 reels and 3 rows bursting with colour and character. The grid is set on Captain Hook's ship as it lies at anchor in the Neverland sea, shimmering in the distance. Once players are done admiring the scenery, they can choose bets from 0.20 c/p up to $/€20 which is divided over the 20 fixed paylines and which sets the coin value.

When it comes to returns, Lost Boys Loot is not a high paying game. Yet due to the low wagering options it does have an okay top theoretical return on the total bet. What lets it down is a cap on coins that will drive most jackpot hunter away. The Lost Boys characters weren't exactly renowned for their riches, living wild in trees and such, so they haven't stashed away too much loot. The slot is far from being tight though with an RTP rate slightly above average on 96.01%. When you pair the medium variance with a decent hit rate, you have a game that will please recreational gamers. More committed gamblers, on the other hand, will be heading for the hills.

The three principle characters - Hook, Peter, and to a lesser extent Tinkerbell, play prominent roles during the game as wilds or scatters and fans will be overjoyed by their inclusion. Other symbols from the paytable are the lively card suits - diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades worth 0.20 to 5x. Midway symbols are a clock and a map worth 0.5 - 7.5x, while high-value pay symbols are three lost boys who return 0.75x to 25x.

Lost Boys Loot (iSoftBet): Features

If there is one thing you can't accuse Lost Boys Loot of it is being short on extra features. Why have one wild when you can have four? The two 1x1 Hook wilds are standard and substitute for the base game pay symbols. Tinkerbell appears magically at random during the main game to turn 3-5 symbols into Tink wilds.

There is also a Fully Stacked Hook Wild that not only substitutes for pay symbols but when it lands and covers the middle reel, it triggers the Treasure Trap Free Spins. To start this bonus game, players spin the Captain's wheel to win 5, 8, 10, or 12 free spins. During these free spins, the extended Hook wild remains locked on the middle reel. When winning combinations land, Hook locks the symbols into place for the remainder of the spins by tossing a net over them.

Peter Pan is the bonus symbol and 3 or more trigger the Dueling Free Spins feature - 3, 4, 0r 5 Peter Pan bonus symbols will give you 10, 20, or 30 free spins respectively. They get the name 'Dueling' because if Pan and the extended Hook symbol land at the same time, they get into a brawl. If Hook wins the battle, he increases the bonus round multiplier, and if Pan wins, he awards more free spins.

The last symbol is the treasure chest and just one is needed to unlock the Lost Boys Bonus feature. The screen changes to one covered in chests, and players get to open 3 of them that can contain either cash prizes or the two free spins rounds.

To cap it all off, the crocodile that bit off Hook's hand also leaps into the action from time to time. Known as the Tick Tock's Wild Chomp feature, how it works is that the croc lurks beneath a reel, and if a Hook wild lands on that reel the croc leaps up to grab him changing all symbols beneath it wild as well.

Lost Boys Loot (iSoftBet): Verdict

You might need a moment or two after all of that to absorb everything. The gameplay contains a lot of different elements, and a demo is certainly worthwhile to learn how they all work. A fast-flowing, highly volatile slot this is not, but its bright theme and smorgasbord of extras do make Lost Boys Loot intriguing.

Where it lags is that Peter Pan and Neverland were all about magic, about being young forever, and about flying. Sure, there are battles between Hook and Pan during the game, but it's all a bit down to earth – it doesn't soar to the heights that the movie and stories achieved. A bit more enchantment, or maybe a more emotional soundtrack would have engaged fans of the Pan fable a bit more.

As it is, Lost Boys Loot is an above-average slot that is certainly easy on the eyes. Perhaps we were a little hard on it during the previous paragraph as it does possess a charm that makes spinning its reels enjoyable. The number of extras iSoftBet has managed to ram in is impressive and fun to discover. The result is a slot that is suited to casual gamers who will enjoy the mix of features and the gentle volatility. Those looking for a stronger hit won't be impressed. A top prize of 500x the bet is technically possible on one spin, and when you factor in multipliers this could conceivably reach solid amounts. However the top prize has been capped at 48,190 coins, or around 2,410x the total bet.

The vibe, the theme, and the numbers are aimed at a certain section of the gambling community, and that's fine. If it sounds enticing, you will have a pleasant time on your trip to Neverland. If you are recoiling over the numbers, however, then not even a sprinkle of Tink's fairy dust will win you over.