Cops 'N Robbers Slot Machine
The name of this slot is the same as a very old slot (with actual spinning reels) I used to play in British pubs many years ago. This version from Play N Go is completely different, though I did enjoy playing on it. The scene is the US and the symbols classic cops and robbers material like the diamonds, handcuffs and jail window bars. This is a simple 9 win line game. I was just about to write it off as one of those ‘not too bad, though nothing interesting’ games, when the bonus round hit. This certainly livened things up.
Visually, the slot looks retro. The 9 line setup and blocky graphics are more in line with a slot from the late 1990’s or early 2000’s than one of today’s games. There are some animations, though these are basic – for example hand comes in and takes the diamonds. The sounds are a little better, with an almost comedy element at times. For example, if your win line includes 3 of the jail cell windows, the ‘wah, wah, wahhhh’ comes in – like when a cartoon villain gets thwarted once again.
Graphics are better in the bonus game, which shows that this is not a truly old slot; here you get a car chase viewed through a rear-view mirror at the top of the screen. While this certainly livens things up, I do feel that this slot could do with something extra in addition to this feature to keep people engaged for the long term.
Setup and Play for Cops 'N Robbers
You have 9 lines to choose from, and can play up to 5 coins per line as well as selecting the value of each coin. This gives a range of 9c per spin (9 lines at 1c and 1 coin per line), up to a max of $45 (5 coins, $1 coin value, 9 lines). You’ll be given the opportunity to gamble after each win in this game, and can use auto spin to get up to 50 games going at once.
The top symbol is the safe door, this is wild (does not substitute for the scatter, though all other symbols). You will win 3000 coins for 5 of these on a pay line, with 300 coins for 4. There are no playing card symbols in this slot, with themed graphics ranging from bigger to smaller wins. The bag of money wins you 750 coins for 5, the diamonds or jewels 500, the painting and watch 250 and 150 and below for the cop, jail, mugshot and handcuffs.
Cop cars are the scatter symbol. You’ll win 250x your total spin amount for landing 5 of these anywhere on the screen. This symbol has the dual role of activating the car-chase bonus feature.
Cops 'N Robbers – Free Spins Bonus Round
This bonus game took me by surprise. I was expecting free spins, though not the unique format. You’ll hear sirens, and a rear view mirror will appear at the top of the screen showing the city and cars. Your job is to keep on driving, while free spins happen. These run quickly, and every now and again you’ll see a ‘roadblock’ notice on top of the reels. You have a simple choice, left or right. Sometimes you will keep driving, accumulating more wins which show their total at the top right. Other times you will see ‘Busted’ which ends your round. If you instead manage to get away, then your total of wins is doubled.
I liked this bonus round a lot, it was genuinely entertaining, and the wins which accumulated were welcome too. It did have the effect of making the return to the regular game play feel a little bit flat.
Cops 'N Robbers – Conclusion
An entertaining enough game, without being the best in the Play N Go range. The retro feel is deliberate, and this does have an appeal of its own. 9 win lines feels a little restricted in these days of 50, 100 or even 243-ways setups. On the other hand the game play is smooth, and those who enjoy less intensive games (perhaps on auto-play) should certainly give this game a spin.
The car-chase bonus game is unique, and for me it is worth having a spin on this slot just to try this a couple of times. Who knows, if you get lucky and double your total by escaping, you might want to come back and try this game again.
