Asian-themed slots and online slots have exploded onto the slot game scene over the last couple of years. Chinese New Year is developed specifically around the Chinese New Year, a very significant time in traditional Chinese culture. The first day of the Chinese New Year falls together with the new moon between the dates of 21 January and 20 February, and as such differs each year. Tradition dictates that on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the entire home must be cleaned thoroughly, in order to cleanse the house and the family living in it, from all ill fate and bad vibes. Lighting firecrackers is another traditional activity performed.
The Chinese calendar assigns a specific animal to each New Year. Animals include a snake, horse, goat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, monkey, rooster, pig, rat and an ox. The animals, along with the five elements of Chinese astrology, hold great significance for the year to which they have been assigned.
Chinese New Year is an online video slot based on the celebration and traditions of the Chinese New Year. The online slot features 5 reels and 15 paylines, as well as the Fireworks Bonus Feature and a Free Spins Bonus Game.
Interface and Sound Effects
The interface is user-friendly and easy to understand. Traditional Chinese music seeks to entertain and adds traditional flavour throughout the game.
Symbols
The symbols of the pig, dog, rooster, rat, monkey and horse all appear on the reels. The tiger is the wild symbol. The symbol substitutes for all symbols, except for the scatter symbol and the bonus symbol. A 5 in a row combination of the tiger wild carries a 5 000 credits award, and 4 000 credits will be added to the total winnings for a combination of 4 in a row.
5 rats on any active payline will pay out at 1 000 credits, 5 ox symbols carry a reward of 750 credits and rabbits and snakes tally in at 500 credits each for the same denomination.
The monkey is the bonus symbol and the dragon represents the Chinese New Year scatter symbol.
Chinese New Year Free Spins Bonus Game
The monkey only appears on reels 1, 2 and 3, but if you’re lucky enough to land three or more during any one spin, you will activate the Free Spins Bonus Game.
Fireworks Bonus Feature
The dragon appears on reels 3, 4 and 5, and holds the key to unlocking the Fireworks Bonus Feature. 3 or more dragons must be landed on reels 3, 4 and 5.
During the Fireworks Bonus Feature, the player is transferred to a new screen, displaying 5 fireworks. Each firework chosen will add a bet multiplier to the mix, until such time as the dud firework is chosen – this firework will fail to ignite and simultaneously end the Fireworks Bonus Feature. Multipliers are an effective means of quickly increasing winnings.