When video slots first appeared in the online gambling industry, they took almost all the attention from once much appreciated classic slots and pushed them on the margins. However, there are still some of us who occasionally like to get back to the simplicity and straightforwardness of classic slots, and as games developers realized this trend, they started issuing what many in the industry refer to as “mutant slots” – i.e. a combination of classic and video slots, which usually involves classic slots’ symbolism, and video slots’ graphics and features. One such title has recently joined the market – Microgaming’s “Power Spins – Atomic 8s”, which certainly deserves attention, but is not without its drawbacks.

Let’s start from the good things about this 5-reel, 9-payline slot. First of all, it offers excellent graphics in which traditional bars, bells, cherries, and 8s really come alive. In addition, the game’s background and sounds genuinely depict the “atomic” theme, and the fact that they change in regular and power spins only adds to the good first impression of the slot. In addition, the game’s payouts are very decent, especially if you opt for Power Spins, whose small extra cost may bring you fantastic benefits in terms of winning.

Another good fact about the slot is that it offers all player types the possibility to access it and enjoy its strong sides. This is thanks to the fact that it supports coin denominations from $0.01 to $1, and the alternative option to place up to 10 coins per payline. This means that on the maximum number of lines (9 of them), players can place a bet from 9 cents to $90 (without the Power Spins on, or 33% more with the Power Spins option on).

Special Feature:

This is the part where “Power Spins – Atomic 8s” shows its downsides. Namely, as the Power Spins are its only feature, along with special symbols such as wilds and scatters, the slot becomes quite dull after a period of play. The biggest criticism is this: as a combination of two types of slots, this game needs something extra to trigger players’ attention. That extra touch is a special feature of some sort… such as free spins or a second screen bonus round. And “Power Spins – Atomic 8s” has none of these, not even a multiplier attached to the wild symbol, and this is what makes it look a bit empty.

However, as the Power Spins are truly a great feature, they deserve our unreserved attention. The deal with them is that for a small extra cost (3x the line bet), they give you the chance to win both ways – something you don’t see quite often in online slots, and a trait that is much valued among players. With this feature on, you get much more than you invest, because you’ll see winnings way more often than in the base game. As for the slot’s special symbols, wilds and scatters, they have kept their basic functions – wild as a substitute, and scatter as a symbol that pays any.

All in all, “Power Spins – Atomic 8s” is a game that could have won many more hearts, especially those of punters who still have a thing for classic slots, if only it had a specific touch to it. This way, it may undeservedly fall into oblivion, among so many other games that paid well like it does, but did not have that strong character which makes the most popular games stand out in the crowd.