How many times did you wish those classic, 3-reel slots had something a bit more extra, something to make them more exciting, more engaging, more like their 5-reel video brethren? And are you also among those who’d really love to try out a slot about the heroes of old that fearlessly fought against all evil, and stood up to tyranny and malice? Then you should keep an eye for Rival’s brand new release that introduces an innovative concept into 3-reelers, at the same time working on a highly interesting theme – “Heroes’ Realm.”

The story of this 3-reel, single payline slot follows two heroes – a big, strong barbarian hero, and his smokin’ hot female partner, who travel together and oppose evil armies of undead. Doesn’t sound like a classic 3-reel slot? That’s the whole point! “Heroes’ Realm” engages in some superior fun and exceptional graphical solutions which cannot be found in just any classic slot. There are also the genuine sound effects which make the play even more exciting, and the symbols that add even more authenticity to the game: various weapons, skulls, magic potions, treasure chests, etc.

Another thing that makes “Heroes’ Realm” so much different from regular classic slots are its features, which include free spins and a bonus round. However, there’s something similar to classic slots, and that’s the payout frequency, which tends to be quite low, even during free spin rounds. Yet, this slot is obviously more about fun than about prizes, which is also proved by the height of coin amounts, which are quite undemanding. Namely, those range from $0.01 to $0.50 and it’s possible to place up to three coins per the single line. This means that the bet amounts you have at your disposal range from $0.01 to $1.50, which makes quite a modest selection, fit for some casual playing rather than massive prize winning.

Special Features:

A section about special features is rarely seen in reviews of 3-reel slots. Still, in case of “Heroes’ Realm,” there’s definitely room for it. As already mentioned, this slot introduces two special features into the world of classic slots – free spins and a second screen bonus round. The free spins are triggered by one of the weapons, crossed sables, two of which will bring you 10 free spins, and three of which trigger as much as 50 free spins. The prizes during the free games range from lower to medium ones, and it’s also possible to trigger the bonus round during them. As for the bonus round, it may turn out to be somewhat more rewarding when it comes to prizes. It is activated by three skull symbols, which will take you to a second screen, where you need to pick your fighter and earn coins by fighting the undead armies which are raiding your realm. If you don’t make it on time, you may also lose some coins, but they are actually quite easy to get back if you take down most of the skeletons.

The general impression left by “Heroes’ Realm” is quite refreshing, despite its occasional stinginess. It’s nothing you’d expect from a classic 3-reel slot, and it definitely brings a breath of fresh air into this type of game.

- reviewed by www.latestcasinobonuses.com, last updated 2011-07-12.