Japan-O-Rama

Japan-O-Rama is a game with 20 pay-lines and 5 reels created in Rival. I like the theme in this game because I am fascinated by the Far East, especially by Japan. I can say that Rival has succeeded to represent today's Japan in the best possible way with the symbols, as a connection of the modern and the traditional.

Beside to the symbols that represent traditional Japan as for example the symbols with the Ninja warrior, the sumo wrestler, the girl with traditional Japanese hair etc., here we also have a symbols that represent the modern Japan such as various electronic devices, robots, high-speed trains etc. I also like some small details that I noticed here as for example that the lines besides being marked with Arabic numerals are also marked with the Japanese numbers. Also the sound that can be heard in the background represents a connection of the traditional and the modern because we hear some modern electronic music while spinning on the spins and while they are not spinning you hear some traditional Japanese music.

The features that we have here are "pure classic Rival". I'll start with the Expanding Wild symbol that in this game appears on the first 3 reels. Then there is the classic bonus round and at the end the free spins feature. The Japan-O-Rama is one of the few Rival games that are not much generous with free spins. For 3 scatter symbols you get only 5 free spins, 10 free spins comes with 4 and 20 with 5 scatter symbols. Although this is a game in which I liked the look and the theme, it has never been my favorite. Actually, here I had several attempts but almost every time I was in the minus after a while that I would have spent here. No matter of that, I will not give up and I hope soon I’ll be able to boast with some big wins on this game. For Japan-O-Rama I give 6 out of 10 possible stars.

I’ve never been a fan Japan-O-Rama simply because I just didn’t like how it represents what it wants to be about. It’s a Japanese themed game of course but I believe the creators approached to the idea from the wrong aspects. I can imagine they sat around a table and after figured out Japan will be the target theme of the slot, everybody threw in what was the first thing that came into their minds about the country and culture. Sushi, geisha, sumo wrestler, anime cartoon, ninja, robot-phone (referring to the technical power) and at the end their creative director said ‘OK, these will be the symbols’. It’s not a conception, it leads nowhere. Why not choose just one of them and built around the slot with cleverness, nuances and lot of ingenuity?

You can easily tell ‘You don’t like how it looks like but it’s not the most important of a slot machine’. Of course, you’re right but unfortunately other segment of the game is not better a little bit. The Jackpot of the base game can be won with 5 Swords, which is 1000! times of line bet (not 10.000, just 1000). Being of a 20-payline product it is very poor. Geisha takes the responsibility to activate free spins that can be 5, 10, 20 with x3 multiplier and the Wild which is from the Expanded type appears on the first 3 reels but doesn’t have multiplier function. I can see similar feature qualities at other games so it wouldn’t be a problem but these payout percentages are horrible.

Once when I was at the beginning to get to know Japan-O-Rama I had 3 free spin sessions one after the other that total gave me back €1.75!!!. I couldn’t believe how it happened and I have never had and hopefully never will such ‘successful’ segments. The game also offers bonus which is a simple flipper game without requiring player assistance but for me it’s not too interesting or enjoyable.

If it wouldn’t be clear by now, I don’t like this game at all. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any part of it that would give me just a little positive thing that I would appreciate. Sadly, I have to say this is one of the worst game I’ve ever met and I can’t dissuade anyone to play it so I just say believe me you can find much, much more way better slots to spend your time with.