China has always been an incredibly fascinating country, with its food, music, art and literature consistently being some of the most popular cultural artefacts in the world. You simply cannot argue with that, and China was also home to one of the earliest dynasties we have a known record of, showing that they were one of the most advanced human civilizations from the very start. The list of scientific and technological achievements made by Chinese people throughout history is testimony to this too. Just look at someone like Confucius (otherwise known as Kong Qiu), the Ancient Chinese philosopher who helped to lay a basic framework of morality long before Jesus Christ entered the fray. And then what about The Great Wall Of China? A human made structure that is so big that it is even visible from space!

China’s list of historical achievements doesn’t even end there either, because they truly are responsible for so many different discoveries over the years. Fireworks, for instance, are a Chinese invention that are now incredibly popular all across the world. So popular, in fact, that there is a whole holiday dedicated to them! We could go on for hours about China’s essential position in the history of the world, however you also need to understand their growing contribution to modern day society as well. Construction projects across the world are helping to increase their influence as a benevolent global force, something that has only helped to increase their popularity, No wonder, then, that the online slot industry such as Slotsbaby.com has turned to China as a vital source of inspiration, with a slew of recent titles using certain aspects of Chinese culture as a theme. Lucky Firecracker by Microgaming is one such online slot, and you know what? It’s pretty damn good, read ahead for a comprehensive breakdown.

About Lucky Firecracker and its Aesthetic

Microgaming are often lauded for the ambitious scope of the aesthetic of their online slot titles, and they certainly haven’t skimped out on the design of Lucky Firecracker either. Right from the offset you can tell that this slot has been created with obvious care and dedication, the title screen features beautiful golden letters that show the game’s title in both English and Mandarin. It is a nice touch from Microgaming, because a lot of China inspired slots can often show a bit of disregard for the culture itself, not here however. After passing through the title screen you are then brought to the main gameplay area, with the reel grid appearing in front of a wonderful red background. Astute players will also notice a faint vignette of a night sky populated by fireworks too; it really is a lovely background! Indeed, fireworks are as vital to this slot’s aesthetic as China, and there’s no wander really, considering how famous the country is for its fireworks.

The symbols in Lucky Firecracker are also beautifully rendered in stunning 3D, appearing as a slightly darker shade of red than the background, and bordered with an elegant and glinting gold perimeter. As is pretty much always the case these days, the low paying symbols are made up of a variety of standard playing cards running from 9 all the way through to the Ace. After this there is an assortment of symbols, such as sparklers, firecrackers, golden gongs, rockets and a paper lantern. Hats off to Microgaming here, as they have ensured that the symbols on offer well and truly reflect the overall theme of the game. On the higher end of the pay scale we have a rocket trio that can pay out a maximum of 300 credits, as well as red firecrackers that will pay out 200 credits. There are also some Chinese lantern symbols that will pay 150 credits if you are lucky enough to find five of them. Nice!

About Lucky Firecracker and its Bonus Features

On top of these symbols Microgaming have obviously included a wild icon (is an online slot ever really worth its salt without one?), and this takes the form of four golden letters of the Chinese alphabet. As is the case throughout the online slot market, the wild symbol in Lucky Firecracker can substitute with anything else apart from the scatter in order to create some big old wins. Something to bear in mind, however, is that the wild symbols will only ever appear on the second and fourth reels, meaning that unfortunately is isn’t available as much as during some other online slots. Look for the Chinese dollar symbol too, as this is Lucky Firecracker’s scatter, and will grant you 15 free spins, all with a 3x multiplier. Moreover, you will get to keep any winnings made from the initial combination too!

Microgaming have also included the incredibly popular gamble feature in Lucky Firecracker, meaning that you could double your winnings after each successful spin. And as a result of their 243 ways to win system we don’t think you’ll be waiting particularly long before you strike lucky either. Just make sure you don’t gamble away all your winnings, because as easy as it is to double them, it is also pretty easy to lose them completely. We were a little disappointed not to find any other bonus games during Lucky Firecracker, but in reality these are not really needed, as it is already easy enough to hit some big old wins.

About Microgaming and Other Slots by Them

Maltese developers Microgaming are without a shadow of a doubt one of the most highly regarded online casino software creators there is in the modern world, effectively running the market alongside other titans such as NetEnt. Their games are consistently excellent, and something that really does appeal to gamblers is the fact that the pay outs from their titles are off the chain. Just look at their Microgaming Progressive Jackpot Network, for instance, something that has made millionaires out of several lucky players. Their back-catalogue is also something to be marvelled at, check out games such as:

· Germinator

· Robo Jack

· Secret Admirer

· Immortal Romance

Lucky Firecracker: The Verdict

This is a fantastic looking online slot, and one that runs incredibly smoothly. Our only gripe is the lack of bonus games, but you can’t have it all!