- Software: Microgaming
- Reels: 5
- Lines: 30
- Progressive: No
- Max Win: 7,500x
- Max Coins/Line:10
- Coin Values: 0.01 to 0.20
- Bonus Round: Yes
- Multipliers: Yes
- Scatters: Yes
- Free Spins: Yes
- Wild: Yes
Mix a wildly popular video game with a slots game and what do you get? Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword.
Yes, that voluptuous vixen of archeology adventure comes back in a Microgaming entry that combines stunning visuals (including Ms. Croft herself) with an exciting array of features designed to bring tons of treasure cascading down for slots players. Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword boasts a 7,500 times line multiplier that can be enlarged even more by wagering up to 10 coins per payline, with coin values ranging from 0.01 to 0.20. Adding to this option are bonus games, multipliers, free spins, scatters, wilds, and the thrilling anticipation that any combination can occur on any spin.
Even with all the ways to win, Microgaming has made sure that this video slots game isn't just about amazing awards – it's all about the gaming experience itself.
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword opens with an animated introduction, complete with movie-quality soundtrack, that enthralls players. This video slots game follows a storyline in a manner similar to Rival Gaming Software's iSlots, although it's not tied as strongly to time periods. Alas, however, Microgaming hasn't improved its reel-spins over its original version of Tomb Raider, but the animations for winning combinations more than make up for this oversight.
The real sight-and-sound excitement comes in new sequences for scatter and wild wins, and especially for the free-spins and bonus games. During the regular game, watch for the variations of Lara as they spin by on the reels; her portrait's the most valuable, because it's also the Wild symbol. Other icons are the typical high card suit values, with the addition of a passport icon and the regular scatter symbol.
Despite ragged gameplay caused by the reels' slow action, Secret of the Sword still provides intense entertainment because the other attributes of this version come together well. Prize-hunters and slots enthusiasts alike will appreciate Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword as an engrossing environment in which test their gaming skills and win big money.
Wild Symbol
Lara’s portrait serves as the wild symbol. Except for the scatters of the passport and the sword's jewelled -part icon, the wild can substitute for all other icons. Land 2, 3, 4 or 5 repetitions of the wild icon across an active payline and line multipliers of 5, 75, 750, or 7,500 times respectively will drop into place.
Scatter Symbol
The passport and the sword jewelled-part icon form the scatter symbols. The passport doesn’t award any prizes, but admits the player to the Global Adventure Bonus. The green jewelled icon triggers free spins as well as a prize. Line up 2, 3, 4 or 5 repeats of the icon in any positions across the reels to rack up a prize of 2, 3, 20 or 100 times respectively the total bet. This prize is especially good for the adventurous players who've maxed out their betting with high-value coins.
Free Spins
Spin three or more of the scatter icon to win at least 10 free-spins with Microgaming's exclusive Rolling Reels™ feature. Rolling Reels™ works like this: During a free spin, any symbols that contribute to a winning combination will fade away, allowing remaining icons to fall down into their positions. When this happens, prizes are recalculated. Each time the Rolling Reels™ occurs, prizes are increased by a multiplier up to five times!
But that's not all. This game will random trigger a Super Mode, where you get five free spins with a multiple-wild-position device. Super Mode produces even more wins as the multiple symbols are maintained as wild icons for the duration of this feature. Talk about unlocking hidden treasure!
Bonus Round
Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: Secret of the Sword has what many players and reviewers consider the finest bonus game in all of online gaming. Here's how this amazing bonus works:
The passport symbol serves to trigger the bonus round. However, the challenge is that a player must spin the passport icon onto the center of all five reels. Fortunately, a player can achieve this in one spin or over the course of multiple spins. Each time a passport appears players hear Lara's liltingly sexy British voice in dialogue with her associate. Then neon blue light outlines the reel in hopes another passport icon will drop into place, which inevitably happens. At this point, all five reels light up to take the player to the Global Adventure Bonus. The prizes for the bonus game are calculated according to the weighted average of the bets on each reel.
Once inside the Global Adventure Bonus, players choose a destination on a blue map of the world at which to seek mystical artifacts that lead to prizes. These ancient mysterious sites are hidden in London, Tokyo, Bolivia, Nepal, Ghana and others. At each location there are six items from which to choose, but watch out for the traps! Capture the coins behind the items and complete the bonus round as a big winner.
Finally, keep a lookout for hidden bonuses, plus other triggers to more bonus games, including a chance to take over Lara in order to shoot at targets. That's really bridging the gap between a video game and a slot machine.