Joker Pro slot review

Fruit machines have that legendary look, but their gameplay is stale. Joker Pro updates them with a more modern feel.

NetEnt’s 2017 slot, Joker Pro, is a callback to the golden age of slots. A simple design, easy-to-learn mechanics combined with fast gameplay, that is the recipe for a classic like Joker Pro.

Joker Pro is a hybrid of NetEnt’s two older slots, Starburst and Twin Spin. The former was the source of the mechanics and the latter was the inspiration for the visuals. With role models like these, the expectations are high.

Fortunately, Joker Pro lives up to these expectations. Even if you can see the parts that make the whole, it never felt like a copy of something else. Joker Pro is a completely unique experience.

So, if you want to see how the classic fruit machine can be brought into the modern era, then check out Joker Pro.

Graphics and sound

Joker Pro is the stepping stone between old-school fruit machines and modern slots. It combines the visuals of the machines with the functionality of the new. NetEnt made a good-looking game that works like a charm.

The visual design of Joker Pro is amazing. Everything is simplified, yet sparkling with energy. The lights shining in the background, the small details behind the symbols and the visual effects when you win something are all in sync. As a whole, this game is a beauty.

The only thing that could be improved is the sound. Even though they do fit the theme, they are really bland and forgettable. I forgot what the music sounded like in about five minutes after I shut the game down. I normally play Joker Pro without the sound on for one specific reason, the announcer. The only time you hear him is when you hit the re-spin feature. But that voice is so bad, that I just couldn’t bear to hear it again.

Symbols and wins

Joker Pro has all the classic symbols from the legendary slots of old. Diamonds, sevens, bars, bells, horseshoes and clovers are all here.

Alongside them is one special symbol, the scatter. If you can get a single scatter anywhere, you activate the Joker Pro Re-spin feature. This turns the scatter symbol into a wild, fills reels 1 and 5 with wilds and re-spins the reels for free. Joker Pro features a jackpot, which can be won from the re-spins and is 1,000x your wager.

The paytable is fairly balanced. Unfortunately, this game has a high volatility, which means you will end up getting longer periods, where you get no wins. Joker Pro does have an above-average RTP of 96.80%.

The maximum paytable for each symbol while playing with a 10 coin bet.

• Diamond: 200 coins
• Seven: 100 coins
• Bar: 80 coins
• Bells: 60 coins
• Horseshoe: 50 coins
• Clover: 40 coins

My bankroll was going all over the place when I played Joker Pro. The dry spells felt really long, but then I got a good re-spin, that refilled the coffers. This was then followed by some constant tiny wins, which sucked me dry. I got to feel the volatility up close and in person.

Features

• Joker Pro Re-spins: Get free re-spins and hit the jackpot

If you land a single scatter symbol, you get a free re-spin. During these Joker Pro Re-spins, the first and last reel are completely filled with wilds, and the scatters that started them also turn into wilds. Every time you land a new wild on a reel during the re-spins, you get another re-spin.

At the start of the re-spins, the center payline is lit up. This is the hot spot payline. If you can get three wilds on those hot spots, you win 1,000x your wager

My experiences

Joker Pro is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is an amazing game, that breathes new life to games of old. On the other hand, it is a high volatility slot that can suck your bankroll dry in flash.

This type of old-school game has always been problematic for me. I don’t like to play all or nothing, and I rather want to win in a steady flow. Dry spells can suck the fun out anything and a bigger win can’t compensate for that.

I can easily see that there is a crowd for games like Joker Pro. It is a fast-paced slot that is easy to pick up and play. Nothing too fancy, just straight-forward fun. If you like this type of gameplay, then Joker Pro is a game for you.