There are a number of slot machines themes that seem to be a favourite with game developers and pirates is one of them. Pirates invoke a feeling of adventure, of sun and wind on the high seas. When in reality it was all about pillaging, looting and being shot by canons.
Cannonball Bay is a pirate themed slot by MicroGaming set in the Caribbean which was pirate central back in the 1800’s. The slot has five reels and twenty five paylines which are all optional, depending on what the players budget is. Coin values range from one cent to five cents, and you can bet from one up to twenty coins per line. This does make Cannonball Bay a bit more expensive than some other online slots.
Amusing Graphics
Although Cannonball Bay is all about cannon fire, it has been done in a light hearted way with cartoon style graphics and lots of bright colours. The characters in the game all seem to have spindly legs and are rather stereotypical looking with typical peg legs and the odd green parrot. The reels are 2D, and set against a nautical map backdrop. On each side of the map can be seen a large sailing ship under full sail. All of the player info is at the bottom in a rather busy format. The many buttons have been designed to look like scrolls which fit into the theme.
Ships Wheels and Cannon Balls
The symbols in Cannonball Bay are suitably nautical. Poker card symbols do make their appearance however but have been done in a curly script and look as if they be found on a nautical map. These will pay up to 250 coins for five of a kind when you are wagering one coin per line. Theme based symbols include an anchor worth 500 coins, a ships wheel worth 750, a few barrels of dynamite worth 1000 coins for five of a kind and a treasure chest worth 1500 coins for five of a kind when you are wagering one coin per line.
Cannonball Bay does have some special symbols too, including a wild and a scatter. The wild is a fierce looking cannon and can be found on any of the reels. The scatter, which can also be found anywhere, is a moustachioed pirate with a funny looking hat. The wild symbols are also the key to the games standing jackpot. Five of them in a row on an active payline will get you 2000 coins.
Exploding Wilds Free Spins
The scatter symbol will trigger a number of free spins if you manage to find three or more of them anywhere on your reels. You will receive a set amount of five free spins no matter how many scatters over three you find. During these free spins a cannon will shoot cannonballs i=onto your reels. When the balls explode they will turn a number of symbols wild. This is only available during the free spins round however and will not carry over into the base game. This round cannot be retriggered.