Fizzy Pennyslot

Back in my day a lowly penny seemed to have a lot of worth.  It could buy you a sweet from the pick ‘n mix counter, a Freddo would set you back just 10 of them and the hallowed 99’er from your local ice cream van would set you back…you guessed it…99 pennies; it would even come with a complimentary flake and drizzle of sauce for good measure.  Admittedly that is an unusual statement to begin a slot review, the point being however, that at one point in all of our lives, we all felt we were getting a lot more bang for our buck!

Enter Big Time Gaming and their new release of the aptly named Fizzy Pennyslot; a 4 reel 4 row grid game appearing minimal in complexity yet packing a cork-popping punch.  Taking care as not to mis-lead or falsely advertise to the countless fans of the great provider, players are in fact able to lower their stakes to the humble amount of 1 pence per spin.  Unfortunately, heading down to the local amusements for a dabble on the classic penny arcade is fast becoming a dying art-form; humble 2p machines now 10p machines, cash coin slots replaced by a sea of flashing, beeping, all-consuming contactless card scanners.  The good ol’ days of cheap, simplistic fun demoted deep into the history books.  Or so it would seem.

So what do you actually get for your hard-earned penny?  Well, other than 4 reels and 4 rows, you get an extra fifth row containing various sized multipliers and Scatter Coins.  You get a very nostalgic looking grid overlay in the style of a shiny red vending machine.  You get a bright orange backdrop similar to that of opening night at the Palladium.  You also get a very handsome maximum win potential of 10,170x bet which, for a game that seems to have its roots set back to the days of old, really does make you blink twice.  The retro vibes just keep on coming with Big Time Gaming’s classic soundtrack, featuring indistinct chirpings of 80s and 90s arcade machines in between spins, that is guaranteed to hit vintage fanatics right in the feels.  Obviously for those that enjoy a spin or two using something a little more lucrative, worry not as Fizzy Pennyslot boasts a vast range of betting options all the way up to £90 per spin, sure to cater for everyone’s need.

Big Time Gaming certainly have the experience when it comes to 4×4 gaming grids with the likes of the classic POP, yet the simplistic touch of just 4 paylines is what really stands out here.  I’ve always stood by “less is often more” so will that be the case in this instance?   Due for release onto UK Casino platforms on the 26th June 2024, and with a generous RTP of 96.44%, let’s head back to the future and dive into the gameplay.

Fizzy Pennyslot Base Game Play

Fizzy Pennyslot Base Features

Following the theme of keeping things simple, all wins are acquired by matching 4 paying symbols from left to right across a row.  Wild symbols may present themselves on any spin in the form of a bag of jellybeans and substitute for any paying symbol.  Low paying symbols are represented by just a Q, K and A, with a pay value of 1x to 2x bet, whilst premium symbols suit the vending machine theming being drinks bottles, a pay value of 2x to 4x bet.  A full line of Wild symbols will give a 10x bet pay value.

The fifth reel on the grid is known as the Bonus Reel and serves the player with two purposes.  The reel will spin with every bet, revealing random multipliers that can land on any row.  Should a multiplier land on a row containing a win line, the payout value for that line shall be multiplied by the figure shown on reel 5.  During the Base Game, multiplier values can reach up to a staggering 200x.

Trigger Coin symbols are also present on the Bonus Reel.  Should a coin land anywhere on this reel during play, 6 free spins are awarded.

Land A Multiplier Value in the Bonus Reel for Bigger Wins

Fizzy Pennyslot Bonus

Landing a Trigger Coin inside the Base Game will award 6 free spins.  The Bonus game plays very similar to the base game, however, with 2 key differences involving the bonus reel.  On every free spin, the lowest multiplier on the bonus reel will be upgraded to a higher multiplier.  The value of the highest multiplier available during free spins will now be a huge 500x.

Landing an additional Trigger Coin on the bonus reel, during free spins, will award one extra free spin.  These extra free spins are very valuable considering the increasing multiplier on the bonus reel.

Win Exchange

A feature popular with Big Time Gaming, with releases such as Outlaw, is the Win Exchange whereby after a base game win value of 65x bet or more, the player is given the chance to “exchange” 65x of their win for 6 free spins.  To keep figures round, should you win £100 with a £1 stake, you will have the chance to keep £35 and convert £65 into free spins.  A player receiving a base game win value between 20x to 65x bet will be given the chance to exchange the entire win for free spins on the gamble wheel.

Bonus Buy

For those it applies to, a 6 free spins bonus can be bought at the cost of 65x bet and has an RTP of 96.44%.

Land A Single Trigger Coin On the Bonus Reel and Be Awarded 6 Free Spins

Pros and Cons of Fizzy Pennyslot

• Huge range of betting options to cater for every player’s needs
• Simple and easy to understand
• Perfect for nostalgia lovers
• High max win potential in relation to simplicity
• Lacking of significant in-play features
• Bonus round is indifferent to the base game
• Game play gets repetitive

Similar Games to Fizzy Pennyslot

• Pop
• Trigger Happy
• Star Clusters Megaclusters
• Donuts

First Impression of Fizzy Pennyslot

If you went into a shop to buy some new trainers for £50 and you saw an identical pair sat next to them for £30, which would you take to the tills?  Value for money plays an almighty role when it comes to games just like in everyday life.  Big Time Gaming have done a nice job when it comes to Fizzy Pennyslot.  Sticking strictly to a nostalgic theme, which straight away attracts a particular style of audience, simplicity has been key here.  Simple graphics, simple mechanics, simple gameplay; it all goes a long way, especially in the ever-growing jungle of hard-hitting complexity from providers such as Nolimit City.  That is by no means me saying extravagant games aren’t required…they are and there is a huge demand for them.  Yet being able to step back from the rat race for just a moment and refreshing your mind with some good old fashioned 4 pay line gaming, quite often is a nice breath of fresh air.

The ability to play on such a low stake as 1p is a classic and classy touch.  It helps cement the idea that gambling should always be fun and enjoyable for everyone.  It invites a new audience that, quite often, get priced out on having a good run at the slots by having small balances and by incorporating huge “Bonus Reel” multipliers of 200x and 500x (inside the bonus round), the potential wins, as a result, genuinely make playing with penny stakes worth while and not just a novelty.

So there is a lot of simplicity to Fizzy Pennyslot, although some might say a little too much.  Other than the addition of the Bonus Reel and the Win Exchange feature, the game unfortunately bares little more to it than that.  The Bonus play is almost identical to the Base Game play, bar the bigger potential multipliers, the base game can get quite repetitive and the constant tinkling and beeping and whirring of arcades of old in between spins (although bring a smile to one’s face to begin with) may grate a little over time.  On the other hand, seeing a nice multiplier drop on the Bonus Reel after matching 4 symbols never ceases to build the excitement.

Fizzy Pennyslot appears to be a game built for everyone.  Even though it may not be loved by everyone you can’t fault the intention.  Some like the provider for its complexity and willingness to try new things, with releases such as Trigger Happy, for others it’s keep to the basics like Bonanza Falls.  Whichever category you fall into, be sure to give this one a try.  I for one will happily give a penny for your thoughts…

*The screenshots taken of games reviewed on this site are taken from Demo Play, as reviews are often written before games are released for real play.