Samurai Split

We've rarely seen a more beautiful and dare we say accurate video slot machine than Samurai Split, a popular title in the NextGen Gaming portfolio. The watercolor background gives way to cartoon-like gameplay, just like traditional Japanese animated entertainment. It's fantastic.

The reels are in a floating grid, so the background comes through. It is a standard five-by-three reel combination, with 25 pay lines. Wins are awarded from left to right and they have to be on consecutive reels. Payouts start at three matching symbols, up to five in the same row.

The game's symbols include ten, jack, queen, king, ace, and then samurai on horses, a three-story temple, a bottle of potion, a flag, and the hilt of a sword. You're going to want to keep an eye out for the samurai who splits winning symbols in two. The more he splits, the bigger the winnings, which start at 2x your bet.

There is also a wild symbol you can't miss. Flag symbols are the scatters, with special rewards and free spins for three or more matching. And with the Warrior Spin, you'll only be playing with game symbols, not the card symbols, so there is a better chance to win.

The player dashboard is discreet at the bottom of the screen. It shows your balance, the current winning amount, and the total current bet. There is also a cog for settings. We have to admit we muted the music after a while, but even if you like the music, it's a good idea to mute it if you're playing in a public place.

There is a penny-slot option, and the limits are high, meaning that Samurai Split is a game for any level of wagering confidence.