5 Mariachis

Once in a while, a slot is released that is as captivating to look at as it is to play it. Habanero's trademark and signature have always been their mission: producing aesthetically pleasing games that are as likely to create an abundance of financial relief in somebody's life as they are likely to entertain and just plain be a sight for sore eyes. Don't be fooled by 5 Mariachi's modest 25 paylines – this 5-reel video slot boasts a progressive jackpot that can and will be bringing good fortunes to players worldwide. Let us step into this wonderfully animated world of one Central America's sleepy village coming to life for what is certainly the event of the year as they take out their sombreros, lavish dresses, pinatas and...tequila, of course.

Theme

Mexico, apart from being a stunning place to visit and cherish all the cultural riches it has to offer, is a country of very specific wealth: that of joie de vivre, the hedonism and lust for life. This nation's fiestas and ethnic festivities, such as Dia de Los Muertos, are world-famous for the vastly colorful and cheerful experience they provide. This penchant for being peppy, bright and buoyant has attracted the attention of many – not least Habanero, whose Hispanic origins of their name almost create an obligation to deliver authentic and fun a game as it can get, whilst replicating certain sights and sounds these festivals produce.

Entering the 5 Mariachis slot, we are introduced to the merry band of...well, 5 mariachis – the traditional musicians playing and singing Mexico's folk songs. Almost immediately, the depiction of small village baking in the sun, some cacti, flags, festive lights and a road sign pointing to the ongoing fiesta set up vibrant backdrops against which the 3x5 reel grid is set (the backdrops change to the fiesta venue when extra spins are triggered). At this point, your brain and nerves are immersed into the wonderfully mixed hues of bright and light blue, orange, green and yellow. On the reels, which spin very smoothly, is the usual procession of card symbols working as symbols of small value. 5 distinctive symbols, each depicting one member of the mariachi band, work as the so called substitute symbols. Scatter symbol is the famous, colorful sugar skull. A donkey piñata triggers the Piñata Pick Feature (if landed in enough amount). The symbol of charming and flirtatious Mexican lady appears during extra spins, while a bottle of tequila, a guitar, a halapeño pepper, cactus and a set of maracas complete the high-end symbol collection.

Expectedly, the very music of traditional Mexican bands comprises the soundtrack, spiced up by the occasional shouts of “si, señor” or “hola, muchachos!”, really giving that extra zing to the already fun game.

Betting Options and Functions

Down at the bottom of the screen is the players' interface, beautifully integrated into the game's surroundings, not compromising the flawless look of the game. There you will find means to adjust the game's settings to your preferences as a well as setting up the betting options to fit your financial plan and playing style. The coin denomination size can be set up from 0.01 to 20, and the lines are fixed at 25, but you can change the amount of coins per line levels by clicking on '-' or '+' on the Bet Level meter. The Bet Max button does just that – adjusts to maximum bet the slot will allow (which in coins is 250 and in currency 5000) and the AutoPlay lets you adjust up to 500 auto spins that can be stopped if certain criteria is met and that you can also choose. The balance line just beneath these commands lets you know of your remaining balance and on there you can also have an overview of your winnings as well as options to turn sound and quick spins on/off. The 'I' button to the very left of the interface will open up a screen with detailed info on each symbol's cash out value, the payout diagram for all the paylines and some run-down on how extra features work. Which we're just about to cover anyway.

Features

Substitute symbols are our very own main protagonists – the mariachis. They substitute all of the symbols except Scatter and piñata. There are two types of these substitute symbols, one that will appear during the main game and one appearing during free games, eg. extra spins and they differ by differently colored frames. These symbols will multiply the win by the amount of these symbols that land.

Extra Spins are activated when at least three Scatter skulls land. Players get 15 extra spins and during those, the symbol of a Mexican lady will appear on reels, morphing into any of the other symbols that are needed to form a win.

Piñata Pick Feature is triggered when, during the main game, three donkey piñata symbols land on reels 2, 3 and 4. This will launch a mini-game during which a player needs to pick the donkey piñata symbol to reveal the cash prize with 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x, 50x or 100x multiplier.

Our Take

The thing that grabs one's attention at the snap of fingers, the visual presentation, is second to none and a serious contender for one of the finest graphic displays we've ever seen – seriously, this is one of the best-looking slots you'll ever play. With theoretical RTP standing at 93.99% and mini, minor, major and grand jackpots with no upper limit, it's lucrative and fruitful too! With virtually no flaws we can point out nor anything we have a gripe with, we'd say that 5 Mariachis is one of those games that anyone considering themselves a connoisseur of slots should not only try out at some point – but become a regular player of.