Owl Eyes Slots Game
Nextgen Gaming released the Owl Eyes video slots game to online casinos in August 2014. The game is based on a fantasy theme of an enchanted forest where a wise owl lives. Will-o-the-wisps flutter throughout the dark, moonlit woods as enchanted trees sleep and forest creatures scamper about.
Combining transparent reels, stacked wilds, animated backgrounds, in-tile animations, a post-spin Gamble option, and a theoretical return to player of 95.303% Owl Eyes seeks to enchant slots players for hours on end under the pale moonlight.
If you would like to try out this game for free without having to put any money on the line, you have that freedom. Check out our free to play version of the Owl Eyes slot game below, and also our recommendation for where you can play for real money.
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Gameplay Features and Mechanics
Owl Eyes is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot game with 50 pay lines. The game awards prizes for winning combinations from left to right on any pay line, paying only the highest possible prize per line. There are two special symbols in the game, a Wild and a Scatter symbol. All winning combinations pay prizes in multiples of the active bet per line. Except where noted below all the symbols pulsate on tiles that contribute to winning combinations.
The Owl is the game's Wild symbol. It substitutes for all other symbols except the Scatter and doubles any prize for which it contributes to a winning combination. The Wild owl may appear singly or in stacks on reels 2, 3, and 4. Each owl tile that contributes to a winning combination on a valid pay line plays a little animation in which the view of the owl recedes and fades into a shot of the owl flying into the night against a bright moon.
The Scatter symbol is the full moon. When three or more of these symbols appear on the screen they trigger the Free Spins bonus game and then whirl to reveal a dark spot that makes them appear to be similar to the eyes of an owl. Three Scatter symbols pay 5 times the total bet; four Scatter symbols pay 20 times the total bet; five Scatter symbols pay 100 times the total bet.
- The Enchanted Tree
This symbol is the game's highest value symbol, paying 25 times bet per line per pay line for 3 symbols in a winning combination, 100 times bet per line for 4 symbols, and 1000 times bet per line for 5 symbols.
- The Badger
Pays 25 times bet per line per pay line for 3 symbols in a winning combination, 60 times bet per line for 4 symbols, and 800 times bet per line for 5 symbols.
- The Mushrooms
Pay 20 times bet per line for 3 symbols in a winning combination, 50 times bet per line for 4 symbols, and 600 times bet per line for 5 symbols.
- The Owl Feather
Pays 20 times bet per line for 3 symbols in a winning combination, 40 times bet per line for 4 symbols, and 500 times bet per line for 5 symbols.
- The "A" and "K"
These symbols both pay 15 times bet per line for 3 symbols in a winning combination, 30 times bet per line 4 symbols in a winning combination, and 200 times bet per line for a 5-symbol winning combination.
- The "Q" and "J"
These symbols pay 10 times bet per line for a 3-symbol winning combination, 25 times bet per line for a 4-symbol combination, and 100 times bet per line for a 5-symbol combination.
- The "10" and "9"
These symbols pay 5 times bet per line for a 3-symbol winning combination, 10 times bet per line for a 4-symbol combination, and 75 times bet per line for a 5-symbol combination.
Game widgets and controls are position both above and below the screen playing area with the 5 reels. Above the top left-hand corner of the reels is the Total Bet window, which shows exactly how much (in currency) you pay for each spin. This is the amount deducted from your Balance per spin. The Balance is displayed above the top right-hand corner of the reels.
A status line runs across the bottom of the reels screen. This bar displays various random tips when the reels are stationary. If a spin produces any prizes they are listed in this window.
Beneath the status bar is a row of icons you use to control the game. Starting with the far left they are:
Information, a round blue icon with a white "i" embedded in it. Clicking on this icon brings up the help screen system. You use the right and left arrows to navigate through the four screens and click on the red circle with the "X" in it to return to the game.
Immediately below the Information icon is a sound control (denoted by a musical note icon) that turns game volume on or off.
To the right is the Pay Lines control. Use the Red down arrow and the Blue up arrow to adjust the number of active pay lines. There is a small Bent Line icon just above this control that you can use to restore the maximum number (50) of active pay lines. You can also click on any of the numbered tabs next to the reels screen to active all the pay lines up to that number, or to deactivate the pay lines above that number.
You can also use the up and down arrow keys on your computer keyboard to adjust the number of active pay lines. Hold down the arrow for continuous scrolling.
To the right of the Pay Lines control is the Bet Per Line control. Use the Red down arrow and the Blue up arrow to adjust the amount of the coin value to be ber per line. There is a small icon just above this control, in the form of a stack of coins, that you click on to set the Max Bet. Max Bet equals maximum coin value (2.00) times active Pay Lines (50), or 100 currency units. The game defaults to 0.10 per line.
You can also use the right and left arrow keys on your computer keyboard to adjust the coin value of your bet per line. Hold down the arrow for continuous scrolling.
In the bottom middle of the screen is a large WIN window that displays the total prize your last spin paid.
To the right of the Win window is a button with a Heart and Club icon. This is the Gamble button. See how it works below.
Next to the Gamble button is the Autoplay button, a round green icon with two white arrows chasing each other. Click on Autoplay to bring up the slider dialog that allows you to set the number of automatic spins anywhere from 0 to 100. If you have used Autoplay previously in the current game session you can just click on Last Settings. Otherwise, slide the bar to where you want it and click Start.
Finally, the large Spin button is on the far right. After you click Spin it sometimes becomes a Stop button and you can interrupt the reels. Pressing the Space bar on your computer keyboard is the same as clicking on the Spin button.
Free Games Bonus & Gamble Feature
The Scatter symbol triggers the Free Games bonus. When three or more Scatter symbols appear on the screen you are awarded 5 Free Spins. It starts automatically for you and all prizes are calculated at the active number of pay lines and bet per line on the spin that awarded you the Free Spins.
The background image changes when there is a chance of triggering a bonus game. The forest is replaced by a huge, bright full moon in a night sky filled with stars. If the game fails to trigger you are returned to the forest, but if the Free Spins game begins the moon backdrop remains in place until the bonus feature is completed.
During the Free Spins game there are more stacked Wild owl symbols so your chances of winning a prize are improved.
The Gamble button brings up a new dialog screen where you play a guessing game. The back of a playing card is displayed for you. You can play the game in one of two ways.
To the left of the card you are presented with two choices: Red and Black. Choose one and if the card matches your choice you double the prize you just won on your spin (or on your previous Gamble choice).
To the right of the playing card you are presented with the four suits of a standard playing card deck: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, and Spades. Choose one and if the playing card matches your choice you quadruple the prize you just won.
You have the option of canceling without gambling your money but you must risk your entire prize. The history of the cards that were turned up is displayed for you although that won't be much help.
Each time the card is turned over you either lose your bet or you have three choices:
- Take Win (ending the Gamble session)
- Choose Red or Black
- Choose a Suit
Conclusion
Although Owl Eyes is not the most exciting game one can play it does have a few extra bells and whistles that add to the ambience. The active background animation shows little will-o-the-wisps floating around the trees. You can also see luminescent mushrooms growing around the bases of the two nearest trees. And every now and then a white rabbit comes hopping in from one side of the screen, stops at the foot of a tree, waits a while, and then hops away.
The reels are transparent so that you can see the forest behind them.
Although the game does not have a full soundtrack there are ambient sounds of crickets and other night creatures that play continually. When you spin the reels a fairy-tale theme plays in full orchestral music and sometimes a choir starts singing. Sometimes when one or more Wild symbols scroll down the owl hoots. It may also hoot for the full moon (Scatter).
A dramatic chord is played when the Scatter symbol stops on one of the reels, and sometimes when more than one Scatter stops.
On Big Wins diamonds begin spraying up and virtually showering you while happy excited music plays. A harp plays a quick riff on small wins.
There are just a lot of small touches that make the game seem a little more magical than a typical spin the reels and watch the unmoving symbols go by. As slot machine games go Owl Eyes represents a transitional phase between older game design styles and the more up-to-date 3-D extravaganzas the gaming companies are turning out.
This game will keep some people playing for hours on end. The music is relaxing but not sleep-inducing. The game should not feel too stressful for people who enjoy relaxed slots play. At the same time, it offers enough variety and randomness that most players should enjoy the game for at least a while.