In this review, we’ll explore what makes Once Upon a Time worth exploring -- from its graphical design and symbols to its betting options, bonus rounds and general value for both casual players seeking small wins and players seeking large real-money wins.
Betsoft has consistently improved upon the quality of its slot machine designs over the years, and it isn’t hard to envision its products sitting on a casino floor in Las Vegas. With better technology, greater ambitions for graphics, and products that differentiate themselves from others in the marketplace, Betsoft appears to be more capable of competing against established floor-based manufacturers like WMS, Bally, Aristocrat, and IGT. Developed solely by Betsoft in house, Once Upon a Time puts players inside of a whimsical animated world inspired by the illustrations in classic children’s story books but geared towards adult casino patrons searching for real money.
While Once Upon a Time is a compelling slot experience that encourages repeat visits for the rewarding gaming experience as well as possible significant monetary rewards, it follows a standard five-reel, thirty-line configuration that is non-progressive. Therefore, unlike progressive slots whose jackpots grow in size based on player activity prior to paying out, the largest payout Once Upon a Time offers remains fixed in the pay table. Given that information ahead of time, once Upon a Time pays exactly what the pay table says – without the uncertainty of whether or not you hit one particular combination that leads to a potentially massive payout.
Its theme fits neatly within the “Once Upon a Time” storybook fantasy realm – which Betsoft has uniquely interpreted with respect to artistry, creating an environment comprised of an entire visual world, as opposed to merely using it as a marketing slogan. The graphical design is well-crafted and professionally presented throughout – to the extent that it feels as if it came directly from a children’s story book instead of being constructed from common casino-themed graphics.
There is some basis for why Betsoft has earned credibility in the online slots marketplace. For years Betsoft has been producing cinematic, story-driven slots prior to “narrative slots” becoming a type of their own. As such, Once Upon a Time demonstrates that philosophy in action. Unlike simply applying a fairytale theme to an otherwise typical five-reel template, Betsoft developed dedicated animated scenes for the fairytale characters, character-centric bonus rounds and music scores that are influenced by the action occurring on screen.
That degree of focus on detail is what gives Betsoft’s products the ability to present themselves as short-form interactive stories versus mere random number generators – which explains why players continue to return to Betsoft’s titles in preference to simply selecting the slot appearing on a casino site.
The iconography used in Once Upon a Time borrows directly from fairytale themes: dragons, trolls, knights, princesses, feasts fit for royalty, chests filled with treasure and other icons taken from classic fantasy literature. None of these icons feel superfluous. Alongside the animated sequences tied to these icons, they contribute nicely to tying the entirety of the game into one cohesive thematic package rather than presenting them as a random assortment of icons applied haphazardly to a pay table. Icons representing higher values generally produce slightly more elaborate animations when they appear as part of winning combinations, thereby generating additional visual gratification in addition to that generated by the bonus rounds.
Players may bet as low as 0.05 dollars or as high as $1.00 per coin in Once Upon a Time. Additionally, players may select up to five coins to bet per pay line, which maximizes bets to 150 coins per spin across all 30 lines. Thus if you’re betting with New Zealand dollars ($NZ) and each coin has a face value of $NZ1.00, your greatest possible bet per spin is $NZ150. At the opposite extreme, Once Upon A Time provides an entry point of $NZ0.05 per spin for players with limited bankrolls or who simply prefer to bet more conservatively until they become comfortable with how the game operates.
Regarding Once Upon A Time’s top prize: the biggest prize offered by Once Upon A Time is 12,500 coins – which equates to a maximum payout of $NZ12,500 when betting at the highest coin denomination and maximum coin count. That is an attractive cap for a non-progressive slot and positions it along-side the numerous payouts provided by Each of the bonus rounds -- thus reducing reliance on hitting one specific winning combination in order to realize a substantial win.
If you wish to try playing Once Upon A Time with real money you should certainly spend some time practicing in demo mode if your selected casino offers this option. Doing so allows you to develop familiarity with how frequently the bonus rounds occur and how volatile the game is -- all without risking any portion of your bankroll while developing familiarity with the game.
Unlike many other Betsoft titles Once Upon A Time provides an abundance of bonus features -- which is partially why this game stands out compared to the rest of Betsoft's offerings. Beyond the base game winnings that can be realized via standard line wins, there are six unique bonus rounds that are embedded into Once Upon A Time's fairytale narrative -- each activated via one or more winning combinations of symbols -- and each possessing its own unique animation style.
The She Loved the Knight feature can be activated when two adjacent knight and princess symbols appear on either side of reels #2 and #3. When she loves the Knight is activated it produces an animated sequence depicting the knight kissing his princess. During this sequence players receive instant credit prizes as depicted on screen. It is definitely one of the most entertaining moments in this game and seems frequent enough to maintain excitement levels.
When Dragon lands atop reels #2 and #3, activating fire starter mode, players receive an instant transformation of reels #2 and #3 into Wilds. This opens up possibilities for significantly larger returns via your existing winning combinations. Furthermore, if dragon's treasure symbol coincides with the dragon symbol upon activation of Fire Starter Mode players also receive an extra spin -- further enhancing probability of receiving larger returns via stacked odds.
Three Tree House symbols appearing on an active pay line activate this Free Spins Round. Essentially, this is a basic Free Spins Round; however it can be re-triggered anytime additional treehouse symbols appear during free spins. This feature could therefore result in extended periods of free spins -- significantly increasing potential for larger wins relative to standard free spins rounds.
As stated earlier Click Me Bonus has appeared in multiple Betsoft titles -- including Once Upon A Time. Click me bonus is activated when three Gold Sack symbols appear on reels #1-#3. After clicking me bonus is initiated players click through several screen images shown on screen, each image displaying instant credit prizes -- thereby maintaining rapid pacing and interactivity relative to purely mechanical spin-and-wait formats.
The goblin's treasure bonus sends players into a reel-based adventure where players attempt to navigate through obstacles collecting treasure along the way -- with each successfully navigated obstacle resulting in increased credit totals for the player. The goblin's treasure feature provides an example of how Once Upon A Time integrates storytelling into gaming experience. The mechanism for obtaining rewards is framed as part of an actual mini-adventure.
During this bonus players assume the role of a knight rescuing a princess from dragon. Similar to the Goblin's Treasure feature both Goblin's Treasure and save the princess features limit their payouts to a maximum of 2000 credits -- providing additional layers of rewards for players beyond base game payouts and additional bonus features -- without unbalancing mathematics toward any individual feature. Because Once Upon A Time incorporates six unique bonus mechanisms into one title, there exists ample opportunity for engagement well-beyond simply spinning reels.
Overall, Once Upon A Time combines elements of both entertainment value in gaming experience AND opportunities for meaningful real-money payouts -- which helps explain why Betsoft has demonstrated such success in developing high-quality story-driven slot experiences rather than simply generic/interchangeable slot experiences.
Once Upon A Time occupies approximately a mid-range position in terms of volatility. It will not remain completely silent for hundreds of spins waiting for one huge payout -- nor will it provide constant small payouts so frequently that players will think they were padding their results. The six bonus features will typically appear sufficiently often during most sessions to allow several smaller rounds (i.e., click me or she loved the knight) while larger features (i.e., those crazy goblins or save the princess) will appear less frequently but have greater impact when they do occur -- which should satisfy players looking for longevity in their bankroll while allowing occasional excitement during their session.
Like most contemporary Betsoft releases, Once Upon A Time has been built to function equally effectively across desktop and mobile browser platforms. Consequently, you need not utilize any single device to enjoy story line and/or bonus rounds. Although 3-D animation/sound design translate relatively well across smaller displays; viewing experience on larger displays enhances appreciation for detail(s) in artwork/bonus round cut-scenes.
For fans seeking an internet casino slot experience blending legitimate storytelling with real gameplay variety -- Once Upon A Time would be an excellent selection. The graphical presentation is visually appealing sufficient to attract players initially; additionally, the animation quality remains consistent throughout every spin/bonus round rather than degrading after initial appeal wears-off. The factor that separates Once Upon A Time most significantly from Betsoft's library is how well Betsoft wove fairytale storytelling into casino gaming form -- creating an experience that is as enjoyable as it is unique.
Amongst Six separate bonus rounds; broad betting limits; polished development; there are plentiful factors for both casual spinnings and players pursuing larger payouts that justify placing Once Upon A Time amongst Betsoft's finest story-telling titles -- and why players seek out Betsoft's titles specifically as opposed to randomly choosing any slot found on an Internet Casino's home page.
Most online casinos carrying Betsoft titles will permit a demo or practice mode version of Once Upon A Time -- which is a suitable method for gaining experience with bonus triggers before wagering real funds.
The maximum win on Once Upon A Time is 12,500 coins -- equivalent to $NZ12,500 at the maximum coin denomination.
Six separate bonus rounds exist:
Yes. Like most modern Betsoft products, Once Upon A Time has been created to operate seamlessly across desktop and/or mobile browser formats -- enabling you to engage with story line and bonus rounds regardless of whether you use a smartphone/tablet or computer.
| Software | BetSoft |
|---|---|
| Slot Types | 3D Slots |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 30 |
| Slot Game Features | Wild Symbol Bonus Rounds Free Spins |
| Min. Bet | 0.02 |
| Max. Bet | 150 |
| Slot Themes | Gold Magic |
| Slot RTP | 95.28% |
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