I don’t want to give out spoiler information, but there are some very clever new machines that I’ve enjoyed very much. I like the variety in the bonus rounds; especially bonuses that save your progress or level with you. I’m pretty sure that slot is simply titled “Emperor” in this version.

I’ve also really enjoyed what they have done this year with the “Prize Vault”. The prize vault is a signature “side/game” common to many Phantom games. The general theme from year to year is to earn chances at a minigame in the prize vault as you play the slots. Each year the mini-game is a bit different, but it allows you to unlock other game features. This years mini-game is quite fun

My first review, and finding it difficult to do so without containing “spoiler” information. If you don’t mind spoiler info, Phantom does have a web site with forums. There are many reviews of the new games on that site.
Rating: 5 / 5

Notes for PhantomEFX:

- Why do you bother with the Video Poker games in a RDS tiitle? Is there really a demand for them? IMHO you should leave them in the RD Casino titles and out of the RD Slots titles.

- Would a single unified launcher be too much to ask? How difficlt could it be to code a launcher that shows all the Phantom titles and not just the most recent couple?

Dog list (Games that someone else may like, but just don’t do it for me – All stats are at Dreamworld odds):

Chinese Zodiac – Bonus round would have been much better if they added multiplier before you choose the rocket that selects which zodiac sign gets chosen – took 3+ hours of play to break even (100.68%)

Earthquake – Dull graphics, low payouts, boring

Fairies – Interesting concept but hindered by dismally low payouts – 77.79% after 2 hours of play

Jumpin’ Multipliers – Boring 3+1 bonus reel game – Low payouts – 81.23% return after 2.5 hours of play

Will update again after I get a through a few more games…

Original Review:

Phantom EFX, in my opinion, makes some of the best slot simulations available, period. Are they “real” machines like you will find in a casino? No they are not. But that does not distract, for me anyway, from the excellent gameplay, great graphics, and the overall playability factor. That being said, I do have a few relatively minor issues with Phantom’s games.

As another reviewer stated, there can be issues with installs, but my experience with tech support has always been very positive. I own 11 different Phantom titles, this was the first that refused to run out of the box. As it turns out, a MS security patch broke a dependency in Windows Vista. The patch section of Phantom’s website had both the issue and the fix fully documented, complete with step by step instructions which worked flawlessly – that is after I decided I didn’t know better than they did and followed the directions. (Doesn’t matter if you are running a 64 bit OS – you still need to install the 32 bit Visual C runtime)

I am also personally less than enthused about 3 reel slots. Because Phantom’s editions are built around playing each game for a minimum period of time as one of the steps to unlock all the bonuses and extras, you have no choice but to suffer through the dogs, and there are a few. Speaking of the overall win, I like the way they have integrated a slot machine into the the prize vault process. Gold Rush gave us a shooting gallery, Treasures give us a slot that looks like it came from the set of the Flinstones. Corny yet cool – I like it.

I have absolutely no intereest in recreating the casino experience so I am strictly a “Dreamworld Odds” player. I want to win big and win often, and really don’t care if it’s not realistic. As other reviewers have stated, even under Dreamworld odds, there can be long dry spells, but over time, all machines will pay in excess of 100%. Do I wish the odds were even more strongly in the player’s favor? Absolutely! But I’ve learned to live with it, and even try to remind myself that slot machines have no memory – each pull is at exactly the same odds as the one before. That doesn’t stop me from getting excited about a hot streak, or pissed about a cold one, but the math behind the games is just that – math. It is a game of random chance, pure and simple.

It seems like each game has at least one bonus feature and many have multiple. Again, it depends on what you like, but for me anyway, the ones that let you into a quest style game that itself needs multiple visits to fully conquer are the best. If you liked High Seas Adventure in Blackbeard’s Revenge, be sure to chack out The First Emperor in which you conquer China, one region at a time. One moderate annoyance about bonus rounds – I go completely nuts when you get a bonus, and then get zero credits from it. There ought to at least be a minimal consolation prize. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a dozen or more free spins and getting absolutely no points.

The last minor issue for me is Phantom’s refusal to let the games be played without the Disc in the drive. There are ways around it (Virtual CD’s, etc.) but IMHO it is a concept long overdue for demise. Yeah, yeah, I get the whole anti-piracy thing, and understand the perspective of the SW publisher, but when I’m on the road, the last thing I want to do is lug around the factory disk for every game I might feel like playing, just so I can slip it in the drive to play a game I purchased. There has got to be a better way.

Overall, Treasures continues Phantom’s record of quality slot machine simulations that are just plain fun to play. Each is unique (unlike some Masque titles) some are an absolute hoot, while others less so. At the end of the day I remain a fan of Phantom’s Real Deal Slots series, own most of ‘em, and will continue to buy the new ones as they are released.

Rating: 4 / 5