Game Reviews

Area 777

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iOS
| Area 777
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Area 777
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iOS
| Area 777

Do you like playing slot machines? What about entirely digital ones, where you can spend real money to play, but only ever get virtual in-game coins in return?

If the answer is yes, then Area 777 will undoubtedly scratch your itch. If such a suggestion makes you shudder, then there's nothing here that will convince you otherwise.

Still here? Right then.

Area 777 is a slickly-produced slots game which, although a little limited in that regard, also carries a sprinkling of tower defence gameplay that offers a sniff of depth to proceedings.

In return for your free download, you'll eventually gain access to four themed slot machines, each requiring a progressively higher minimum bet, and each later available as a 'high roller' variant.

Reel simple

Each spin of the reels will cost you tokens and, should you match symbols in a variety of configurations, you'll win some back.

In return for your spin, you'll gain experience points and add a few tokens to a dual-purpose stash - this is your in-game health, and anything remaining becomes a tokens bonus upon levelling up.

Making Area 777 a little less run-of-the-mill is its context - aliens have invaded Las Vegas and Chazz, the flamboyant stage magician, uses the power of slots-based magic to fight them off.

This manifests as three lanes of aliens advancing from the right of the screen towards Chazz on the left, taking potshots at him should they get in range, and depleting that level-up tokens stash of yours.

The extraterrestrials and their cohorts are quite a treat, bearing more than a passing resemblance to the large, green, one-eyed aliens seen in The Simpsons.

Under their control are a rather small variety of possessed minions - Elvis impersonators, vomiting frat boys, and bipedal cattle - all implying the need for varying tactics with which to dispatch them, which is perhaps the greatest magic trick within Area 777.

While you can spend time fretting over which 'magic chips' to place between spins, offering offensive area-of-effect options, the simple fact is that you can very easily switch to a medium bet and let the game play itself via autospins. Seriously.

Autopilot

What this means is that, apart from occasional 'events' that might require your attention and an almost comedic number of in-game ads that need a tap to dismiss, should you choose to, you can unlock everything Area 777 offers within a few hours by doing literally nothing at all.

Now, I'm not here to judge anyone's preferences. Some players might like a game where that plays itself, but that isn't really my thing.

It's a pity really, because the production values in Area 777 are incredibly strong. It's a handsome game with superb writing that injects charm and character into what could have been very dry tutorials.

The team behind Area 777, Grumpyface Studios, clearly have the talent to do far more creative things with true panache, and the fact that they can dress up a basic slots game to be a little more than the sum of its parts is commendable.

If you like this sort of thing, you'll enjoy Area 777. Otherwise, give it a swerve.

Area 777

A very simple slots game riddled with ads, Area 777 is easy on the eye, and even easier on the brain. While it won't convince naysayers, genre fans might want to give it a spin
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Giles Armstrong
Giles Armstrong
Having worked in the games industry since 2007, Giles knows a thing or two about how good video games are made, why bad games happen, and that great games matter. A Game & Narrative Designer by day, story-based games are quite literally his bread and butter.