Jack Hammer

Game Details

Everything in this article is broken up into separate sections. That way, I can give each aspect of this pokie the attention it deserves.

Theme

A grizzled detective out to solve the case of a lifetime is already a fun setting. NetEnt added to it with a striking comic book style I don’t see many developers using. Because of that, Jack Hammer still stands out more than a decade after its release. All I can say is hats off to the art team – they really knocked it out of the park.

The game doesn’t do anything fancy with its layout. It uses a standard 5×3 grid with 25 fixed paylines. Scoring a win requires three or more symbols following a payline from left to right.

Graphics & Sound Effects

Given when the pokie was released, it’s expected to appear a little dated. It may not have all the modern bells and whistles, but it compensates with excellent art direction. The backdrop offers a great view of the city skyline late at night. That said, what won me over were the symbols and how they’re used to tell the slot’s story. You can find detectives, mad scientists, car chases, blimps full of toxic gas, and much more.

I’m not that keen on the sound in Jack Hammer. While I like the idea of using the sounds of a city over a music track, it feels uninteresting.

Unique Features

The Sticky Win feature triggers with every payout. The reels holding the winning symbols are locked in place while all other positions re-spin. The bonus keeps going until no more payouts land on the reels.

Another way to activate the Sticky Win feature is when at least three Scatters appear. It lets more Scatters land on the reels, improving your odds of unlocking the Free Spins bonus. You need at least five Scatters to get free spins. The more Scatters trigger the feature, the more free spins you receive. While the Free Spins bonus is active, all rewards are tripled.

Betting Options & Payouts

The minimum bet per spin is $0.25, which is okay for budget players. High rollers will be much happier, as the title’s maximum wager is $250.

Low variance won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The wins are frequent, but they cannot produce an impressive top prize. What it lacks in jackpots, Jack Hammer makes up with its above-average RTP. At 96.96%, it is almost a whole percentage point better than most of its competition.

User Experience

I find it impressive how well the theme holds up even now. Jack Hammer’s comic-book design makes it look unique even after all these years, helping it stand toe to toe with newer NetEnt titles. While it doesn’t have smooth animations, the rest is more than enough to win us over.

The release keeps it simple on the gameplay front. Its bonus features are intuitive and can be rewarding with a bit of luck. While you can’t expect the same payouts as more volatile titles, there’s more than enough there to entertain you.

Comparison

While a few developers tried to follow up on Jack Hammer’s success, none were as successful as Agent Destiny was. The game uses a similar comic book theme but benefits from having much newer visuals. It’s also more volatile, with a bigger top prize for those willing to risk it for the biscuit.

The Quest to the West slot by Betsoft offers similar bonus features to NetEnt’s release. It’s obviously not a one-to-one match. That said, you can find reel re-spins and above-average RTPs in both titles. The game spices its bonus feature up by introducing Walking Wilds.

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