Gambling and casino games make steady appearances in digital form due primarily to their historical popularity. They are fairly simple in design, easy to pick up and play, and sometimes even addictive. Perhaps the most alluring thing about digital casino games is the fact that all money spent - or wasted - is utterly meaningless. True, this may take some of the edge off a hard-earned (though admittedly arbitrary) victory, but the obvious draw of having no real risk in loss of finances presents a strong attraction for players.

Of course, one of the inherent problems in casino games is that they all tend to blur together. After all, there are only so many different ways a person can play slots, regardless of how intricate the visual display is. Phantom EFX aims to solve this problem by developing their Vegas-style gaming products within a variety of themes. These themes have been displayed elaborately in different titles throughout the years. The most recent release, Reel Deal Slots Adventure, is immersed in campy “adventure” movie clichés, reminiscent of classic Indiana Jones films.

The game actually does an admirable job of attempting to present itself with a meaningful story. Well, perhaps not truly meaningful as far as stories go, but a precarious clothesline of narrative upon which sundry items of interest dangle before the player. It’s your basic “seek legendary treasure where others have failed” routine, which sees players traveling to visually diverse locations in search of this rather contrived goal. From arctic tundras to arid deserts, Reel Deal Adventure can be seen as a sort of “Tomb Raider” for gambling addicts.

The essential mechanics of slots are all present as expected. For the most part, you are tasked with weighing risk versus reward when dealing with decisions that will determine your monetary reward. Being that the money does not actually exist, there is really little incentive to play conservatively. In a sense, Reel Deal can be seen as a sort of gambling game with training wheels, potentially coaxing turtle-like players out of their shells and into the perilous world of slots.

Although I have only played one other slots title by Phantom, I must say I am surprised by just how tedious the game manages to become. Much of the material feels recycled, like something in previous titles had simply been given a new paint job and set back upon the street (or shelf, if you prefer). To the developers’ credit, there is still a reasonable variety to the games, with enough flashy distractions to stave off the inevitable boredom of a “fake money” gambling scenario.

Sound and visual effects are not especially immersive in Reel Deal Slots Adventure; this is disappointing, as the game’s premise showed plenty of potential for detailed artistic design and perhaps even a few original mechanics. For the most part, the game feels rigid and outdated – even the menu navigation is a mess. There are some interesting bonus features to break up the pace, but I won’t spoil any of them by going into detail here. Die-hard slot lovers will certainly enjoy some of what Real Deal Slots Adventure has to offer, but I very much doubt this is the best fix you can find for your money.

Gameplay: 6.0
Pretty basic stuff, though nothing really stands out.

Graphics: 5.0 
Wisely sticking to a simple design, as some of the game looks inexcusably unpolished.

Sound: 6.0
All the bells and whistles you’d expect, but nothing much extra.

Difficulty: Medium
The design keeps things fairly accessible, and the challenge mostly depends upon your personal decisions.

Concept: 5.0 
Slots + Adventure Theme = Mildly interesting, at best.

Overall: 5.8
Satisfaction for slots fans will be the pinnacle of achievement for Reel Deal Slots Adventure. It’s not revolutionary, original, or especially stimulating, so don’t bother if you can’t enjoy it for what it is.