Psycho

The theme of Psycho

As you have probably already understood, the theme of this slot is based on Alfred Hitchcock's classic film of the same name. The film, released in 1960, is one of the most watched and appreciated horror Rollers of all time, and there are probably few people who do not know the legendary shower scene. Anyway-now the game developer NextGen Gaming has put together a slot machine on the theme of Psycho, in collaboration with Universal, which owns the rights. The result is a cozy gaming experience that will suit all movie lovers like a glove.

Graphics & sound

On the graphic front, Psycho is really well done. The symbols consist of many iconic moments and characters from the film, all in a stylish, hand-painted style. Wins are followed by neat animations that make the symbols come to life. The background is only the one worthy of an extra mention, with the ever-flashing sign reading “Bates Motel,” streaking rain, and the famous house on a hill at the top left. Deliciously worse.

Anyone who likes horror knows that the music is at least as important as the visuals – and not least when it comes to 60s horror. When the wheels are not spinning, only atmospheric background noises are heard, but as soon as you set the wheels in motion, the Hitchcock-inspired melodies and sound blasts come. Really nice soundscape that lifts the game properly.

Arrangements and interventions

Moderna video slots typically consist of 5 reels with 3 rows, and this is also the case with Psycho. Crisscross the reels stretches 25 paylines. These are fixed, so it is not possible to play on fewer than 25 lines. All paylines run from far left and right.

To adjust your bet, simply click on the two arrows at the bottom of the game screen – Bet up and Bet down. These set the coin value to within the range the casino sets. Since you are playing with 25 lines, the total bet per spin will be within the range the casino sets.

Wins

In order to win prizes, it is important to get symbol combinations with matching symbols. These combinations should start at the far left and follow any or some of the paylines to the right. Depending on the symbol, at least 2 or 3 symbols in a row are used to win. Among the game's usual symbols, it is the female protagonist of the film who brings by far the biggest winnings – up to 1000 times the bet per line. Should you manage to fill the reels with this symbol, you will thus receive winnings of up to the casino's cap. Not bad at all.

You can find all the possible wins of the game by looking at the paytable, which you can access by clicking on the i at the bottom left of the game screen.

Symbols and functions

Wild symbol
Here we find a wild symbol that works in the same way as in most other slots. These symbols thus have the ability to assume the role of any other symbol, with the exception of scatters. In doing so, a well-timed wild can make sure to clog up a potential combination and help you to more and bigger wins.

Psycho Wilds
At any time during the regular game mode, The Psycho Wild feature can be activated. You will notice this for sure – a hand holding a knife will appear in front of the reels, and when it hits, at least one extra wild symbol will appear on the reels.

Scatter symbols and free spins
Finally, we have a scatter symbol which is the key to the game's freespin feature. If you get 3, 4 or 5 scatters anywhere on the screen, you will be awarded 10, 15 and 20 free spins respectively. During ongoing free spins, more wild symbols appear than usual, and the game's multiplier increases significantly so that you can get up to 40 times the winnings.

Summary

Psycho is one of history's most iconic films, and it's nice to see that NextGen Gaming has managed this classic in a good way. With appealing and well-made graphics and one of the most atmospheric soundtracks we have come across in a slot machine, this is the choice for those who are looking for a good dose of horrible atmosphere. Sure, there are areas that could have been improved – for example, it wouldn't have hurt with an interactive bonus game – but in the end, Psycho is a great choice for those who like classic horror and Nice winning chances.

We really like what we have seen so far by The New Zealand game developer Yggdrasil Gaming. Cyrus the Virus may not feel like the most innovative of their games, but it is still an easy and pleasant gaming experience that is quick to get into, while offering plenty of Nice winning opportunities. Graphics and sound are good, as is the wild feature. We hadn't complained about any kind of fun bonus game, but by and large Cyrus hits the Virus just right. If you want to try another slot with a similar theme, we recommend hitman from Microgaming.