The Rat Pack could sound like quite a random title for a slot machine, don\'t you think? It is probably a reference to the band of the same name formed by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford in the 1950s and 1960s. But, since MicroGaming does not have the rights to use these celebrities in their game, they had the idea to adapt this title literally in a slot machine about a rat jazz band. And all becomes clear.

Rodents give us a show

As far as the soundtrack goes, we are offered a discreet jazzy music which fits in well with the theme. The symbols depict different singing or music playing rats and are all very charismatic and recognizable. The graphics are well rendered and the background plunges us into the atmosphere of a jazz club with all the spotlights turned on the stage.

A brief overview

The Rat Pack slot machine offers players 5 reels and 30 payment lines. It has no less than 2 Wild symbols as well as a Scatter, which can even allow you to win quite original free spins. On top of this, each time you win, the slot machine allows you to bet the amount you have just won again in a classic but always adorable gamble feature.

Combinations are read from left to right only in a consecutive order. Only the most lucrative one on each activated payment line pays out. On the other hand, the amounts won on different activated payment lines all add up.

An acceptable range of bets

During each game, you can choose a new value for the coins you bet. The following values are offered: 0,01, 0,02, 0,05, 0,10, 0,20 and 0,25 $/£/€. On top of this, you can bet from 1 to 10 coins per payment line. The range of available bets is quite wide, with a minimum bet worth only 0,01 $/£/€ for the more conservative players and a maximum bet of 75 $/£/€ for high rollers.

A Wild symbol

The symbol carrying the Rat Pack inscription is Wild. As a Wild, it can substitute any other symbol in order to complete winning combinations. On the other hand, it cannot replace the Scatter symbol. If you get it 3, 4 or 5 times on a single payment line, you will win respectively 75, 500 or 5.000 coins.

A multiplier Wild symbol

The symbol with the 2x inscription is a Wild multiplier. It can replace any other item, except for the Scatter symbol, in order to form winning combinations; but it allows you on top of that to double the money you get from these pay-outs.

A Scatter symbol

The symbol depicting a gold record is a Scatter. In order to make you win money, it does not need to appear on an activated line. You only have to get it 2, 3, 4 or 5 times anywhere on the reels. You will then win respectively 2, 4, 10 or 100 coins, multiplied by the total value of your bet. On top of this, with 3 or more Scatters, you win free spins.

Innovative free spins

When you manage to get at least 3 Scatters anywhere on your screen, you win free spins. These free spins are actually quite peculiar, as, during these free spins, all symbols get dark, except for gold records which are the only ones to make you win money, following the precedent payment scale, except for one thing: this time, if you get only one Scatter symbol, it offers you the amount of the spin which has triggered this feature. You can win during these free spins as much as 30.000 coins, as the 100 coins offered by the 5 gold record symbols are multiplied by the 300 coins of the maximum bet.

From one spin to the other, the reels keep the Scatters they got, but these symbols go down one square from where they were. When they reach the bottom of the reel, they disappear at the next spin. The free spins continue as long as you have at least one gold record symbol on screen.

A gamble feature

After any pay-out except for the one which closes your free spins, you can launch a gamble feature. In this feature, a playing card is presented to you face-down. You must guess its colour correctly (black or red) or its suit (diamonds, spades, clubs or hearts). If you guess it right, you double or multiply your payment by four, respectively. On the other hand, if you guess wrong, you lose the payment you were about to receive. You can bet your payment back up to five times in a row.

If the fans of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr might be disappointed when they discover The Rat Pack is actually about a rat band that plays jazz, they should be quickly reassured when they discover it remains a diverse and original game.