Microgaming is one of the best developers of online slots and it is almost a given that any slot they release will be a hit. Their recent release, “Fruit Vs Candy” released in December 2016, is already attracting attention. The slot has 5 Reels and 243 ways to win and is themed around the sweet battles of Fruit Vs Candy lovers and adds some juicy rewards to it. Considering the size of Microgaming’s portfolio, this cannot be the first fruit-themed game they’ve produced. And yes, it is not. Other past Microgaming slots with similar themes include Fruit Fiesta and Summertime. It is also quite similar, in terms of gameplay, to the popular Lost Vegas. All of these were huge hits and if everything turns out as expected, Fruit Vs Candy will be a hit too, not because of the storyline or general theme but because of the additional features.
General features
For starters, Fruit Vs Candy is an open gameplay type of slot, probably occasioned by the high demand for such games. Simply put, there are no (restrictive) fixed paylines on the slot and one can win in 243 different ways. As the name suggests, Fruit Vs Candy is a very colorful game with a color scheme containing a range of fruity colors imposed on a purple background, which is kind of neutral as it can represent both fruits and candy. Also, the game features 2 different game modes – Fruit Mode and Candy Mode, and each mode has its own unique features. The game modes are not the only things that come in twos, it seems. Both the bonus and free spins features are in sets of twos depending on the game mode you’re playing. More on that later.
Generally, the game is sweet and fun to play and has a minimum bet requirement of 30p and a maximum bet size of £45. Wins in this slot can go up to 97,000 coins – definitely not for the high hitters, but still lots of fun and everything sweet. The game is playable in computer and mobile platforms (talking about Smartphones and tablets here) and supports a range of operating systems, including Android, Windows, and iOS. The slot is playable either as a download or in the Instant play version and can only be (legally) played in Microgaming casinos.
Game Symbols
Fruit Vs Candy, being a slot about fruits and candies, consists of a range of symbols representing various elements. The fruit symbols include apples, pineapples, and berries while the candies include several colorful sweets and gummy bears. Other symbols to be found on the reels are the regular playing card symbols – A, K, J, Q, 9, and 10.
Fruit Vs Candy Video Game Play
Regular Bonus features
The slot has 2 regular bonuses, each giving different prizes. The first feature is Goodie Bag which is triggered randomly, particularly after a streak of unsuccessful spins, and which comes with great cash prizes. There is also the Sugar Rush, also randomly triggered, which carries various cash and other prizes.
Free Spins
Now, these are not randomly triggered and actually require that 3 or more Fruit scatters (in Fruit mode) and/or Candy scatters (in Candy mode) appear anywhere on the reels. In Fruit Mode, the bonus feature is the Stash mode, which basically removes the low-value symbols from the reels, leaving only those which give bigger wins. Candy Mode, on the other hand, comes with 50 free spins upfront and the Sweet Reels feature, which have the effect of sweetening the reels for you. Sweetened Reels have the effect of turning single Wilds into Stacked Wilds and continues to do so until all the 50 free spins are exhausted. You can imagine the potential wins here.
Final thoughts
Fruit Vs Candy, in all essence, is a great slot, despite looking, and actually being a little corny and childish. With over 96% RTP and medium variance, not to mention the amazing bonus features, it is easy to forget for a moment that the storyline does not make sense. As a normal slot, Fruit Vs Candy easily holds its own. As a Microgaming slot, however, it doesn’t quite stand out but at least tries to do so. Definitely, a game anyone with a sweet tooth would want to try.