What the Duck Slot Machine

Sometimes, you come across a game on the casino floor that is easy to walk past without a second glance. The What the Duck slot machine by Konami is not one of those games.

After all, it’s big, it’s bright, and, most importantly, it has a giant duck cowboy in a Wild West scene standing right in the middle of it looking like a cross between Clint Eastwood and Scrooge McDuck. You see it, you remember it.

Soon after, though, you see the Konami branding, and you pause a bit whilst hiding tentatively behind a pensive ‘ah’. Because, as many slot players will tell you, Konami games are a bit of an acquired taste. Some love them, some really don’t.

With a couple of exceptions, such as All Aboard and Bull Blitz, I must admit that I am among the latter. Konami slots have a certain personality, which is good, but theirs has never really resonated with me.

I can’t tell you why either. They are a bit cartoonish maybe, and the sounds are a bit… slapstick? Is that the word I am reaching for? I certainly mean clumsy, although not necessarily in a humorous way.

That said, I’m always game for my mind to be changed. And, as I said before, Konami has positively circumvented my expectations before. So, let’s have a closer look at What the Duck, because I was dying for it to be really good.

Well, when you have a giant cowboy duck in the Wild West front and centre on your enormous slot machine screen, you’re not really being subtle about your intended theming, are you? I like that, though. Go big, go bold, be unapologetic in your quest to pique a player’s curiosity.

To each side of the duck, there are two ‘pots’ if you like. The first is an ammo belt with bullets called ‘explosion’. The second is a cactus with ‘bounty’ written on it. Except they are not actually pots. Yes, they grow as you collect the correct symbol, but neither triggers the bonus. More on that later.

The symbols, meanwhile, are very cartoony, but what other direction can you go when you’ve chosen a giant cowboy duck as your theme? There are symbols of old saloon banks and banjos.

The design itself at first looks quite standard. It's a 5x3 grid, and there are a few progressives to be won and a wheel. The Wheel of Fortune kind, not the wagon kind.

Once you start spinning, though, you will notice the main design feature: a magic and pivotally important middle frame. That is where most of the fun stuff happens on the What the Duck slot machine.

The atmosphere, I have to say, is not actually classically Konami, which made me like it more already. Yes, it’s still cartoonish and daft, but in quite an endearing way.

Let’s talk more about that magic middle frame. As you spin, you will notice that occasionally the duck lands there with either a bullet or a lasso. If it’s the bullet, it will go up to the ammo belt and boost the explosion bonus. The more bullets you can collect there, the better.

Similarly, if it’s a lasso, it will go to the cactus and boost the bounty bonus. And, again, the bigger the better. Neither has a chance of triggering the feature, though.

For that, you need to hear the pitta patta of tiny little duck feet. If you do, you will see symbols of gold coins spinning through the reels. They are coloured green, blue, and gold. What you need is to get at least one on each of the first three reels. Get that, and you will get a respin, which is a name for a kind of mini hold and spin.

The more I write this, the more I realize how ridiculous it all sounds. So, before we move on, allow me to summarise for simplicity.

You need to spin, collecting the bullets and lassos from the cartoon cowboy duck from the magic middle square, whilst listening for the sound of scampering duck feet and looking for coin symbols – and none of that actually triggers a bonus.  

Still with me? Let’s assume so. Good, because it’s about to take an even weirder turn.

The other symbol to look out for in the DUCK game is a horseshoe. That is the free games symbol, and you need three of them to trigger the bonus. The good news, though, is that reels can have multiple horseshoes on them, so you feel like you are in with a chance right up to the last reel.

At a glance:

•  Layout: 5 reels × 3 rows, 25 lines.
•  Minimum Bet: 50c
•  Denominations: Multiple
• Theme: Wild West Cowboy saloon duck
• Return to Player (RTP): Approximately 96% but dependent upon the casino and local regulations
• Volatility: Medium

Now, what happens when you actually get the respin if it’s not a bonus? Well, you keep spinning as long as you are landing new coin symbols.

All the while, the magic middle square is spinning too, and you once again want the bullet duck or the lasso one. Get the bullet one, and the duck will shoot the coins you already have, upgrading them from green to blue to gold. The more bullets you have collected in the ammo belt before getting the respin, the better, as the duck keeps shooting and upgrading until his ammo belt is empty. It’s all very Huff N’ Puff, but it’s pretty cool.

It’s not, though, as cool as getting the lasso to collect your bounty. That is essentially a collect feature. Cash amounts will be assigned to coins you have collected until that point, and you will win them instantly when they show.

Beware, though: this is not a typical hold-and-spin. There are no three chances to reset it back to three. The second you don’t get a coin, it’s over. That’s what makes it more of a feature rather than a bonus.

The free games, on the other hand, are definitely a bonus. You are awarded eight initial free spins with an increased chance of triggering the feature, and during the free spins, all additional horseshoes award an extra spin.

That is definitely, in my opinion, where the potential for big payouts is. The respin feature will more likely just keep you going and recycling cash whilst you are seeking the free spins.

Before you hit spin on any slot machine, especially in the US and Canada, you should make sure you have your players’ card inserted in the machine first. That is just good slot-play housekeeping. In fact, it’s the very best habit you can get yourself into. Spins means player points, and player points mean comps, and everyone loves comps.

I’d also point out that due to the respin feature, especially, the What the Duck slot machine offers a lot of opportunity to recycle and churn money. That makes it a really good game for building player points. It’s certainly better than high volatility machines.

If you are spinning, I’d also suggest taking advantage of the waitress service. You won’t always get comped alcoholic drinks (although you will in Las Vegas and other major US casino centres), but you should always get something.

The key here is to tip your waitress. If you don’t, you’ll be amazed at how quickly they start to accidentally miss you on their rounds, and rightly so, in my opinion.

From the moment I saw the Konami branding on the What the Duck slot machine, subconsciously, I really wanted to dislike the game. In fact, I was evidently willing to lose money to prove to myself something I already knew: I dislike Konami games.

That speaks far greater volumes about me than it does Konami, though, and it tells you nothing at all about the What the Duck slot machine because, honestly, it charmed me a bit. It was fun and didn’t take itself too seriously, and I think I am a bit of a sucker for a cute little character on slot machines. If you don’t believe me, check out my reviews of Little Shop of Horrors and Spooky Link.

I can’t say I am a huge fan of the magic middle square mechanic on slot machines. It’s becoming more common with popular new games, such as S’mores Money, that really showcase it. I generally find success a bit too dependent on that one square, and that feels a bit restrictive on the fun most of the time.

However, something about the way What the Duck has done it has circumvented my usual disappointment. I think it’s because Konami has given us a game in which you don’t need a bonus to be excited. The respin feature keeps you engaged and believing that every spin can be good, and that the next round of excitement isn’t far away.