The Wild West is the theme of Western Belles, an online slot game created by the developers at IGT. IGT is an American casino software company based in Reno, Nevada, and have been creating land-based, and later online, slots and casino games since 1975.
Western Belles is a tribute to the beautiful girls of frontier towns in the time of the Wild West and the great American Gold Rush, when cowboys, outlaws and Mexican standoffs were all in vogue. Playing out over 5 reels and up to 40 paylines, the game offers stacked wild symbols for an extra bet, and a free spins feature that can be retriggered.
Graphics, Theme and Game Design
The Western Belles slot is set in the heart of a dusty desert, and the design of the game reflects the era in its theme. The reels of the game are outlined by an ornate wooden frame, with a pay table and paylines in a matching wooden style.
These reels stand against a backdrop of blue skies, dry desert ground and red mountains in the distance. The symbols on the reels are bright and detailed, ranging from a variety of Western cowboy gear to two beautiful Western Belles in a pinup animation style. Even the games playing card symbols are portrayed in an old-world font to further add to the theme.
Western Belles Reel Symbols
On the reels of Western Belles, online casino players will find a selection of both traditional playing card symbols and character symbols. The playing card symbols are the lower paying icons in the game, and include 9, 10, J, Q, K and A in various colours.
The character symbols award the higher payouts in Western Belles. These symbols include cowboy boots, black and gold ten gallon hats, and two pinup style cowgirls in period dress.
Wild and Scatter Symbols
The red lipstick kiss symbol is the wild symbol in the Western Belles slot. This wild symbol has the power to stand in for any of the other symbols in the game to create winning combinations.
The gold and wooden Bonus icon is the scatter symbol in this slot. This scatter symbol will activate one of the game’s main bonus features when 3 or more appear on the reels in a single spin.
Stacked Wilds Bonus Feature
The Stacked Wilds bonus feature can be activated for an optional bet when players select their paylines before the game. This feature will cost an extra 160 coins per spin. If players choose to activate it, a stacked wild symbol will appear on one of the game’s reels in each spin, turning a reel completely wild to create extra wins. These stacked wilds can also contain bonus scatter symbols.
Free Spins Bonus Feature
The free spins feature is the main bonus feature in Western Belles. To trigger the game, players must land a scatter symbol on reels 2, 3 and 4 of the base game. This will award players 5 free spins, and stacked wilds will appear during the feature regardless of whether or not the Stacked Wilds feature has been activated.
If the Stacked Wilds feature is in play, players will see two stacked wilds on each free spin instead of just one. The free spins game can also be retriggered for up to 255 free spins.