Downtown, which 1X2 Gaming released in September 2013, is a slot game adaptation of the vices found in a big city, which, in this case, is seemingly Las Vegas. Another relatable game from 1X2 Gaming is Neon Fruit Cityscape (January 2019). The rival games of Downtown include City Life 2 (June 2013) from 888 Holdings, Sin City Nights (January 2017) by BetSoft, and Steampunk Big City (February 2017) from BF Games.

The video slot’s name is borrowed from the adjective “downtown”, which refers to the business hub of a metropolis. The main theme, crime, apparently takes place in downtown Las Vegas. Seven symbols (9, 10, J, Q, K, A, and the bloody police cell) require three, four, or five winning combinations. Four symbols (the peeping thug, the gasping woman, gunman, and the cowgirl) require two, three, four, and five winning combinations.

Downtown Game Characteristics
Downtown has a 5X3 grid, as much as 15 free spins, thirteen symbols, and 25 adjustable pay lines. The thirteen symbols comprise of ten ordinary symbols and three special symbols. The special symbols: an overhead view of a bloody police cell with white metal grills, which unlocks the bonus round; a black-and-white photo of a female smoker, who offers the free spins; and a substituting “Wild” police tape, proclaiming “Police Line – Do Not Cross”.

The ten Downtown ordinary symbols: a black 9 nailed on a red shooting target board; a black 10 nailed on a red board; a black J nailed on a red board; a black Q nailed on a red board; a black K nailed on a red board; a black A nailed on a red board; a peeping shaggy African-American thug; a gasping black-and-white woman; a pistol-wielding man in a dark suit and shades; and a sex worker wearing a cowgirl hat.

Pressing the Lines/Coin Values button at the bottom left leads to a pop-up window where the coin values, bet levels, and the active pay lines are adjusted, before pressing “GO”. The Downtown coin values: $0.01, $0.02, $0.05, $0.10, $0.20, and $0.50. It has a choice of five bet levels—1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The minimum and maximum bet amounts are $0.01 and $62.50, although they appear, in the “Bet” section of the interface, as $1 and $125.

The Downtown payouts for three, four, and five winning combinations. Number 9 has X4 X10, and X20. Number 10 pays X7, X20, and X45. J has X7, X24, and X60. Q pays X9, X26, and X70. K gives X20, X32, and X80. A has X22, X40, and X80. The police cell pays X30, X100, and X200.

The payouts for two, three, four, and five winning combinations. The peeping thug has X7, X24, X40, and X100. The screaming woman has X8, X32, X75, and X300. The gunman pays X9, X40, X150, and X500. The sex worker pays X10, X45, X200, and X750.

Three, four, and five female “Free Spins” smokers offer five free games, ten free games, and 15 free games. The free games mode payouts are twice as much as the regular mode payouts. Also a winning combination with more than three police cells doubles the payouts. The non-progressive jackpot of Downtown is $22500.00.

Downtown has good software; there is a bet history and paylines are lined along either side of the grid, although common features like gamble, quickspin, and autoplay are missing. The soundscape is interesting, especially the quickening tempo of the ambient sounds, the noise pollution, and the sound effects, including a distantly police siren. One glance at the appealing graphics reminds of the Sin City movie series, particularly the black-and-white visuals that bring out the abstract animation.

Luck in Downtown
Downtown is a game of chance; its RTP rate is 97.7% and the house edge is 2.3%.