Toshi Video Club (Hacksaw Gaming) Slot Review

Toshi Video Club: Slot Overview

Hacksaw Gaming ventures into the world of stylized Japanese culture with Toshi Video Club, an online slot that marries minimalistic design with engaging gameplay. The slot blends a nostalgic nod to Japan’s visual aesthetics, complemented by an urban edge in its monochromatic tones, punctuated with vibrant orange accents. With a 5×5 grid layout and a straightforward 15 paylines system, Toshi Video Club brings a casual yet rewarding gameplay experience. Released on August 19, 2021, this high-volatility slot offers players the potential to win up to 10,000x their bet, cementing its place as a feature-packed, modern slot. 

From its design to its sound effects, Toshi Video Club creates an atmosphere that’s as calming as it is captivating. With an RTP of 96.17% in the base game (bumped up to 96.24% with the feature buy option), the game balances aesthetic simplicity with thrilling mechanics like cascading wins and Daruma multipliers. Let’s take a deeper dive into this charming title by Hacksaw Gaming. 

Design and Graphics 

The visual appeal of Toshi Video Club lies in its stripped-back yet sophisticated design. The game adopts a manga-inspired aesthetic, where a monochrome palette serves as the backdrop for the quirky and colorful symbols that take center stage. Symbols range from noodle bowls, cats, whales, and frogs, to retro TVs and gaming joysticks. The orange accents on the high-paying symbols add a dynamic contrast to the black-and-white setting, ensuring that each spin feels fresh and engaging. 

The overall theme subtly integrates traditional Japanese elements with a modern urban twist. The grid appears as a part of a muted cityscape, complete with abstract lines and street scenes that lend a relaxed yet vibrant vibe. It’s a unique artistic direction that stands out among more bombastic or overly complex slot designs. Hacksaw Gaming clearly opted for a less-is-more approach, and it works beautifully. 

Gameplay Mechanics 

Despite its visual simplicity, Toshi Video Club packs a punch with engaging gameplay mechanics. Unlike Hacksaw’s usual cluster pays system, the game uses a 15-payline setup, rewarding players for matching three or more symbols from the leftmost reel. Each win triggers a cascade system, removing winning symbols and allowing new ones to drop into place, potentially creating consecutive wins in a single spin. 

The slot’s high volatility means that while wins may be infrequent, they can be highly rewarding. Symbols pay generously, especially the high-value symbols like TVs and sushi plates, which deliver up to 20x the stake for five on a payline. Wild symbols, represented by gorilla heads, substitute for all other symbols and pay an impressive 40x for five on a line. 

The cascading feature ensures that every spin feels dynamic, as consecutive wins add an extra layer of excitement to the base game. This mechanic keeps the gameplay flowing, rewarding persistence and patience with the chance to land multiple payouts in a single round. 

Sound and Music 

The soundtrack in Toshi Video Club is an understated gem that complements the minimalist visuals. A mellow, Asian-inspired beat plays softly in the background, adding a sense of rhythm without overwhelming the player. It’s the kind of music you could easily listen to on repeat without feeling fatigued. Combined with subtle sound effects, like cascading wins and the spinning of reels, the audio creates an immersive gaming experience. 

The developers at Hacksaw Gaming clearly put thought into ensuring that the sound design doesn’t clash with the visual elements. It all comes together harmoniously, creating an ambiance that’s laid-back yet engaging, perfectly in line with the game’s theme. 

Bonus Features 

Where Toshi Video Club truly shines is in its bonus features, particularly its innovative Daruma multipliers and the free spins round. 

Daruma Multipliers 

The Daruma symbols are the cornerstone of big wins in this game. Coming in four different types—Small, Medium, Big, and Green—they reveal values that either increase or multiply the global win multiplier. Here’s how they work: 

• Small Daruma: Adds +1, +2, or +5 to the multiplier. 

• Medium Daruma: Adds +10, +15, or +20. 

• Big Daruma: Adds +25, +50, or +100. 

• Green Daruma: Multiplies the total multiplier by x2, x3, x4, or x5. 

These multipliers reset between paid spins in the base game but persist throughout the free spins round. This feature ensures that even a single lucky spin can lead to significant payouts if multipliers align correctly. 

Free Spins 

Triggering the free spins feature requires landing three scatter symbols, which awards players with 10 free spins. The key difference in this mode is that the global multiplier does not reset between spins, allowing it to build continuously throughout the feature. This mechanic significantly increases the potential for high-value wins. 

Feature Buy 

For players who can’t wait to dive into the free spins round, the feature buy option is available for 120x the bet. This guarantees three scatter symbols and provides a faster route to the most rewarding part of the game. With an RTP increase to 96.24%, this option is an attractive proposition for those seeking immediate action. 

Betting Options and Payouts 

Toshi Video Club caters to a wide range of players with its flexible betting options. Bets can be placed from as low as 0.20 to as high as 100 per spin, making the game accessible to both casual players and high rollers. The maximum win is capped at an impressive 10,000x the stake, meaning a top payout of 1,000,000 is possible at the highest bet level. 

The slot’s RTP of 96.17% is competitive, and while the high volatility may deter risk-averse players, it ensures that those chasing big wins are rewarded when the multipliers align. The hit frequency strikes a fine balance, offering enough regular payouts to maintain engagement without diluting the thrill of landing significant wins. 

Conclusion 

Toshi Video Club is a standout slot in Hacksaw Gaming’s portfolio, combining sleek design, innovative features, and the potential for massive payouts. Its minimalist aesthetic may not be for everyone, but the monochromatic manga-inspired visuals and subtle color highlights offer a refreshing change of pace. The Daruma multiplier system and cascading wins ensure that every spin carries the potential for excitement, while the persistent multipliers in the free spins round make it the game’s most thrilling feature. 

While it may not reach the same level of intensity as some of Hacksaw’s other high-volatility slots, Toshi Video Club has a laid-back charm that’s hard to resist. It’s ideal for players who appreciate a more understated design without sacrificing rewarding gameplay. Whether you’re a fan of Japanese culture or simply enjoy slots with unique mechanics, Toshi Video Club deserves a spin. With a maximum win of 10,000x and plenty of features to explore, this game is a must-try for both casual and seasoned players.