More Games by WMS
Top Gun Slot From WMS
The most popular slot machine adaptation of the movie was
released by WMS, which is now a subsidiary of Scientific Games.
It enjoyed a great deal of success for several years, although
you’ll be hard-pressed to find the machines in modern-day Las
Vegas or Atlantic City.
Most versions of the game were designed as penny or nickel
slots, and payline configurations ranged from 15 to 25. The
progressive jackpot started at $500,000, while the standalone
version offered a maximum payout of 10,000 credits. Maximum
wagers ranged from 60 to 200 credits at corporate-owned casino,
while Native American jurisdictions offered a 250-credit limit.
Available in multiple languages, the game console features
Anthony Edwards and Kelly McGillis on the front. You won’t see
Tom Cruise (aka “Maverick”) in the game, however, as WMS was
unable to meet his asking price for the rights to license his
image.
Game Symbols
Iceman
Maverick’s nemesis in the Top Gun flight school. Played by Val
Kilmer.
Charlie
Maverick’s instructor and love interest. Played by Kelly
McGillis.
Goose
The co-pilot and best friend of Maverick. Played by Anthony Edwards.
Fighter Plane
An F-14, as used by the American pilots in the movie.
Acts as the scatter symbol, with three of them initiating the
bonus round.
American Flag
A symbol of patriotism.
Motorcycle
The chosen means of transportation for Maverick.
Wild
Substitutes for most symbols in the game.
Progressive
Get five of these on the first payline while betting the
maximum amount to win the progressive jackpot.
Wings of Gold
The insignia presented to trained Navy pilots.
Top Gun Bonus
Collect these symbols to rank up to a higher level.
Crosshairs
The display used to target and destroy enemy aircraft.
Fly By
Getting one of these on the fifth reel activates the Fly By
Bonus.
Bonus Rounds
Fly By Bonus
A jet flies across the screen and turns random symbols
wild. The most common bonus in the base game.
Aerial
Dogfight Bonus
Engage in aerial combat with enemy planes,
gaining credits and multipliers along the way. Outmaneuver the
MiGs to avoid getting shot down. If you get the “engage the
enemy” icon, you can choose to fight Russian forces in order to
win additional credits. A hit on the enemy pays 25x the initial
wager, and up to six jets can be blown out of the sky. “Bonus
Extender” icons can also be collected, allowing the player to
increase the length of the bonus round.
Playtech Top Gun Slot
If you’re a fan of “Take My Breath Away,” the Academy
Award-winning song by Berlin, you’ll be delighted by this game.
That’s because the song’s distinctive melody plays during each
spin of the reels on this Playtech release, and other sections
of the game allow you to hear a more complete version of the
composition.
The designers of the game teamed with Paramount for the 30th
anniversary of the film, and this slot features authentic
footage and characters (minus Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell).
There are 243 ways to trigger a way, and all that’s required is
to get three or more adjacent matching symbols from left to
right.
The autoplay feature allows players to avoid the tedium of
individual spins, and you can choose to automatically rotate the
reels 10, 25, 50, or 99 times before stopping. If you use this
option, each spin is made with an identical wager.
If you’re especially impatient, there’s also the turbo mode.
This increases the speed of the reels, allowing players to
increase their average number of spins within a certain period
of time.
Game Symbols
Charlie
The sexy astrophysicist pays 1000 credits for five matches, 250
for four, and 100 for three.
Stinger Jester
These veteran aviators pay 150 for five, 75 for four,
and 25 for three.
Iceman Goose
Both of these young naval officers pay 500 for five, 150
for four, and 50 for three.
Flight Jacket & Instructor’s Clipboard
These iconic props from the
film pay 100 for five, 50 for four, and 15 for three.
Ace & King
Playing cards that pay 50 for five, 25 for four, and 10 for
three.
Queen &
Jack
These playing card symbols pay 25 for five, 15 for four,
and 5 for three.
F-14
The
Navy fighter plane symbol unlocks the Danger Zone free games and
serves as the scatter.
Top Gun
The wild symbol of the game, it substitutes for all icons except
the scatter. If five of these symbols turn up, the player
receives 1500 credits.
Bonus Features
Danger Zone Free Games
In order to unlock this feature, you’ll need to get
the F-14 symbol on reels one, three, and five. This results in
the player being awarded eight bonus spins. Keep an eye out for
the fighter jet, as its appearance means enhanced dogfight wild
symbols may be dropped onto the reels at any moment.
Dogfight
Wilds
This feature sees the return of your wingman in his
F-14. This time around, he’s locking onto targets and blowing
them out of the sky with his missiles. Once this happens, up to
15 Top Gun wild symbols can be revealed on the reels.
IGT Top Gun Slot
IGT was supposed to have developed a Top Gun slot at some
point in the past, and a Google search turns up several sites
claiming to offer reviews and information. These articles are
misleading, however, as their information and screenshots are
drawn from the slot machines discussed earlier in this article.
A pair of images from another Top Gun slot do exist, although
they seem to be the only remaining evidence. IGT makes no
mention of this Top Gun slot on their official website, and the
same applies to YouTube and various online casinos utilizing IGT
software. If the game ever existed, it has long since went the
way of the dinosaurs.
One of the images mentioned above does include the paytable,
though, so here’s what you can expect:
- MiG
Aircraft – Pays 10,000 for five, 500 for four, 250 for three,
and 30 for two.
- F-14 Aircraft – Pays 50 for five, 10 for four, 2 for three, and 1 for
two. Acts as the scatter symbol.
- Aircraft Carrier – Pays 2500 for five, 300 for four, 150 for three, and
20 for two.
- Helicopter – 300 for five, 50 for four, 25 for three, and 5 for two.
- Motorcycle – Pays 200 for five, 30 for four, 20 for three, and 3 for two.
- Flight Wings – Pays 100 for five, 25 for four, and 5 for three.
- Crosshairs – Pays 75 for five, 15 for four, and 3 for three.
- Radar – 50 for five, 15 for four, and 3 for three.
- Blue Helmet – Pays 25 for five, 10 for four, and 2 for three.
- White Helmet – 15 for five, 5 for four, and 2 for three.
- Red Helmet – 10 for five, 6 for four, and 2 for three.
- Top Gun – This wild symbol substitutes for all others with the exception
of the F-14 scatter symbol.
Classic Quotes from Top Gun
Most enduring films wind up having a number of memorable
lines, and Top Gun is no exception. The Jim Cash/Jack Epps
script is filled with bluster and attitude, and people are still
quoting it 30 years later. If you want to demonstrate your love
for the blockbuster, try committing a few of the following lines
to memory.
- “I feel the
need…the need for speed!” (Goose and Maverick)
- “The Defense Department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead
because they were stupid.” (Goose)
- “You can be my wingman any time.” (Iceman)
- “That was some of the best flying I’ve seen to date, right up to the part where you got killed.” (Jester)
- “You’re not going to be happy unless you’re going Mach 2 with your hair on fire.” (Charlie)
Summary
It’s been three decades since Top Gun was in theaters, but
the movie continues to gain new fans thanks to the star-making
performance of Tom Cruise and the tense aerial combat scenes.
Several slot machine companies have attempted to capture that
same magic by creating Top Gun casino games, although the film’s
leading man has yet to appear in any of them. Despite his
absence, however, the slots manage to combine nostalgic thrills
and music with the opportunity to win large sums of cash.
