OK, OK, so maybe the Os Man was wrong about Geisha Story. In an earlier LiveCasinoDirect piece, the Os Man commented that there perhaps might already be at least one geisha-themed online slot too many. While still undoubtedly correct about that particular assertion, the Os Man’s skepticism about Geisha Story before its release has proven to be unfounded.

Even upon visiting a Playtech-based casino, the Os Man’s pessimism continued with the reckoning that maybe this game was only developed at all to give the casino something in the 15-payline section, but was soon dissipated: Geisha Story starts off well with some pretty animation (Somebody at Playtech has been watching Memoirs of a Geisha, methinks) not too lengthy in all but still effective brief-spinning.

The symbols here – teasets and koi and parasols, you get the idea – are gorgeously depicted in mostly pastels. Sound effects here are pleasant with little chirps, quiet gongings and rippling strings on a win.

The bonus round is spartanly dubbed the Geisha’s Garden Bonus; the Os Man opines that the post-Akira looking dude hanging out in the garden is well out of place but whatever. Within the bonus round, pick a fan, any fan to determine the number of jangling, clanging free spins; choose a second fan for your bonus multiplier and shazam! The Os Man, bagging 10 free spins and 10x multiplier, turned $15 into $800. Ka ching!

Maybe there is one Playtech geisha-themer too many ... time to retire Silent Samurai, perhaps.

And now for something completely different: In a mesh of sci-fi and underwater exploration genre is Greatest Odyssey, a nice addition to the 5-reel 25-payline collection. Roughly themed on an accidental discovery of Atlantis (extrapolating a bit here, but the pseudo-Greekness of the netherworld beings seems to indicate thusly), the Os Man particularly loves the symbols in this one: Most of what would ordinarily be fruit symbols and even more disturbingly often the freaking A-K-Q-J-10 run are alien letters – a nice touch that more designers would do well to follow.

Landing three of those purple-haired Atlantean babes gets the player into what is herein called – get this – “The Bonus Round.” Apparently, you’ve discovered an underwater laboratory in Atlantis staffed by our heroine (love those retro platform soled shoes, baby) and get to take home three pieces of the alien technology. The Os Man cashed his in for $640. All in all, two goodies from Playtech this month.