Arabian Crystal (アラビアンクリスタル?) is a coin pusher medal game produced by Konami and released on 2005 in Japan. It is the sequel to Wing Fantasia.
Cabinet[]
The cabinet is designed to be modular and allow for up to 4 station units (2 stations each) for up to 8 stations connected at the same time, with each station able to accommodate 2 players the game can house anywhere from 4 to 16 players, the promotional material of the game shows the game with 4 or 6 stations. Each of the stations has their own colour-coordinated balloon;
- Blue
- Red
- Green
- Pink
- Yellow
- Black
- Orange
- White
Gameplay[]
The gameplay of Arabian Crystal departs greatly from the previous game as it has received a significant overhaul over it's predecessor. This was partly in response to the 1-coin method found on the original Wing Fantasia allowing the slots to be spun with every single coin, thus emptying the machine because of how the game was coded.
Base Game[]
Starting with the field the game technically has 4 levels of coins, the first and most visible one is literally above the main field, and is interestingly a 'reverse' field i.e. coins are inserted into the back of the tray not the front (this was not in the original), a second hidden one below the elevated level, the third primary field and a jackpot tray as number 4. Coins are inserted into the elevated tray and are pushed into one of two start checkers to get the game going.
Slot[]
As medals fall into the checker, stocks are built up on LEDs around the screen up to a maximum of 8. As this is an older game the odds of these stocks cannot be increased by maxing out the stock counter, if you try and increase the stock past 8, the spins are wasted. However, a bonus is awarded from some of the features if the slot stock is either 7 or 8.
Arabian Crystal has 5 possible pay lines, lining up 3 of the same symbol on any of the five lines in the slot results in a slot win, the symbols and their effects are as follows:
- 2, 4, 6, 8, (Blue): 20 Medals
- 1, 3, 5 (Red): 20 Medals + Streak
- Red/Blue Crystal: 20 Medals + 10 crystals of the same colour + Streak
- 7: A Direct Jackpot is awarded + Streak
Each of the numbered symbols represents a different character in the Arabian Crystal universe
- Shiva
- Coyote
- Lhasa
- Zash (the only returning character from Wing Fantasia)
- Princess Teria
- Majin Dane
- Fortune Teller
- Snake Charmer
Kakuhen (streak)[]
The usual rules for the streak apply to this game odd numbers (and crystals) start the streak while even numbers end it. However for whatever reason the pay lines do not change in the transition from Base Game to Streak and vice versa, both are the same 5-liners and even more annoyingly SOUND the same. The only cue that you are even in the streak is if the Sugoroku symbol is green instead of red, and the background shows a full moon instead of a crescent moon.
Jackpot step[]
This feature can be turned on or off by the operator as the game did not launch with a Jackpot step initially but it was added in a later update. Any win (except for the Sugoroku win and three 7s) add one step to the Jackpot step, once it hits 7 the Jackpot is awarded, this jackpot in this game is separate from the Super Jackpot as it is a tray of which all medals paid out must start at this tray. Once the jackpot is paid out the tray is filled up with 100 medals from a pay-out unit placed in between each station unit. (i.e. between stations 1 and 2, stations 3 and 4. etc.)
Sugoroku Step[]
There is one more symbol on the slots that has not been mentioned yet; the Sugoroku symbol. There are two Sugoroku symbols on the middle reel only, placed right next to each other. If one of them is in view one step will be added to the Sugoroku step ladder, once seven have been accumulated the Treasure Sugoroku feature will start. If both are in view however the Treasure Sugoroku feature will be awarded instantly without affecting the Sugoroku step ladder.
Features[]
Treasure Sugoroku Game[]
Play[]
Once any station gets the feature the game spins a wheel from any between 1-8 and whatever the wheel stops on that's how many spaces the station's corresponding balloon advances. However the wheel isn't like most wheels, as this wheel spins at a constant velocity, it only stops once a ball that is player-released in a half-pipe around the main wheel falls into a pocket directly below the wheel, at which point the wheel comes to a grinding halt.
Maps[]
There are 3 different maps each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The map in play is set by the operator
Normal map
- 45 total spaces (32 in normal zone, 13 in challenge zone)
- Challenge Zone present
- 4 Crystal Game spaces
- 2 SPC Chance Spaces
- BB Chance Space
- Pros: A guaranteed amount of Super Jackpot medals
- Cons: A more brutal profile for the corner spaces
Crystal map
- 44 total spaces (32 in normal zone, 12 in challenge zone)
- Challenge Zone present
- 6 Crystal Game spaces
- 2 Crystal game DX spaces
- Pros: A more generous balancing of wins
- Cons: No guarantee of a big pay
Storybook map
- 24 total spaces
- Challenge Zone absent
- 4 Crystal Game spaces
- 2 SJP Chance spaces
- Pros: All features are available on the one zone
- Cons: No super big win from the map.
Spaces[]
Win[]
These spaces are blank before the feature starts (except in the storybook map), they simply award the player that amount of medals, these are usually; 25 for normal zone and 50 for challenge zone.
SJP Chance / BB Chance[]
The spaces award either a Super Jackpot Chance or a Big Bonus Chance.
Red/Blue Crystal spaces[]
These start the Crystal game of that colour
Card spaces[]
These spaces the card bonus feature, and it is basically a random award.
Mini Game spaces[]
These spaces starts one of 8 minigames to be played on the station monitor.
Card Bonus[]
Station Cards (played on station monitor)[]
- 25 Win
- 50 Win
- Blue Crystal +10
- Red Crystal +10
- Mini Game
- Jackpot
Map Cards (played on centre monitor)[]
- 25 Win
- 50 Win
- Jackpot (replaced online battle)
- Roulette Bonus (25 medals x wheel spin)
- Party Game
- Blue Crystal Game
- Red Crystal Game
Minigames[]
Lucky Slot[]
Press a button to stop the reel on one of seven awards; 3 Win, 5 Win, 10 Win, 100 Win, Red Crystal +3, Blue Crystal +3 or Jackpot, for as many times as possible before stopping on the skull.
Hougeki Battle (Artillery Battle)[]
A PvE battle game, the player starts with 3 HP while the CPU starts with 5, the player controls their cannon to fire cannonballs into the CPU's castle 5 times before the player gets hit 3 times, as the game progresses the cannons fire faster and faster, however the player always fires faster than the CPU. 15 medals are awarded per hit and a perfect run awards 5 Red Crystals as a bonus.
Girigiri Stop (Stopwatchers)[]
Using the buttons, stop a stopwatch anywhere between 9 and 10 seconds to win 75 medals, failure to do so will award 30 instead. Red crystals are awarded if the timer shows exactly 9.99.
Otakara Catcher (Treasure Catcher)[]
Use the buttons to move Shiva Left and Right to try and catch falling Medals and Crystals on the screen.
Monster wo Yatsukero (Defeat the Monsters)[]
Use the buttons to change the aim of Coyote's daggers to hit in one of three positions, inserting medals throws the daggers. Monsters will spawn on some of those three positions and once the monster is defeated either 4 or 6 medals are awarded. Every now and then a balloon will spawn with a red or blue crystal tied to it, popping the balloon awards 1 of that crystal. At the end a boss will spawn and defeating it will award the Jackpot.
Docchi no Otakara (Which Treasure)[]
Once the game starts mash the buttons as fast as possible to fill up gauges, on the respective side, once that side's gauge is maxed out a corresponding chest will open for a short period of time, while the chest is open inserting medals on that side will award an additional 2, 3 or 5 medals per medal inserted. This time gets shorter every 20 seconds that passes and the game ends after 60 seconds.
Quiz Magic Academy MINI[]
5 picture-matching questions are asked and every question gotten correct earns you 15 medals, get all 5 questions correct and red crystals are awarded as a bonus.
Pop'n Music MINI[]
You play a take on "Pop'n Music" using the two buttons; L and R. Depending on how well you did you earn a certain number of medals, and if you do well enough red crystals are awarded as an added bonus,
Super Features[]
Crystal Game[]
Stage 1[]
This plays similar to the "Roulette Bonus" mentioned previously however instead of an arbitrary value, is it the number of red or blue crystals you have accumulated throughout the board, the maximum is 99. If you landed on a Crystal Game DX space, the same thing will happen however the initial winnings will be doubled. (eg. 4x becomes 8x, 5x becomes 10x and 8x becomes 16x)
Stage 2 (Double Up Chance)[]
After the first phase you are given the option to gamble your winnings in a double or nothing game, if you accept the wheel spins one more time and if it stops on an even number you lose everything, but if the wheel stops on an odd number, your winning are doubled and automatically collected.
Party Game[]
When you draw the "Party Game" Map card, all active stations will freeze temporarily and let everyone know that a party game is starting.
Minna de Quiz Game[]
Using the Left and Right buttons you have to answer a series of two-choice questions, medals are awarded based on how many correct answers are given.
Parachute Race[]
This not a race, but rather one of those "hit the button as close to zero as possible" games, you start at 10,000 metres and once the game begins that number falls rapidly, inserting a set number of medals will open the parachute and end the game, the closer to 0 you are the more medals you win and at very low numbers you can get crystals as a bonus.
Roulette Ate[]
All stations get given about 30 or so seconds to pick 3 consecutive numbers on the wheel (ex. 1-2-3, 4-5-6, or 7-8-1), once time is up the wheel will spin twice and if the wheel stops on one of your numbers once you win 25 medals, but if it stops on your numbers a second time, you will win 75 medals.
Super Jackpot Chance / Big Bonus Chance[]
Landing on these respective space in the Treasure Sugoroku Game will start the respective Feature, both work similarly but have slight differences in their pay.
Super Jackpot Chance (1000 - 2000)[]
1 = Super Jackpot, 5 = 300 medals, Other numbers (2, 3, 4 ,6 ,7 ,8) = 100 medals
Big Bonus Chance (2000 - 3000)[]
1 = Big Bonus, 5 = 500 medals, Other numbers (2, 3, 4 ,6 ,7 ,8) = 150 medals
The Big Bonus is operator set and can be either 2000, 2500 or 3000 medals, the Super Jackpot (or should it be Super Jackpots) however is progressive... in a sense, every time someone passes a Super Jackpot Chance space, that Jackpot raises by 10 medals.
The more interesting thing about the Super jackpot is that there are 2 of them in both maps that feature Super Jackpots, and both count up independently of each other.
Miscellaneous Extras[]
300 OVER Pay[]
Winning 300 or more medals directly from the Treasure Sugoroku Game (minigames don't count) instead of the game just spitting the medals out one at a time the game instead loads the pay-out unit mentioned earlier and uses that to dump medals onto the winning station's field 100 medals at a time while dumping over the Jackpot tray as well, this continues until there are less than 200 medals left to pay, at which point all remaining medals are dumped onto the tray and play resumes as normal.
Collaborations[]
Besides the aforementioned Mini Games, Pop'n Music and Quiz Magic Academy got their own reach animations, also Fantasic Fever 1 & 2 got a Tug-of-War style reach animation, Pierrot and Monkey on the left representing FF1, and March and Tango on the right representing FF2 (FF3 released in 2008). The Pop'n Music collaboration went both ways as in the console version Pop'n Music 13; Carnival, Lhasa made an appearance as a guest character with her song being a 3-song medley of Arabian Crystals BGM (Alibaba and the 40 Pirates, Treasure Sugoroku Game, and Crystal Game in that order)
Defunct Online Features[]
Arabian Crystal was the first game to take advantage of Konami's e-amusement arcade network and during it's life the "Jackpot" card in the Map Card Bonus was an Online Battle, where players of the game would work as a team in for their machine only versing other Arabian Crystal machines in one of three games; Minna de Quiz Game, Roulette Ate and Minna de Banana Catch The first two play the same as their party game form, but Banana Catch was unique to the Online Battle, however it plays somewhat similar to the Mini game Otakara Catcher. After the online battle all points and or medals the players won were averaged out, and the machines who scored first and second would have their maps filled with crystals. (Red crystals for 1st place, Blue crystals for 2nd place.)
The servers however shut down around 2017, making the Online Battle card award a Jackpot from that point forward.