Rise of Pyramids Demo
For a comprehensive analysis, continue reading after trying out the free demo version of the Rise of Pyramids slot.
Rise of Pyramids Slot Review
Pragmatic Play’s Rise of Pyramids presents a fascinating paradox. It’s a slot that wraps familiar mechanics in a visually arresting package. The game’s aesthetic deftly merges the iconic imagery of ancient Egypt with a sleek, futuristic sheen. Imagine pyramids not as weathered sandstone structures, but as towering edifices of polished obsidian, pulsating with an inner light. This is not your typical desert trek; it’s more like stumbling upon an ancient civilization that mastered technology beyond our wildest dreams.
Grid Dynamics and Symbol Payouts
The game unfolds on an unconventional 3-4-5-6-5-4-3 grid, reminiscent of a honeycomb. This unusual layout immediately sets it apart. Instead of traditional paylines, Rise of Pyramids employs a cluster pays system. Wins are triggered by landing eight or more matching symbols connected horizontally or vertically anywhere on this grid.
The symbols themselves range from vibrantly colored gems (purple, blue, green, yellow, and red) representing the lower-paying tier, to four unique character symbols that embody the game’s futuristic Egyptian theme and constitute the higher-paying icons. A winning cluster of 8-10 matching symbols yields payouts from 0.2 to 5 times the bet. However, achieving a substantial cluster of 22 or more matching symbols can result in significant rewards, ranging from 4 to 250 times the bet. This creates an engaging dynamic where players are constantly on the lookout for large, interconnected symbol groups.
Tumble Feature: A Cascade of Wins
Rise of Pyramids incorporates a Tumble feature that activates after every winning combination. Once a win occurs, the contributing symbols vanish, making way for new symbols to cascade down from above. This creates the potential for consecutive wins within a single spin.
The Tumble feature also interacts uniquely with the Wild symbol. Represented by a golden key, the Wild substitutes for all regular pay symbols. However, when the Wild is part of a winning tumble, it unleashes a special effect. It eliminates all adjacent symbols that are not part of a winning combination, creating more space for potential new wins to form. This mechanic can be quite lucrative, turning a single win into a chain reaction of payouts.
Delving into the Depths of Bonus Features
The Respin feature is triggered when four or more Money symbols, depicted as golden treasure chests, land on the reels. These chests carry values ranging from 0.5x to a staggering 1,000x the bet. Once activated, the triggering Money symbols lock into place, and three respins are granted. During these respins, only blanks or additional Money symbols can appear. Each new Money symbol that lands also locks in and resets the respin counter to three.
This feature, while seemingly straightforward, holds a surprising amount of tension. Every respin becomes a nail-biting moment, as players hope for more Money symbols to fill the grid. The feature concludes when either the respins run out or the entire grid is filled with Money symbols. At this point, the values of all locked Money symbols are summed up and awarded to the player. If you are not clear about the details of the bonus, run the demo version of the slot and open the built-in game help by clicking (i).
Free Spins: Ascending Multiplier
Landing four or more Scatter symbols, represented by a pyramid emblazoned with the word “Scatter,” unlocks the coveted Free Spins round. Players are initially awarded 10 free spins, with an additional two spins granted for each Scatter symbol beyond the initial four. This is where the game’s potential truly shines, thanks to the progressive win multiplier.
The Free Spins round introduces a total win multiplier that begins at 1x and increases by 1x after each tumble. This multiplier applies to all wins during the Free Spins, and it persists throughout the entire feature. The excitement builds with each tumble as the multiplier climbs higher and higher. Moreover, landing four or more Scatters during the Free Spins retriggers the feature, adding 10 more spins to the counter, plus two extra spins for every additional Scatter beyond the required four. This retrigger potential, combined with the escalating multiplier, can lead to some genuinely impressive payouts.
The futuristic Egyptian theme is certainly a refreshing take, but the core mechanics, while well-executed, are standard. For seasoned players, the thrill might come not from groundbreaking innovation, but from the satisfying execution of familiar elements within a visually captivating framework. The game offers a solid experience, and its potential for substantial wins through the Respin and Free Spins features is undeniable. Whether you’re a fan of ancient Egypt, futuristic settings, or simply enjoy the thrill of cluster pays slots, Rise of Pyramids is worth considering. This slot might be a good choice if you are looking for a game with a medium volatility level and a maximum win potential of 5,000x the bet.
Author: Vlad Hvalov