Rise of Pyramids Review
In a world where our intellect is often hailed, the mystery of how the pyramids were constructed still eludes us. Were they built by sheer human effort, aided by telekinesis, or perhaps even with extraterrestrial assistance? But let’s table that enigma for now and delve into Pragmatic Play’s online slot, Rise of Pyramids, which harbors mysteries of its own. The most perplexing of which is why Pragmatic Play conceived such an imaginative theme and technical setup, only to incorporate rather pedestrian features. Ah, life’s mysteries abound.
If the outward appearance of Rise of Pyramids is any indication, one might mistake it for a distant cousin of another Ancient Egyptian-themed slot, Rise of Giza PowerNudge. Both games immerse players in a world of pyramids, envisioning an alternate reality where Ancient Egyptian civilization advanced with futuristic technologies. Picture a scenario akin to Stargate, where pyramids served as landing pads for colossal Goa’uld spacecraft rather than conventional tombs. In Rise of Pyramids, the pyramids gleam with lights, while a regal Egyptian queen presides over the scene. Wouldn’t it be amusing if these structures were merely futuristic office complexes bustling with scribes documenting mundane affairs like municipal waste management?
Adding to the intrigue is Rise of Pyramids’ unconventional 7-reel honeycomb grid, arranged in a 3-4-5-6-5-4-3 layout reminiscent of Honey Rush. With bets ranging from $/€0.20 to $/€250, the slot boasts a medium-high volatility rating, accompanied by a default RTP of 95.97%, slightly lower than Pragmatic Play’s usual offerings.
Following a winning combination, symbols explode off the reels, triggering the tumble mechanic. New symbols cascade into place, potentially leading to additional wins. Wins are awarded when at least 8 matching connected symbols form a block, with gems representing low pays and four character symbols as high pays. A block of 8-10 matching symbols pays 0.2 to 5 times the bet, while a block of 22 or more symbols yields 4 to 250 times the bet. Wild symbols, appearing on all reels, substitute for regular pay symbols and detonate adjacent symbols not part of winning combinations during tumbles.
Despite the unconventional futuristic theme, Rise of Pyramids incorporates several conventional features, including tumbles, hold ‘n win respins, free spins with a rising multiplier, and feature buy options.
During gameplay, money symbols may land with values ranging from 0.5 to 1,000 times the bet. Triggering the respin feature requires landing 4 or more money symbols, awarding 3 respins where only money symbols or blanks appear. New money symbols reset the respin count, and all accumulated values are paid at the end of the feature.
Scatters activate free spins, with 4 scatters awarding 10 free spins plus additional spins for each extra scatter. During free spins, a multiplier increases with each tumble, potentially enhancing wins. Additional scatters during the round extend the feature and award extra spins.
Players can opt to purchase free spins for 80x the bet (RTP 95.96%) or the respin feature for 30x the bet (RTP 96%) from the feature buy menu.
Reflecting on Rise of Pyramids is akin to riding a roller coaster of old and new. While the futuristic twist on Ancient Egypt is refreshing, the slot’s features fall into the realm of the conventional. The honeycomb grid layout offers a unique experience, but the respin and free spins features lack innovation, leaving players longing for more creativity. Despite its shortcomings, Rise of Pyramids isn’t devoid of merit. Its captivating visuals and unconventional setup hold promise, but Pragmatic Play missed an opportunity to elevate the game into something truly exceptional by infusing more imaginative gameplay elements.
Rise of Pyramids Slot Information
Title: Rise of Pyramids
Developer: Pragmatic Play
Reels: 6
Rows: 7
Paylines: Cluster pays
RTP: 95.97% | 95% | 94%
Hit Freq: 1 in 3.69
Free Spins Freq: 1 in 320
Max Win: 5,000x
Max Win Probability: 1 in 2,500,000,000 (freq)
Volatility: Medium
Min/Max Bet: 0.20/250
Release Date: May 16, 2024