Legend of the Nile Slot Machine
We all know that Egyptian-themed slots are a mainstay of the online casino industry. Thankfully, software developers seem to get this as well. While there was a time when games based on Ancient Egypt felt like they were starting to get stale, software providers have gone back to the drawing board to make games based on one of the most enduring cultures in human history as fresh and interesting as possible.
One recent example of this trend is Legend of the Nile by Betsoft Gaming. This new online slot uses a cascading gameplay style that allows for some unique gameplay elements. Three separate bonus tracks ensure there’s always something to play for on every spin, and the entertaining thematic elements make this a game that players will want to come back to – whether it’s for their love of Ancient Egypt or simply because they’re looking for something different from the same old classic slots.
A River in Egypt
The Legend of the Nile video slot is one of the latest releases that can be found at online casinos using software by Betsoft Gaming. This Egyptian-themed slot features bright and thematic symbols that are easy to distinguish on the screen, with the game’s reels placed transparently against a backdrop that displays both the titular river and some distinctively Egyptian landmarks like pyramids and the Sphinx. While there’s quite a bit of information on the screen, it is all laid out in a way that feels natural and uncluttered.
Gamblers can choose between several different denominations of coins, ranging from €0.01 to €1, as well as five different bet levels. Keep in mind that the basic betting level costs 30 coins per spin – so, at the maximum bet on level five, you’ll be playing for 150 coins. That makes this game affordable for those who enjoy penny slots, while also providing options that are suitable for high-limit players. There’s also a play for free option offered if you want to test the game before risking any real cash. The browser-based interface offers compatibility for a full range of mobile devices, including all major smartphones and tablets.
Climbing the Pyramids
The Legend of the Nile uses a cascading reel format that does away with traditional reels and paylines. Instead, gameplay is based on match-three-style social games like Candy Crush. On each spin, symbols drop from the top of the screen to fill a 7x7 grid. The object is to match a cluster of at least four identical symbols in a row to win prizes. To count, all symbols must touch at least one matching icon vertically or horizontally, with larger clusters awarding bigger prizes.
Each time that at least one winning combination is found on the reels, those winning symbols will explode, causing the remaining symbols to fall as far down the screen as possible and new icons to fall into place from above. If any new winning combinations are made, you’ll be awarded more prizes and those clusters will also explode. This process continues until there are no wins available on the screen.
Low-value symbols include icons that look like birds and other hieroglyphics. Ankhs and eyes fill out the middle part of the pay table, while pharaohs and scarabs bring players the largest rewards – that’s 200 coins if you hit a cluster of four, or as many as 15,000 coins if you manage to hit 20 or more in a single group. Wild symbols can fill in for any of the normal icons to form winning clusters, or create their own winning groups if they appear together.
Honoring the Gods
There are three special features available in the Legend of the Nile video slot, each of which is tied to a different Egyptian god and can eventually earn you free spins. The simplest of these is the Ra feature. Every Ra symbol that appears on the screen will automatically win a prize – the more of these that appear, the larger the rewards will be.
If you find eight or more on the same spin, you’ll earn some free spins, starting with eight and increasing further as more Ra icons appear. Ra is also the key to unlocking some of the biggest rewards in the game. Hit 17 or more, and you’ll win a bonus prize of 400x your bet amount. Hitting 20 on a single spin will earn the machine’s progressive jackpot.
The Isis and Anubis trails work in a different way. As with normal symbols, you’ll only get credit for each of these gods if you hit them in a cluster of at least four together. As you hit these clusters, you’ll fill tracks that are maintained between spins throughout your session. Once you fill the trail of either god, you’ll earn 10 free spins on a special set of reels that includes enhanced versions of that god’s symbol, as well as a payout multiplier based on the size of the clusters of the special icon you collected during normal gameplay.
One More Trip to Egypt
If you like non-traditional slot machines and enjoy Egyptian themes, then you’ll want to play Legend of the Nile. The game really sticks to the thematic elements, while also offering interesting gameplay features that will keep you engaged for the long haul. We especially enjoyed the free spins trails, which reminded us of the features commonly found in British fruit machines without ever getting gimmicky. If you enjoy chasing down lucrative bonus rounds while playing with familiar Egyptian icons, then you should give this machine a try.