Magellan Slot Machine
The open waters of the sea call to us in this nautical real cash slot machine from EGT; Magellan is a large game, consisting of 50 paylines, and boy does she pack a punch with the possibilities. Similar in style and format of their other games, such as Aztec Glory, those used to playing with the brand will feel right at home, able to adapt to the gameplay with ease.
This experience isn’t just about ease though, it’s about getting large wins and being able to walk away the victor. There’s plenty of ways to do that inside the 5 reels of this activity, most notably being the progressive jackpot: Jackpot Cards. We found that the level of wins altered with each playthrough, so there’s equal chance of winning a huge boon as well as a small fry prize. The trick is to play at the right time.
It’s all well and good us talking about our travels upon the waves, clashing with other ships and sometimes bumping into pirates, but it’s nothing like experiencing the adventure for yourselves. Why not play along with us, that way you can navigate all the sea mines on your journey with as little hassle as possible…?
Billowing Sails
Just as in all of EGT casino slot machines, there’s a distinct theme translated onto the gaming screen. In Magellan the imagery feels more immersive due to how busy the background picture is. Sometimes a busy image can be counterproductive, but in this example it works well, creating a sense that you’re out at sea, but without being overzealous. We like the subtly of its style.
Despite the fact that we can note whereabouts in time we’re meant to be playing, as well as the tale behind the reels, we can’t help but feel that our experience has been hindered by the in-game mechanics. The control panel, for one example, isn’t integrated into the interface, and so it sticks out like a sore thumb, diminishing our enjoyment. Sadly, this seems to be a trait that all games from the brand suffer, and so to avoid it you’d probably have to play elsewhere.
Global Domination
As wannabe high rollers, we want to take over the world one spin at a time, and with the scatter icon inside this game, we’re well on our way to achieving that. The globe symbol not only pays up 100 diamonds when you make a three of a kind combination, but it also starts the free spins round, the main feature of the title. The combo you can create won’t ever exceed three because the icon can only land on the second, third and fourth reels.
Should you manage to lineup this win, you’ll be rewarded with a standard amount of seven rounds, which quite frankly is below average - even Aztec Glory had 10! Fear not though because you can reactivate another seven of the spins inside the feature, helping to improve our appreciation of the level. It’s still not as detailed as other slots out there, but it’ll do.
Passing the Time
When you’re travelling the world by ship, you need to keep yourself amused, for a lot of time will go by with you having little to do by the way of work. This is when a round of cards will come in most handy, allowing for a slight increase in tempo as you work through Magellan’s gameplay.
In truth, the gamble option that presents itself isn’t nearly as fancy as it could have been, with EGT having decided to stick with the basics and be as uncreative as possible. On the one hand it means you’ll know what to do, but on another you’ll be bored by the expected every time. However you feel though, if you’re wanting to double your win, you’ll need to play the game, and that means guessing the colour of the next card.
Players should remember that, while the gamble options presents itself most times, if you create a winning combo worth over 1,750 diamonds, you won’t be given the chance to gamble. To us that seems most wise - can you imagine losing all that cash in one go? It would be devastating!
Ship Shape or Choppy Waters?
Magellan isn’t a bad slot machine, but neither is it a good one, instead it falls in the middle somewhere, just barely getting by. If you’re looking for a casual punt, or a quick means to an ends, this is the type of game you’ll likely go to, but if you’re in need of substance, you won’t find it here. EGT may be a renowned brand, but it isn’t because of how memorable their games are, it’s mainly due to how easy they are to pick up and then leave.