Extensive Review: Eastern Emeralds Megaways Slot by Quickspin
Quickspin has established itself as a leader in the development of innovative, visually appealing, and feature-rich online slots. With its Eastern Emeralds series, the developer brings a theme steeped in luxury, ancient traditions, and opulence, and the introduction of the Megaways™ mechanic in Eastern Emeralds Megaways amplifies the excitement and potential payouts. Released in 2021, this game reimagines the original Eastern Emeralds slot with the added benefits of the Megaways™ engine, increasing both the ways to win and the game’s overall volatility. If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward slots with luxurious themes and innovative mechanics, Eastern Emeralds Megaways is a game that promises thrilling gameplay.
In this extensive review, we will explore the key elements of the game, including its theme, game mechanics, bonus features, payout potential, and overall player experience.
Theme and Visual Design
The theme of Eastern Emeralds Megaways draws inspiration from the mystique and grandeur of the Far East. It evokes images of ancient empires, precious gemstones, and royal treasures, all set against a backdrop of oriental palaces and luxurious landscapes. Players are transported into an environment where beauty and wealth reign supreme.
Visual Design:
- The gameboard is framed with elegant gold, and the reels are set against the backdrop of a sprawling oriental palace that glimmers with shades of purple, gold, and red. The crystal-clear sky and serene landscapes reinforce the game’s tranquil yet opulent vibe.
- The symbols on the reels are richly designed to reflect the theme, with high-paying icons such as emerald gemstones, golden ingots, jade, and magnificent gold dragons. The low-paying symbols are represented by standard A, K, Q, J, 10, and 9 cards, rendered with a polished, opulent design that blends seamlessly with the luxurious theme.
- The wild symbol is an emerald gemstone, which substitutes for other symbols to help create winning combinations. The scatter symbol, represented by a jade ornament, is key to triggering the bonus features.
- The game also features stunning animations with light effects, where the glowing symbols pulsate when part of a winning combination, and the reels sparkle with excitement. The soundtrack is calming and mystical, featuring oriental instruments like the guqin and flutes, which further enhance the immersive experience.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Eastern Emeralds Megaways adopts the Megaways™ engine, one of the most popular and exciting slot mechanics. This engine, developed by Big Time Gaming, allows for a massive number of ways to win, which makes the gameplay more thrilling and dynamic. It also offers cascading reels, adding another layer of excitement to each spin.
Megaways™ System:
- The Megaways™ engine means that each reel can feature between 2 and 7 symbols, resulting in up to 117,649 ways to win on every spin. This system provides a massive number of possible winning combinations, giving each spin a feeling of anticipation and unpredictability.
- The cascading reels mechanic means that whenever a player lands a win, the winning symbols are removed from the reels, and new symbols fall into place, potentially creating additional wins during the same spin. This gives players more opportunities for rewards on each spin.
Base Game:
- The base game revolves around landing matching symbols from left to right across the reels. A win requires at least three matching symbols on a payline, and higher-value symbols (such as the emeralds and golden ingots) can trigger larger payouts.
- The wild symbol can substitute for all regular symbols, assisting players in forming winning combinations, while the scatter symbol plays a crucial role in triggering the free spins feature.
- The cascading reels feature allows for multiple wins on a single spin, as the reels continue to tumble, offering an element of surprise and increasing the total win potential of each spin.
RTP and Volatility:
- The Return to Player (RTP) of Eastern Emeralds Megaways stands at 96.72%, which is slightly above the industry average and offers a reasonable chance of return over time.
- The game has high volatility, meaning that while wins can be substantial, they are less frequent. The high volatility nature of the game makes it ideal for players who enjoy the thrill of chasing big wins but may require a higher bankroll and patience.
Bonus Features
While the base game provides exciting gameplay through the Megaways™ system and cascading reels, the real rewards come when players activate the bonus features. The most important bonus feature in Eastern Emeralds Megaways is the Free Spins round, which is amplified by the potential for multiplying wins.
Free Spins Feature:
- The Free Spins feature is triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols (represented by jade ornaments) anywhere on the reels. The number of free spins awarded depends on the number of scatter symbols that triggered the round:
- 3 scatters = 12 free spins
- 4 scatters = 15 free spins
- 5 scatters = 20 free spins
- 6 scatters = 25 free spins
- In the free spins round, the key feature is the Multiplier Meter. Each win during the free spins round increases a multiplier, which can lead to significant payouts as the multiplier continues to grow. The multiplier starts at 1x but can increase dramatically with consecutive wins.
- Additionally, the cascading reels feature is also in play during free spins, meaning that each win can trigger further cascades, leading to even more chances to win within the same spin.
- During the free spins round, the wilds and high-value symbols become even more valuable, significantly increasing the potential payouts.
- Players can retrigger the free spins feature if they land 3 or more scatter symbols during the free spins, giving them the chance to extend the feature and continue accumulating multipliers.
Multiplier Feature:
- One of the key features of Eastern Emeralds Megaways is the Multiplier Meter that applies during both the base game (in some cases) and the free spins round.
- Each time a win occurs, the multiplier increases, amplifying subsequent wins and cascading features. This can lead to massive win multipliers during the free spins round, especially if multiple consecutive wins occur.
Buy Bonus (Where Available):
- For players who want to skip the base game and go straight to the action, Eastern Emeralds Megaways offers a Bonus Buy feature (available in certain jurisdictions). This allows players to directly purchase entry into the free spins round for a cost, bypassing the need to land the scatter symbols through regular gameplay.
- The price of the Bonus Buy is proportional to the player’s stake and gives instant access to the high-potential free spins round, making it an attractive option for players looking for fast-paced action.
Payouts and Maximum Win Potential
With a maximum win potential of up to 50,000x your stake, Eastern Emeralds Megaways offers a significant payout opportunity, particularly during the free spins round when multipliers and cascading reels are active. This high-potential game is suited to players who are looking for the opportunity to hit big rewards.
Paytable:
- The highest-paying symbol in the game is the emerald gemstone, followed by golden ingots, jade, and gold dragons. These symbols offer the largest payouts when landing in combinations.
- The wild symbol (the emerald) substitutes for all regular symbols, helping to form winning combinations more easily.
- Scatters (jade ornaments) are essential for triggering the free spins, and they provide a way to access the game’s most lucrative features.
Strengths of Eastern Emeralds Megaways
- Megaways™ Engine: The 117,649 ways to win provide ample opportunities for exciting, high-potential payouts, keeping the gameplay dynamic and fresh with each spin.
- Free Spins with Multiplier: The free spins round with multiplying wins and cascading reels offers huge potential for big payouts, making this feature the highlight of the game.
- Beautiful Theme and Design: The luxurious Far Eastern theme is visually striking, with intricate symbols and a serene atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience.
- Bonus Buy Feature: For players looking to fast-track to the high-potential free spins round, the Bonus Buy feature offers a convenient option to skip directly into the action.
- High Payout Potential: With a maximum win of 50,000x your stake, the game offers players a chance at significant rewards, especially during the bonus rounds.
Potential Drawbacks
- High Volatility: The game’s high volatility means that wins can be sparse, and players may experience long periods of play without hitting significant payouts. This can be challenging for players with a lower bankroll or those who prefer more frequent wins.
- Bonus Buy Feature Limited by Region: The Bonus Buy feature is not available in all jurisdictions, limiting access to players in certain areas. 3
. Complexity of Features: New players might find the multiplier meter and the cascading reels somewhat complex to follow at first, though this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment once players get familiar with the mechanics.
Conclusion
Eastern Emeralds Megaways is a visually stunning and feature-packed slot game that brings the luxury and opulence of the Far East to the online slot world. With the Megaways™ engine, cascading reels, and the potential for massive multipliers during the free spins round, the game offers an exciting, high-risk, high-reward experience.
The maximum win potential of 50,000x your stake, combined with the gorgeous theme and the opportunity to trigger big payouts during the bonus features, makes Eastern Emeralds Megaways an enticing choice for players who love high volatility slots with a rich theme and plenty of action-packed features.
Whether you’re a fan of the Megaways™ system, the allure of the Far Eastern treasures, or simply the chance for large payouts, Eastern Emeralds Megaways is a must-try for players looking for a highly engaging, feature-rich slot experience.