Pharaoh’s Gold Slot
Everyone wants to steal Pharaoh’s Gold. Grave robbers over the centuries and millennia wanted a piece of it; 20th century explorers wanted it to haul back to museums in their native land and now, 3,000-odd years after the last Pharaoh was laid to rest, it’s your turn.
Egyptian history has long been a source of inspiration for movies, novels and videogames and it’s the same in the iGaming industry. Along with Caesar’s Palace, few historical figures have been ransacked and plagiarised more than the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
Oh well, what difference is one more slot gonna make? Especially when it’s been developed by PariPlay, whose ingenuity and innovation ensure their games are never run of the mill affairs.
Eight Reels of Fun
Pharaoh’s Gold is an absolute beast of a game, as you’ll realise the moment you lock eyes with it. A monster 8 reels – count ‘em – provide a feast of ancient symbols to entertain and enrich you.
If the prospect of watching 8 reels spinning makes you dizzy, fear not: Pharaoh’s Gold allows you to play with as few as 1 reel should you prefer to take things slow. Playing this game on 1 reel though would be like entering Tutankhamun’s tomb and only exploring the first chamber. Aren’t you curious to see what other riches there are to be found within? In that case, activate all 8 reels and hit Spin.
Eight’s the Magic Number
As anyone who’s familiar with PariPlay slots will attest, the company’s attention to detail is remarkable. Instead of being presented with a simple mute button for the music and sound effects, for example, there are volume sliders that allow for precise control.
There’s also a paytable button at the top of the screen that details exactly which symbols to target.
The action unfolds within a tomb, or at least an ancient Egyptian structure of some sort, complete with plumbing and a pair of deities standing guard on either side, staff in hand. Before you start spinning the reels, there’s the option to adjust the bet level, which ranges from 0.1 to 2.0.
If you’re playing casually or are simply putting the game through its paces before deciding whether to commit serious money, place a low bet but activate all 8 reels if possible.
Ooooh, the Suspense!
The animations may be smooth, but the reels can take a long time to come to rest. If you like suspense, that’s fine. If you’re the sort who’s always in a hurry, however, Pharaoh’s Gold might not be the slot for you. Robbing the Pharaoh of his riches calls for scoring 3 symbols in a row.
The icons are based around hieroglyphics, including the Eye of Horus, which was an ancient symbol of power and health. There’s also golden pyramids, scarab beetles and a coiled cobra. 3 cobras in a row are worth 200, 3 dog deities are worth 1,000 and 3 red scarabs command a cool 10,000.
Your ability to identify the remaining symbols by name will depend on your knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture, but you’ll recognise them by sight all right, such is their pervasiveness in adventure movies and TV series. Score 3 bonus symbols in a row and you’ll be taken through to the bonus game, Wheel of Pharaoh.
While two golden Egyptian cats look on, you’re obliged to spin the wheel to determine the value of the multiplier you receive. Bonus wins are multiplied by the line bet you’ve set. In the centre of the wheel, a green scarab beetle glows like a precious gemstone.
Gaming Gold
If you’ve never played an 8-reel slot before –they’re not unheard of but they’re certainly a scarce commodity at online casinos – you need to experience Pharaoh’s Gold. Not just so you can tick 8 reels off your slot bucket list (you do have a slot bucket list, right?) but also because it’s a lot of fun. Because each reel takes a little longer than normal to come to a halt, the excitement increases. It’s like playing an old computer game – an Atari or an Amiga – where the load times were substantial, but it was always worth the wait.
With a jackpot of 100,000, Pharaoh’s Gold is certainly worth your time. PariPlay don’t seem to do disappointing slots: every title they release has its own distinctive features that differentiate it not only from the competition, but also from the company’s previous efforts. Pharaoh’s Gold is a case in point. Give it a spin and see how much ancient treasure you can unearth.
