Gem Heat Slots
Gem Heat is a distinctive looking 5-reel slot from Playtech. Distinctive should not be mistaken for good however, and while Gem Heat catches the eye, it’s not entirely for the right reasons.
First though, the good stuff: the background for the game, orange flames flickering brightly, certainly ties in with its name and conveys the welcome impression of warmth. The background looks good. The reels, symbols and logo? Not so much. Design is a subjective discipline of course, and it would be inaccurate to say that Gem Heat looks bad. It would be accurate to say, though, that design isn’t Playtech’s strongest suit.
Take It Back to the Old-School
With prime playing symbols comprising BARs, 7s and sparkling gems, Gem Heat is a 5-reel slot that gives a nod to the classic slots of yore. These symbols have graced slots for as long as anyone can remember, and they’ll likely continue to do so for a long time to come. While the BAR symbols look flat and unremarkable, the gems are rendered with depth and detail, while the 7s are supersized – or stacked as Playtech calls them – occupying two rows on the reels.
Game Controls
The controls for Gem Heat are laid out in Playtech’s preferred manner. Once you’ve played one of their slots, you’ll have no trouble recalling their whereabouts, but the first time you encounter them it can be confusing. Clicking on the display for line bet, for example, will have no effect; the controls for bet value are located by clicking on the unmarked arrow to the left of the reels. It will then slide open to reveal plus and minus symbols, allowing you to adjust the bet from 0.01 to 0.4. There’s also a turbo bet button you can toggle on or off. With this feature disabled, certain animations and sounds are skipped.
The number of lines in the game is set at a fixed 25. With the bet value set at the maximum of 0.40, each spin of the reels will cost you €10. To the right of the reels lies the spin button, rendered so large that it would be impossible to miss; hold down the button to open autospin controls. Here you can request the number of autospins or have the game continue spinning till you hit the feature. The other controls of note, for audio and disabling the intro and splash screen, are tucked away in the top right of the screen.
Flaming Gems
Spin the reels and the 5 of them take off at a rate of knots. Gem Heat is fast – flaming fast in fact. As the reels come to a halt, winning combos are outlined in flames, while coloured lines are overlaid to show you where you’ve won. The sound effects are standard, but the animations are pretty impressive; check the flaming effect on the 7s for example, or the way the wild symbol glows gold.
Wild Diamonds
The wild symbol in Gem Heat is played by the diamond and can surface during the main game or during free games. Naturally, wild will substitute for any of the main symbols except for scatter, helping to turn pairs of symbols into winning combos. Land 2 or more wilds on an active payline and you’ll receive an enhanced payout.
Scatter is played, as Playtech are apt to do, by the game’s logo. Land two or more Gem Heat logos anywhere on the reels and the subsequent payout will be multiplied by the total bet value. With 3 or more scatters on the reels, you’ll be awarded 10 free games complete with a locked wild and an increasing multiplier.
Stacked Symbols
Certain symbols in the game can appear as stacked i.e occupying two rows on the reels. BARs (single, double or triple) plus 7s (green, red or blue) have the power to appear as stacked. While this feature is largely superficial, it essentially means that the symbol applies to both of the reels it occupies. If nothing else, it proves an effective means of breaking up the display, providing something that’s easier on the eye.
Gem Heat in a Nutshell
Gem Heat is a simple 5-reel slot that’s a lot of fun to play. It’s not the prettiest slot you’ll ever play, but it might just prove to be one of the most enjoyable.
