Aztec Idols Slot Review
The widespread popularity and the exciting scenarios emblematic of the Indiana Jones franchise and its association with mysterious ancient relics have given rise to many games based on it, particularly with the Aztecs. Play N Go has spawned its own Aztec-themed game with Rich Wilde and the Aztec idols slot, to give it its full name.
While some have speculated that Aztec Idol was heavily inspired by the very popular Book of Ra series by Novomatic, and there are certainly some similarities in styling, it would be objectively difficult to avoid that. Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt and Aztec’s Millions by RTG might arguably have dipped into the same basic premise.
At any rate, Aztec Idols promises to be an interesting game in which to delve a little deeper. Find out what it has to offer.
Aztec Idols Slot Setup
The opening of Aztec Idols is indicative of the quality of the production and the smooth integration of thematic elements. The game window is set against a jungle backdrop with tropical plants, accompanies by a decidedly tribal drum soundtrack with the occasional chirping of crickets and other jungle noises.
The regular symbols that flash through the standard 5×3 reels include stone-carved figures of 10, J, Q, K, and A, and of course, masks of Aztec idols. An explorer character that is probably Rich Wilde is appropriately enough the wild card in the list. Aztec calendars serve as scatters, while Aztec pyramids trigger the bonus game. Some animation keeps the scene dynamic without being distracting.
Aztec Idols has 15 paylines, and the player can choose the number of lines to activate. The player can also choose the number of coins to wager and the value of those coins, can go as low as £0.15 or as high as £150, and change any of these at any time except during the free spin bonus mode.
Payouts
The Aztec Idols paytable is more or less typical of many modern video slots, with playing card symbols having the lowest payline value, and the wild symbol has the highest. The valuation is based on coins, which can have actual cash value between £0.01 and £0.25.
For the playing cards, the coin payouts are as follows for 3, 4, and 5 on a payline, respectively:
- A, K = 5, 30, and 150
- Q, J, 10 = 5, 20, and 100
For the Aztec idols, the coin payouts are as follows for 2, 3, 4, and 5 on a payline, respectively:
- Gold idol = 5, 50, 200, and 1000
- Gray idol = 3, 30, 150, and 750
- Green idol = 20, 20, 100, and 500
- Brown idol = 20, 20, 100, and 500
For the explorer wild, the coin payouts are 10, 100, 1000, and 5000 for 2, 3, 4, and 5 on a payline, respectively.
Game Features
The game sports various features that will please players seeking bigger and better rewards. They are as follows:
Free Spins – As with many other video slot games, the scatter symbol in Aztec Idols is central to activating the free spin feature. Although this is not a re-trigger feature, the game has an interesting twist. Scatter symbols only appear on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th reels, and landing all of them in one spin activates the free spin feature as well as multiplies the winning spin payout by 5. The way it happens is rather fun. The middle scatter expands into an Extra Scatter, a mega calendar that fills the game window, and the player can spin it one time. The calendar has two sections for selecting the special symbol during the free spin mode and determining the number of free spins associated with the selected symbol. The number of free spins ranges from 10 to 20. The special symbol will expand vertically when it appears during the free spins round, and the player can win if two or more of this symbol appear. Each winning combination can potentially cover all 15 paylines.
Pick Me Bonus – The Pick Me bonus game activates when three Aztec pyramids land on the reels during the base game. This will bring the player inside the Aztec pyramid where there are 5 idol statues on pedestals. The player has to click on statues, hoping to get those hiding a cash prize and not those hiding a green cloud. The bonus ends when the player picks a statue with a green cloud or all the statues have been picked. The top win for this bonus game is 150 times the wager.
Gamble – The gamble feature is found in many video slot games, and is a nerve-wracking way to try and increase winnings by as much as 4 times. The player has the option of trying to correctly guess the colour of the face-down card or guess the suit. Guessing the colour pays 2 times the winnings while guessing the suit pays 4 times. The player can continue guessing as desired after each correct guess until a wrong guess or the player decides to collect.
Our Verdict
Aztec Idols is visually appealing, and the soundtrack is a good choice for the theme although a little too loud at times. it has a similar theme to Aztec Princess Slot. The gameplay is fast and exciting, and winning combinations are fairly frequent despite high volatility. That, coupled with the many extra features of the game makes it a good candidate for players looking for an exciting way to try for some great payouts.
