Ivanhoe Slot Review
Ivanhoe is probably the strangest slot machine we have seen from game developer Elk Studios. This game is dramatically different from the other slot machines this developer has produced! But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t interesting! This Medieval-themed game is based on the story of Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, where our hero fights alongside his liege, King Richard the Lionheart to win back his kingdom.
So, if you want to learn how you can join on this old adventure, then read out review. Find out what waits in store for you, mighty hero!
Ivanhoe Gameplay
This 3-reel, 3-row and 17-payline slow machine is unique! It uses the traditional fruit slot symbols like the cherries, lemons, watermelons, the bar, the blue lucky triple-sevens and the red lucky triple-sevens. And it has just one high-value symbol – the Ivanhoe Wild symbol (of which we will speak more in the next section). But if you think that since this is just a 3-reel, retro-style game, it’s probably a penny slot, you couldn’t be more wrong! This game can give you the chance of multiplying your base bet by 3,000x!
You start the game by setting your bet. And, as you may know, Elk Studios has a very unique set of betting strategies that you can use. This developer offers you a total of 5 different betting strategies, from which you need to choose one. Bets range from just 20p all the way up to £100 however there are 12 options available to you within this betting range.
This game’s volatility is on the higher side and it has an RTP of 96.30%. So, be prepared to spins the reels numerous times before you land substantial wins. And since this is the case, it is best to set your bet at a level that you will be able to sustain for at least 150 to 200 spins. And since this is a game of chance, there is no guarantee that you will see those big wins even after such a large number of spins. So, if it’s not your lucky day, it is best to stop playing and come back at a later date to try your luck again.
Once you’re done setting your bet, click Spin to start this adventure slot game. To win, you need to land 3 identical lower-value symbols consecutively on the reels from left to right. Because this small slot machine has 17 and not the normal 9 paylines, your potential to win those smaller-value bets is quite high. However, if you wish to get to the big wins, then you need to activate the Bonus feature of this game.
Additional Game Features
Ivanhoe, despite being such a small slot machine, has a really big bonus feature! Let’s find out more about it:
The Crown Wild – The crown of King Richard is the Wild in Ivanhoe and it can replace any other symbol but not the Ivanhoe Bonus symbol. It appears in both the base game as well as the bonus game, but it is most impactful during the bonus rounds.
Ivanhoe Bonus Game – The Ivanhoe Bonus symbol is the first special symbol of this game, and if it lands on all three reels, then you will trigger the Ivanhoe Bonus Game. This game is made of 5 different levels of challenges which you need to clear.
At each level, you have the chance to win cash prizes, and as you progress your prizes are multiplied thanks to multipliers that start at 1x (in level 1) and go up to as much as 6x in the final level. The bonus game is designed like a military campaign, where you goal is to win back Richard the Lionheart’s throne.
In level 1 (Ambush) and 2 (The Joust – Part 1), you need to win 25x your base bet to reach the next level. Then, you need to win 200x your base in both levels 3 (Robin’s Rescue) and 4 (The Joust – Part 2). Only if you overcome these challenges will you be allowed to move on to level 5 (Return of the King).
It is in level 5 that you can win as much as 3,000 times you base bet!
Game Design
Ivanhoe has a seriously unique game design – even by Elk Studios standards. It looks like a retro fruit machine, and the graphics are partially pixelated – just like in early video games. The symbols and the background, however, are high definition artwork which gives this game a rather strange look. But that strange isn’t a bad strange – just different.
In the background, you can see the caricature of what looks like a jousting arena, with heralds holding trumpets festooned with banners flanking the screen. The reelscape looks like a compact fruit slot machine, but there is a pixelated video screen over the reels. Pay attention to that because when the bonus game starts, you get to watch the story of each of the levels! It’s fascinating!
The game sounds are typically retro, but when you land wins, the trumpets sound! And when the bonus feature is activated, the music also kicks in – medieval kind of music you would expect to hear at a jousting tournament!
It took some time for us to get used to this strangely designed game, but the more we played it, the more we like it!
Summary
Ivanhoe is an exceptional slot machine in its game design, storyline, execution and payouts. Even if you are not a history buff, this is a slot machine you should play – just so that you get to see something that is completely different from any other slot you may have played!
