24K Dragon: Slot Overview
The title might sound like it comes from an Asian themed slot,
conjuring up
of golden beasts wrapped around green or burgundy reels. However,
Play'n GO's 24K Dragon is based on the mythical creatures populating fantasy literature
or movies. The name actually has more to do with potential wins, rather than metallic
purity. It means there is more going on here than first greets the eye, in more ways
than one. As well as extra meaning in the title, 24K Dragon also has features which
expand rows and win ways.
The game’s bright 5-reel, 1,024 win ways action area sits in
a cavernous space, where a fortune in gold lies piled around stone pillars. The view is
similar to the mountain of gold Smaug slept on in the Hobbit film. Then again, many
dragons slept on treasure hordes in fiction, so it's an apt location. Equally apt is
the dramatic soundtrack, heavy on the brass, which sounds like a dragon taking flight
to spread terror amongst the common folk. You can easily close your eyes to picture
Dany on top of Drogon as the beast lays waste to King's Landing.
24K Dragon is
available on all devices, offering a standard range of Play’n GO bets from 20 p/c
toR$/€100 per spin. Players get a default RTP rating of 96.2%, though this could be
lower depending on operators' settings. Play’n GO slots often tend to the highly
volatile side of the spectrum, and with such massive potential up for grabs, it stands
to reason 24K Dragon's is high as well. It certainly played out like that during
testing where even expanding reels to their full height in free spins was no guarantee
of success.
All of the pay symbols involved can land stacked, consisting of five low
pay 10-A royals designed in a font that wouldn't look out of place in one of Play’n
GO's heavy metal slots. Then there is a lion, a green gem, and a couple of crossed
swords as the mids worth 2-2.5 times the stake. Last up are two dragons – a silver and
gold one both worth 5x the bet for five of a kind.
Assisting with win frequency and
value is the treasure chest wild, appearing on the middle reels. The wild replaces any
regular pay symbol to complete a combination, while occasionally upping the value in
the base game by revealing an x2 or x4 multiplier.
24K Dragon: Slot Features
There
are two extras to cover here - a respin feature and the showpiece expanding reels free
spin game. Nothing is especially new, both having shown up in past Play’n GO games in
one form or the other. They have been tweaked since previous outings though and can be
exceptionally effective when the dragon's in the right mood.
Any time a golden dragon
symbol lands in the base game, a 24K Dragon Respin is awarded. For this respin, a
random number of 1-4 extra rows is added to the grid. These rows contain 3 symbols each
and sit above the middle rows. Players get a single spin with the extra rows and extra
ways to win.
Next is the bonus game, triggered when 3, 4, or 5 diamond scatters land to
award 8, 15, or 20 free spins respectively. As in the base game, free spins begin on
the standard 5x3, 1,024 win ways grid. Now, when golden dragon symbols land, they do
not trigger a respin, but are instead collected. A meter to the left of the screen
tracks your progress as you go. When a certain number has been accumulated, extra rows
are added above the main reels in a similar way to respins, except they remain in play
for the duration. The collection system goes like so:
3 collected dragons unlock row 1,
increasing win ways to 2,000 .
unlock row 1, increasing . 7 collected dragons unlock
row 2, increasing win ways to 3,456 .
unlock row 2, increasing . 11 collected dragons
unlock row 3, increasing win ways to 5,488 .
unlock row 3, increasing . 15 collected
dragons unlock row 4, increasing win ways to 8,192.
In free spins, treasure chest wilds
always reveal a multiplier. If more than one wild is used in a win, their values are
multiplied together up to a maximum of x64. During the feature, 5, 8, 15, or 20 more
spins are awarded every time 2, 3, 4, or 5 scatters are in view on the reels to
lengthen the round. There is no limit to how many free spins players can rack up in
this way.
24K Dragon: Slot Verdict
Take the creatures from Dragon Maiden, the style of
Testament, and the reel expansion capabilities of both, then mix them to get an idea of
what 24K Dragon is all about. The game world has been well crafted with plenty of the
winged beasts to satisfy fantasy fans looking for a fix. Graphically of a fairly high
standard, the stirring orchestral piece adds another layer of spectacle to the game,
resulting in another striking Play’n GO slot.
Moving on, 24K Dragon might not be super
original when it comes to gameplay, but overall, the experience does feel somewhat
fresh in action. A few alterations to the features help 24K Dragon stand apart from its
forebears. What also makes it stand out is the much higher than normal potential.
Play’n GO usually stick to 5 or 10k wins like clockwork. That rule has been tossed out
in favour of potential up to 24,000 times the bet this time around - hence the title.
Quite why they decided to go so huge on this one is a mystery. While a decent game, 24K
Dragon doesn't feel like a flagship release or a game the studio is going to majorly
hype.
All up, 24K Dragon is certainly good for few spins, though Tolkien enthusiasts
will get more out of the D&D visuals. Regular players can still get a kick,
particularly big win chasers due to the much larger wins on tap than we are used to
seeing from Play’n GO.
