Unconventional Beginnings
For a while, Pragmatic Play’s partners at Reel Kingdom were known for delivering some of the more unconventional slots to grace the review desk. Releases like Star Pirate Code, Cash Elevator, and Tic Tac Take come to mind, offering a distinct, albeit not as psychedelic as Crazy Tooth Studios, gaming experience. However, following the success of Big Bass Bonanza, the studio shifted gears, introducing a series of fishing-themed slots that made waves in the online gambling scene. Demonstrating their continued knack for crafting eccentric slots is Demon Pots, harking back to the studio’s earlier days of eyebrow-raising creativity.
A Hellish Theme
With a title like Demon Pots and a fiery backdrop, players are transported to what seems like the depths of the underworld, where the inhabitants groove to ska tunes reminiscent of The Specials. Players encounter one resident of this realm, a devilish figure depicted on the wild symbol. Despite his sinister appearance, he proves to be quite helpful, substituting for pay symbols and triggering certain features. The audiovisual presentation is quintessential Reel Kingdom: a bit cheesy, somewhat low-budget, and undeniably peculiar, though not necessarily in a positive sense. To put it mildly, Demon Pots may not appeal to everyone’s tastes.
Gameplay Mechanics
The game grid in Demon Pots is a standard 5×3 layout with 40 paylines, offering opportunities to land winning combinations ranging from 3 to 5 symbols of a kind. The lower-paying symbols include 10 to Ace card royals, rewarding 1 times the bet for a 5-symbol win. Higher-paying symbols consist of horseshoes, tridents, bundles of cash, sacks of cash, and gold items, offering payouts of 1.6 to 10 times the bet for a 5-symbol match. As mentioned, the demon character serves as the wild symbol, substituting for all symbols except Coin symbols. In the base game, wilds can only 90jili appear in the central position of the grid.
Coins Feature
Coin symbols come in varying values, ranging from 0.2 to 2 times the total bet. If a wild symbol lands simultaneously with Coin symbols, the value of the Coin symbols is immediately awarded. Furthermore, whenever a wild symbol appears, it might launch fireballs at the pots positioned above the reels, potentially activating one or more of them. Activating the Coins pot results in the addition of 6 Coin symbols to the reels, each bearing values from 0.2 to 1 times the bet, which are then collected. Similarly, triggering the Super Coins pot adds 6 coins to the reels, with values ranging from 0.4 to 2 times the bet, which are also collected.
Win Spins Feature
Upon activation of the Win Spins pot, players receive 6 respins. Throughout this feature, the wild symbol remains fixed in the center of the grid. Each respin is guaranteed to produce a win, whether from winning combinations, collections, Coin symbols, or Super Coin symbols, selected randomly. If the Win Spins pot is reactivated during the round, an additional 6 respins are awarded. This guarantees that players have a chance to collect decent wins, although the outcomes may vary significantly.
Free Spins Feature
Upon triggering the Free Spins pot, players receive 6 free spins, during which the wild symbol remains anchored in the center of the grid. Random activation of any pot is possible during these free spins. Additionally, players have the chance to land fully stacked wilds on reel 5 or reels 4 and 5. If a stacked wild appears on reel 5, another may land on reel 4 subsequently. These fully stacked wilds remain sticky throughout the feature’s duration. When a fully stacked wild occupies reel 5, all Coin value collections receive a x3 multiplier. Similarly, when fully stacked wilds appear on reels 4 and 5, Coin value collections are multiplied by x6.
Buy Free Spins Option
Players may buy the free spins bonus for 100x the bet. When doing so, the Win Spins pot is activated, then at the end of them, the Free Spins pot is activated. This offers a direct route to experiencing the more lucrative aspects of Demon Pots without waiting for the base game to trigger these features naturally. However, as with any online slot, buying a bonus doesn’t guarantee profitability. Coin values are modest, peaking at 2 times the bet, which hardly justifies the “super” designation of Super Coins. Nevertheless, a considerable number of Coins can land during 90jili gameplay, and it’s technically feasible to boost Coin values with sticky, fully stacked wilds on the reels.
Verdict: A Mixed Bag
When faced with the prospect of triggering a retrigger during a bonus round in Demon Pots, it’s not exactly a cause for celebration. This online slot is undeniably unique, but whether that uniqueness is a positive or negative aspect largely depends on the player’s taste. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with many around here for a repeat experience. It’s reminiscent of Pragmatic Play’s Hellvis Wild, but lacking the polished refinement. While Demon Pots certainly has its own distinct personality, deviating from the norm doesn’t automatically guarantee widespread appeal.
Potential and Playability
Despite its personality, Demon Pots offers somewhat original gameplay, with certain elements that might appeal to some players. For example, purchasing the bonus round seems like a decent value proposition, providing 6 Win Spins followed by free spins. However, Win Spins don’t always translate into substantial wins, and as with any online slot, buying a bonus doesn’t guarantee profitability. Coin values are modest, peaking at 2 times the bet, which hardly justifies the “super” designation of Super Coins. Nevertheless, a considerable number of Coins can land during 90jili gameplay, and it’s technically feasible to boost Coin values with sticky, fully stacked wilds on the reels.
Final Thoughts
The potential for big wins isn’t too bad either, reaching up to 6,000 times the bet. However, it’s challenging to envision reaching such heights given the gameplay mechanics of Demon Pots. Nonetheless, I remain open to being pleasantly surprised. While it’s somewhat comforting to see Reel Kingdom embracing its eccentricity with Demon Pots, the overall experience falls short of being truly captivating. The thought of revisiting it doesn’t elicit much excitement. The game certainly has its unique charm, but for most players, that might not be enough to keep them coming back for more. Nonetheless, for those who enjoy quirky and unconventional slots, Demon Pots could provide an entertaining diversion from the usual offerings on the 90jili market.
