Gold Oasis: Overview and Theme
Imagine finding yourself lost in the scorching desert, perspiring under the relentless sun, and struggling through the shifting sands. In such a dire situation, what would be your ultimate salvation: stumbling upon an oasis brimming with cool, life-giving water or stumbling upon one overflowing with gleaming gold? The logical choice would be water, of course. However, our current scenario finds us far from the desert; instead, we’re 90jili about to delve into the realm of Gold Oasis by Pragmatic Play. Gold, or its virtual equivalent in the world of online slots, is undoubtedly a coveted treasure here, and Gold Oasis offers some innovative avenues for players to potentially amass their fortunes.
Visuals and Setting
Given that an oasis typically signifies a source of water, it’s fitting that Gold Oasis is situated amidst a desert landscape. The setting is a captivating blend of golden and reddish hues, bathed in sunlight, with palm trees dotting the horizon and a lone rider atop a camel. Notably, there’s a curious sight on the left side of the screen—a cave entrance shaped like a skull. Its significance remains ambiguous, although it may be related to the indoor setting where free spins occur, featuring a lavish display of gold and treasures; perhaps this is the cave alluded to? Overall, Gold Oasis presents itself as a slot game with a romanticized presentation that belies its hidden surprises and unconventional features waiting to be discovered.
Gameplay Mechanics and Pay Structure
Gold Oasis features a 5-reel, 3-row grid offering 243 ways to win. However, unlike traditional setups, winning combinations in this game don’t necessarily need to begin from the leftmost reel or be adjacent to each other. Simply landing matching symbols on a minimum of three reels, starting from any position, guarantees a win. With a high volatility rating of 5 out of 5, the game boasts a return to player rate of 96.06%. It appears that this RTP figure remains consistent whether or not free spins are purchased. Players can choose their bets from a range of 20 p/c to $/€240 per spin.
Symbols and Payouts
Across the reels and paytable, players encounter 11 regular pay symbols. Starting from the lower end are the 10 to A card ranks, followed by a gold jug and cup, a bag, and finally, four character symbols. Rewards for landing five matching royal symbols range from 0.75 to 1 90jili times the bet, while the two miscellaneous items offer payouts of up to 1.5 to 2 times the bet. Landing five matching character symbols awards players with payouts ranging from 2.5 to 6 times the bet. Notably, wild symbols are absent from Gold Oasis.
Special Features: Symbol Duel
Gold Oasis may not boast the latest innovations in slot gaming, but it certainly stands out from the crowd with its unique features. Alongside its unconventional pay mechanic, players are treated to the Symbol Duel feature, available both in the base game and during free spins, along with the option to buy bonuses.
Symbol Duel Feature
Occurring randomly during the base game, the Symbol Duel feature selects one paying symbol to replace 2 to 10 other paying symbols on the screen, adding an element of surprise and potential big wins.
Free Spins
Triggered by gold keyhole scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5, landing three scatters awards 5 free spins and a payout of 2 times the bet. During free spins, all pay symbols pay out as if they were five of a kind, enhancing winning potential. Additionally, each scatter collected during the free spins initiates a duel between two random pay symbols. The winning symbol replaces all instances of the losing symbol on the reels for the remainder of the feature. Up to 10 duels can occur during a round of free spins, with each duel also awarding additional free spins. The first 5 duels grant +2 free spins, while the subsequent 5 duels award +1 free spin each.
Buy Free Spins Option
In the base game, players have the option to purchase free spins, with two choices available. The first option costs 100 times the bet and allows any symbol to win the duel, while the second option, priced at 200 times the bet, ensures that the highest value symbol 90jili always emerges victorious in the duels.
Verdict
Gold Oasis proved to be a delightful surprise, offering a refreshing twist on the typical ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ themed slot games commonly found in the world of slots. Initially resembling the standard fare, a closer examination of the gameplay mechanics and pay table revealed several unexpected and intriguing features.
Conclusion
The unique ‘book of’ style pay system, where wins can occur non-adjacently and from any position on the reels, sets Gold Oasis apart. Similar to games like Rise of Giza but with the added advantage of not requiring adjacent reels, this feature adds an element of novelty and excitement to the gameplay.
Final Thoughts
The game’s standout features, including symbol conversions through the Symbol Duels feature and the enhanced winning potential of all wins paying as 5 of a kind during free spins, complement this unconventional pay system perfectly. While the base game may not shine as brightly as the free spins round, the possibility of a generous Symbol Duel adds anticipation and excitement.
Pros and Cons
When combined, these features create a compelling package with solid statistics to match. With a decent maximum win potential of up to 7,260 times the bet (subject to a win cap), there’s ample opportunity for the game’s features to converge and deliver thrilling outcomes.
Overall Assessment
Gold Oasis exceeded expectations by eschewing the conventional slot formula, particularly in its approach to creating wins, and incorporating features that synergize effectively with its unique pay system. While it may not be the most avant-garde game in the 90jili iGaming landscape, it offers a refreshing alternative for players seeking something a bit out of the ordinary.
