Secret City Gold: Slot Overview
In today’s age of Google Maps and Street View, it’s hard to fathom that there was once a time when much of the world was unknown to people living in other parts. Historically, some maps had blank areas simply because their creators had no idea what lay there. It took courageous explorers to venture into these uncharted territories to uncover what was beyond the familiar. This prompts the question: Is our constant global surveillance better than the romantic mysteries of the past? It’s a tough call. Developer Pragmatic Play taps into this curiosity with its release of Secret City Gold, an online slot game that invites players to explore an enigmatic part of the world and discover hidden secrets.
Immerse Yourself in the Jungle Adventure
The game, with its imaginative design, helps visualize an adventure into a dense, damp jungle teeming with trees, organic matter, fireflies, and a waterfall. The setting has a strong Central/South American vibe, reminiscent of games like Aztec Blaze and Firebird Spirit, but distinguishes itself with a captivating soundtrack, especially during free spins. As you spin the reels, you are transported into this lush environment, where every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The atmosphere is so immersive that you almost expect to find hidden treasures behind every corner, which is exactly what 90jili aims to deliver to its players.
High Volatility and RTP Options
Secret City Gold is a highly volatile game available on tablet, mobile, and desktop devices. It offers three RTP (Return to Player) models, with the highest return rate being 96.06% for regular betting and 96.22% when purchasing free spins. The free spins can be bought at a cost of 85 times the bet, while regular bets range from 25 p/c to ₱7318 per paid spin. This flexibility in betting options ensures that both casual players and high rollers can enjoy the game according to their preferences and risk tolerance.
Off-Center Grid and Payline Structure
The game’s grid is slightly off-center and features 5 reels, 4 rows, and 25 paylines. Wins are achieved by landing three to five matching symbols along a payline, starting from the leftmost reel on adjacent reels. Payouts range from 0.4 to 1 times the bet for five matching 10-A playing card ranks, or 1.2 to 4 times the bet for five of the premium, exotic-looking symbols, with the highest being a golden coin with its tongue sticking out. The game also includes a striking wild symbol, appearing on all five reels, which can substitute for any pay symbol and pays up to 8 times the bet for a line of five wilds.
Shape Wins: A Unique Feature
One of the standout features in Secret City Gold is the Shape Wins mechanic. On any spin, a random shape or pattern might appear on the reels, marking several random positions on the grid. After any wins from the spin are paid out, all symbols within this shape transform into a single random symbol type already inside the shape. Winning combinations formed within the shape are then paid left to right, and the win is multiplied by a 90jili random value between x1 and x10. This feature adds an extra layer of excitement to the game, as you never know when a massive win might be just around the corner.
Free Spins: Multiply Your Winnings
Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols grants 2x, 10x, or 50x the bet respectively, along with 8 free spins. During free spins, the Shape Wins feature is active as in the base game. However, the first shape’s random multiplier is collected into a general multiplier, which applies to all Shape Wins and doesn’t reset until the free spins round ends. The general multiplier seems to increase by +1 with each subsequent Shape Win. Additionally, each scatter symbol that lands during the bonus round adds +1 free spin to the total. This feature can lead to substantial payouts, especially when combined with the Shape Wins multipliers, making it a key highlight of the game.
Visual and Audio Design
Pragmatic Play has done an impressive job in crafting the visual and audio design of Secret City Gold. The artwork is clean and vibrant, perfectly capturing the mysterious jungle setting. The symbols are detailed and add to the overall theme, with the golden coin symbol being particularly eye-catching. The audio design is equally impressive, with a dynamic soundtrack that combines panpipes with a modern electronic beat. This fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds creates an engaging auditory experience that complements the visual elements of the game.
Pragmatic Play’s Release Strategy
In game design, some studios adopt a meticulous approach, akin to a sniper’s strategy, taking time to carefully set up, consider angles, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. In contrast, others adopt a more scattershot method, releasing games in rapid succession like bullets from an automatic weapon. Recently, Pragmatic Play seems to have favored the latter approach, churning out online slots at a brisk pace. While the studio maintains a commendable standard of quality—typically above average—the sheer volume of releases hasn’t resulted in many standout titles. The games feature flashy graphics, smooth animations, and a couple of intriguing elements, yet they often lack the extraordinary factor.
Verdict: Solid Yet Unsurprising
Secret City Gold exemplifies this trend. It’s a well-crafted slot with clean artwork, dynamic music that blends panpipes with a Goa Full Moon Party vibe, and gameplay offering some interesting features. However, after experiencing what Secret City Gold has to offer, the feeling is one of, “Okay, that’s done, what’s next?” There are no significant drawbacks to mention: the game functions smoothly, boasts strong stats (including a 10,000x win cap), and the Shape Wins feature is worth exploring for dedicated slot enthusiasts. It’s competently executed across the board.
Yet, there’s a sense of cautiousness in Secret City Gold that’s typical of Pragmatic Play slots. The game lacks a bold ambition to take players on an unexpected and thrilling journey. While Pragmatic Play clearly has a wealth of creativity—evidenced by their prolific output—it feels like there’s an internal committee ensuring each game remains comfortably within mainstream bounds, curbing any overly daring ideas. This may not be entirely accurate, but it’s the impression Secret City Gold conveys. It’s a solid game, but not necessarily one you’d rush to share on social media before your friends do and steal the spotlight.
For those looking to explore more games with a similar adventurous theme, 90jili offers a wide range of slots that cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether you’re in it for the big wins or the immersive experience, there’s something for everyone.
