Return of the Phoenix Slot Machine
Return of the Phoenix is one of those titles that sounds vaguely familiar. Haven’t you played this game before somewhere? Or possibly seen a movie with that name? The answers are almost certainly ‘No’ and ‘No’.
If Return of the Phoenix sounds familiar, blame Harry Potter. Since JK Rowling’s multimillion-selling novels went stratospheric, the word ‘phoenix’ has looked out of place in any other context. Thus, it’s not the fault of WorldMatch that Return of the Phoenix sounds like a Harry Potter spin-off.
If the game’s developers are to be blamed for anything, it’s for the soundtrack that accompanies the slot. Consisting of little more than a few twanging sitars, it’s more feeble than epic. Still, that’s what the mute button was invented for, and besides, there’s lots to love about this game once you get past the soundtrack.
Phoenix to the Flames
Where there’s a fire, there’s a phoenix. You’ll find plenty of both in this game, which combines a hodgepodge of Greek and Egyptian mythology. As legend has it, the phoenix attains new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor, though some sources believe it simply dies and is then reborn again. Whatever the case, you’ll be seeing a lot of flames and a lot of phoenixes too if you play your reels right in this WorldMatch game.
The base game calls for lining up 3, 4 or 5 symbols on an active payline to secure a win. The lower symbols – 9, 10, J, A, K, Q – aren’t worth a whole lot: 100 is the most you’ll make for 5 in a row. The proprietary symbols are more lucrative however, with various symbols that depict pyramids and other ancient structures embellished with a soaring phoenix worth anywhere from 350 to 500 for 5 in a row.
The top symbol is of course the phoenix, and what a majestic looking bird he (or she) is. It stands imperiously, with the flames licking against its golden wings. 3 in a row is worth a reasonable 150, but 4 and 5 are where the money lies, with a cool 1,000 and 10,000 respectively.
The symbols pay out from left to right, as is the norm, except for scatter which pays in any position. Only the highest win per bet line is paid, but scatter wins are added to the total. The game’s wild symbol will substitute for any of the other symbols except for Free Spin.
Cash and Carrion
One thing Return of the Phoenix doesn’t have is a bonus game. What it does have is a range of ways to win on the reels, with the phoenix as always at the heart of the action. The rising phoenix symbol serves as wild, but its powers don’t end there. Because it’s also a multiplier, it will significantly increase your winnings. 3 jacks in a row (J symbol) isn’t worth much on its own, but throw in a pair of phoenixes and you’ve earned a multiplier of 15.
WorldMatch seem to have been short of inspiration when devising the game’s symbols, which explains why they’ve made its flaming logo the scatter. Land a minimum of 2 scatters to activate a straight up payment; land a minimum of 3 to activate free spins, where 15, 20 or 25 are up for grabs. Other than that, plus the usual user control settings, there’s not a lot else to learn about Return of the Phoenix.
Autoplay can be activated, should you so desire, letting the machine do the hard work for you for up to 1,000 spins. Aesthetically, while there are more detailed slots out there, one thing this game does have is depth. The regular playing symbols and the special symbols – plus the game logo – have a convincing 3D effect that lures you in; after a few minutes of playing, it’s easy to forget that you’re staring at a flat screen. It doesn’t quite transport you to ancient Egypt, but it’s a worthy attempt nonetheless.
Phoenix is in Charge
Return of the Phoenix is another neatly designed slot from WorldMatch. The sound effects aren’t particularly hot and the absence of a bonus game will irk some, but in every other respect it scores pass marks.
The phoenix symbol controls the game: everything good that happens in this slot happens because a pair of phoenixes rise from the flames. With persistence and a dash of good fortune, you stand every opportunity of turning a tidy profit.
