Cleopatra's Pyramid II

There are some themes and people that seem to feature an inordinate number of times when it comes to slot games. Egyptian themed slots are one of those and of course, perhaps the most famous Egyptian of all is Cleopatra.

The famous queen has been the subject of a large number of slot games and even when she is not mentioned by name in the title, she often appears in the slot itself as a symbol, or even as the face of the game. Well in WGS Technology's latest offering, she is back in the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot, a new and updated version of the original 20-line Cleopatra's Pyramid game of a few years back.

Essentially, rather than redesign the whole slot, what WGS Technology have done is take the original game and embellished on it a little with the addition of a couple of extra bonus features, as well as giving the new slot a new look and bit of a polish in the presentation department.

So does this new game hit the mark, or is the upgrade more of a pain in the asp? Let's go visit the Queen of the Nile and find out for ourselves.

Overview

• Game: Cleopatra's Pyramid II
• Developer: WGS Technology
• Reels: 5
• Pay Lines: 20 (selectable)
• Minimum Bet: 0.01
• Maximum Bet: 200.00
• Jackpot: 5,000x
• Free Spins Bonus: Yes
• Other Bonuses: Yes
• Progressive: No
• Volatility: Medium

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Presentation

Somewhat oddly, I think the presentation of the newer Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot is a little less effective than the original! WGS Technology have given the game a new look, while keeping the same 5-reel, 20 pay line essence of the game, but in doing that, I think the new livery for the slot, which is essentially a pyramid, hieroglyphic backdrop, doesn't really work.

Why do I say that? Well I feel as if the backdrop makes it hard to ascertain the symbols clearly. Also the way the symbols are designed make it hard to discern between some, especially when the reels are spinning fast and in the end, it all sort of merges into the background and lacks clarity.

The soundtrack to the slot is also typically Egyptian themed but just is a single tune that loops over and over and after a few spins, you do get a little bored of it. The sound effects that kick in when you land some wins though do generate some excitement in the game which is a positive. Graphically though, this game looks as though it should be much older than it actually is and I am not sure that this is a good thing.

What's on the reels?

As is seemingly customary nowadays, the playing card low symbols are the lower value options on the reels. I find this an unusual choice on an Egyptian themed slot when you can use plenty of hieroglyphics instead as an option here, although to be fair to WGS Technology, they have made those symbols look like they are hieroglyphs.

The lower value symbols range from the 9 through to the Ace and offer a range of value of wins. These range from 5 coins, up to a maximum of 250 coins.

Higher value symbols are all linked to the theme of the slot and include an Ankh, a head dress of the canine god Anubis, the eye of Horus and a Scarab beetle. This latter symbol is the highest value standard symbol offering wins of up to 1,000 coins plus also a small win for just two symbols landed on the reels.

There are two other symbols on the reels, the Wild and Scatter which link in to the main bonus features of the slot as described below.

Wild features

The Egyptian queen herself, Cleopatra, is the Wild symbol in the game and she can substitute for any of the standard symbols to help create additional wins. The Wild can also be stacked on the middle three reels, which can help lead to some bigger value wins as well as potentially multiple wins across multiple lines on a single spin.

Land five Wilds across any line and you will win the maximum payout for the slot which is 5,000 coins.

Free Spins features

In the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot, WGS Technology have expanded the number of bonuses you can trigger in the Free Spins section of the game and there are now two different bonuses, a Pick'em Bonus Game and a Free Spins bonus round.

To launch either of the bonuses you first need to land at least three of the Pyramid Scatter symbols across the reels. When you do, you will win a certain amount of cash (depending on how many Scatters you land) and if you land three Scatters (as you will most often do), you will launch the first bonus.

This will see either the Pick'em or Free Spins bonus launched alternately as you play The Pick'em game sees you selecting blocks from a pyramid. Each block will reveal either a cash prize or a mummy. You keep picking from the blocks and moving up the pyramid until you reveal a Mummy, which will see the game end and your cash prize awarded. Obviously, the more blocks you pick, then the greater the chance you have of a better return.

The Free Spins bonus will see you awarded 10 Free Spins and these are played through on slightly different colored reels to the base game.

Other bonus features

The other bonus feature is simply an extension of the Free Spins bonus. This is launched when you land four or five Scatters in the base game and if you land four Scatters, you will receive 20 Free Spins and land the maximum five to receive 40 Free Spins.

This Free Spins bonus is the same as the other Free Spins bonus game other than the number of spins you have as obviously, the more Free Spins you have, the better chance you have of landing a better value prize.

Best feature of the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot

I do like what WGS Technology have done with the bonuses on the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot. By expanding the number of bonuses available, they have breathed new life into the game. The different levels of Free Spins is a nice touch, and I like the fact that you can earn some decent money in the Pyramid Bonus round, as well as the standard 10 Free Spins. However, I should also warn you that it is tough to unlock 4 and especially 5 Scatters to unlock the higher number of Free Spins, so you tend to play the majority of your bonuses on the two 3 Scatter options.

What does the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot lack?

The main issue I have with the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot is not anything to do with the game mechanics, pay outs or design, but more the look of it and the soundtrack. It all looks rather like it was designed around 15 years ago and it is not the clearest slot you will play. These are small issues as it is discernible, I was just expecting something a little more spectacular.

Conclusion

There are a lot of things to like about the new Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot from WGS Technology. The game itself has some fantastic bonus features which are relatively easy to trigger (or at least the 3 Scatter bonuses are). The base game is also fun to play and offers a good mix of wins, chiefly thanks to those Stacked Wilds that appear on the middle reels. You can land some sizeable wins in all parts of the game and that is what will make this slot very appealing to many. It is more a medium volatility game but it has elements of both lower and higher volatility slots at times (especially during Free Spins, where you can win huge amounts, or very small amounts).

Ratings

• Presentation: 13 / 20 - I can't say that I was overly enamored with how the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot looked to be honest. I felt the backdrop and symbols on the reels clashed a little too much. The music is repetitive and a little dull and it is one of those games that after a while you will likely be reaching for the mute button. The cut scenes and sound effects are better and the animations are smooth enough, but I just feel that the game lacks the wow-factor you get with some modern slots nowadays.
• Game-play: 17 / 20 - While this slot may not be the best looking or sounding, where it does score well is in terms of game-play. The base game is great fun and offers some sizeable wins from time to time. The balance of low, medium and higher value wins is excellent and as a player, you never feel like you are too far away from a better value win. I also like the fact that you get lots of opportunities to trigger the bonuses as again, it makes you feel like you are always close to a decent return.
• Bonus Features: 18 / 20 - WGS Technology have expanded the number of bonus features available on the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot and it has worked extremely well. The two 3-Scatter bonuses both offer decent return and I feel the Pyramid Bonus offers the more consistent returns of the two. The two higher number Free Spins rounds for 4 and 5 Scatters offer a great return, but are much more difficult to land.
• Entertainment Factor: 16 / 20 - Despite the rather mundane presentation, I found the Cleopatra's Pyramid II slot a very enjoyable one to play and it is certainly a game that you will keep coming back to enjoy. A key part of that is the engagement you get with the base game which offers such a good range of wins. The bonuses also keep you playing and the variety of wins and opportunities they offer is excellent. This is a slot that is one you will keep coming back to play.
• Play Value: 14 / 20 - Although this is a medium variance slot, I felt that I got excellent value for money when playing it. I didn't have too many sessions where the game chewed through a whole wodge of my balance and in a number of sessions I actually finished with far more money than I started. You aren't' guaranteed a win of course, but I liked the balance of this slot very much and I think it is one people will enjoy.
• Overall 78 / 100 - Cleopatra's Pyramid II is a very impressive reboot of what was a decent slot when it was first released. Some elements of the slot, such as its new look and soundtrack, don't quite hit the mark but the additional bonus features and the balance of the game in terms of the size of payouts is excellent and will make it a very popular slot with players.

Good Luck!

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