Heart of Cleopatra: A Blend of Familiarity and Innovation
Developer Pragmatic Play has a clear penchant for two things: distinctive features like marked spots and themes rooted in Ancient Egypt. Both elements converge in their online slot, Heart of Cleopatra. Drawing from the success of marked spots in previous titles like Sugar Rush and Sugar Rush 1000, the expectation was that they would seamlessly integrate into Heart of Cleopatra. However, Pragmatic Play has innovatively modified this feature. Instead of merely doubling multipliers or altering winning combinations, marked spots now influence random cash prize values, adding an intriguing twist to the gameplay. This adjustment promises an engaging experience for players embarking on an Ancient Egyptian adventure.
Visuals and Thematic Elements
Heart of Cleopatra boasts a cluster-paying slot format, set against a grand 7×7 gaming grid adorned with golden bird statues and embellished with golden accents. The grid is situated within a lavishly decorated room illuminated by burning braziers, its floor strewn with coins and adorned with statues and hieroglyphics. Despite its title, the game features minimal integration of Cleopatra herself, with her presence primarily limited to the wild symbol. In terms of thematic innovation, Heart of Cleopatra offers little that hasn’t been explored haha777 extensively before. Nevertheless, it does exhibit visually pleasing aesthetics characteristic of its genre.
Cluster Wins and Cascade Effect
Following cluster wins, symbols vanish from the reels, leaving vacant spaces that are promptly filled by descending symbols, potentially leading to further wins. This cascade effect continues until no new winning combinations emerge. Winning clusters form when five or more identical symbols align horizontally or vertically adjacent to one another on the grid. The game features seven regular pay symbols, including winged Ankhs, lotus flowers, the Eye of Horus, and various animal depictions. Rewards range from 0.2 to 1 times the bet for a 5-matching symbol cluster to 20 to 150 times the stake for a cluster of 15 symbols or more. Additionally, the wild symbol substitutes for all symbols except scatters, enhancing players’ winning opportunities.
Money Spots Feature
When a cluster, including at least one wild symbol, bursts, a random selection of spots within the cluster are designated as Money Spots. Initially, these Money Spots carry a multiplier of x1, with the spot where the wild symbols detonate holding a x2 multiplier. With each subsequent cluster explosion occurring above them, these multipliers double, reaching a maximum of x1,024. Upon the conclusion of the cascade sequence, each marked Money Spot is allocated a random monetary value ranging from 0.1x to 10x, which is then multiplied by the haha777 respective multiplier assigned to the spot. During the base game, all Money Spots are cleared in preparation for the subsequent spin.
Free Spins Feature
Upon landing 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 scatter symbols, players are rewarded with 10, 12, 15, 20, or 30 free spins, respectively. Throughout the duration of the free spins round, Money Spots and their associated multipliers persist until the conclusion of the feature, and they have the potential to increase further with subsequent tumbles. Additionally, acquiring 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 scatter symbols during the free spins awards an extra 10, 12, 15, 20, or 30 free spins, respectively. Following the conclusion of the round, each designated Money Spot receives a random monetary value, which is then multiplied by the multiplier associated with that spot.
Buy Free Spins Option
The free spins round can be bought from the base game for 100 times the bet, leading to a triggering spin landing 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 scatters. This feature allows players to directly access the lucrative free spins round without waiting for it to occur naturally, haha777 enhancing the overall gaming experience for those eager to explore the game’s full potential.
Comparison with Sugar Rush Series
Pragmatic Play’s modifications to the marked spots feature in Heart of Cleopatra effectively set it apart from the Sugar Rush series. However, being different doesn’t necessarily equate to being better or worse; it could simply mean a comparable experience. Following my playthrough of Heart of Cleopatra, I found it didn’t captivate me as immediately as Sugar Rush did, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there’s a minor inconvenience in discerning which positions are marked. While it’s manageable during symbol cascades or free spins, it’s not as effortless as the distinctively highlighted cells in Sugar Rush.
Frequency and Impact of Marked Spots
A more significant issue is the disparity in the frequency of marked spot multipliers between Sugar Rush and Heart of Cleopatra. Additionally, while all winning positions are marked in Sugar Rush, only some are in Heart of Cleopatra. Here, a wild symbol is required in a win to create a Money Spot, which is less common than achieving regular winning clusters. Moreover, the reveal of cash values on marked Money Spots at the end of free spins can feel underwhelming.
Final Verdict
Nevertheless, the anticipation of stacking reels with multipliers during free spin rounds and the potential for a 10,000x bet win highlight Heart of Cleopatra’s thrilling possibilities. Ultimately, while it’s a commendable evolution of the marked spots concept, Heart of Cleopatra didn’t provide the same immersive experience or adrenaline rushes as some of its predecessors. It’s a solid slot game, but its gameplay doesn’t quite match the addictive flow of earlier entries in the series. However, for players who enjoy Ancient Egyptian themes and innovative features, Heart of Cleopatra offers a fresh and engaging experience worth exploring, haha777 adding to the diverse portfolio of Pragmatic Play’s slot games.
