Excalibur Unleashed

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Excalibur Unleashed: Slot Overview

If you've spent time playing medieval-themed online slots or have an interest in Arthurian legends, you've likely heard of Excalibur. For those who haven't, Excalibur is a legendary sword said to have been pulled from solid stone by Arthur himself or given to him by the mysterious Lady of the Lake. It's understandable if it's hard to keep track of ancient stories, especially with everyone carrying cameras in their pockets these days. But I digress. Let's talk about Excalibur Unleashed, a game by Pragmatic Play that puts a unique spin on the tale by giving it an animal twist.

When you load Excalibur Unleashed, you'll see the legendary sword sitting on the left side of the screen, above the bonus buy feature, in a serene glade somewhere in old England, presumably. The game grid, arranged in a 3-4-4-4-3 pattern, catches your eye with its golden light and blurred treeline, while a bunny hops across the grass. While Arthurian legends are usually filled with drama and action, Excalibur Unleashed seems to capture one of the quieter moments. But hey, no complaints here. Even mighty rulers need downtime, even if the main characters in this game happen to be a mouse and an owl.

Excalibur Unleashed features a vaguely diamond-shaped grid with 20 paylines for landing winning combinations. What's interesting is that these paylines work both from left to right and from right to left, which ties in nicely with some of the game's main features. It's a highly volatile slot, with Pragmatic Play giving it a rating of 5 out of 5 in that regard. The game offers a maximum return to player of 96.05%, or 96.02% when buying free spins. You can place base bets ranging from 20 cents to $/€100 per spin, or you can opt to buy the bonus feature for 85 times the bet.

Now, onto the symbols. There are 10 regular paying symbols, including 5 low-paying ones represented by the 10-A royals, and 5 high-paying ones: a bottle, an orb, a crown, a mouse, and an owl. If you land a winning line with five of the lower-value symbols, you'll win 2 to 3 times your bet, while landing five of the higher-value symbols will reward you with 5 to 25 times your bet. Wild symbols are crucial in this game, as they can land on reels 1 and 5 to substitute for any regular paying symbol.

Excalibur Unleashed: Slot Features

In Excalibur Unleashed, when a wild symbol lands, it expands to cover all positions on its reel. Additionally, it can come with a multiplier ranging from x2 to x20. These multipliers apply to all winning combinations the wild is part of. If more than one wild contributes to a win, their multipliers are added together.

During the Free Spins round, if two wild symbols land on reels 1 and 5 simultaneously, they trigger the feature. Initially, players receive 6 free spins, and the wilds on reels 1 and 5 remain in place for the entire round. If a wild is part of a winning combination during the Free Spins, its multiplier increases by +1 for the remaining spins. Moreover, if both wilds contribute to a win, an additional free spin is awarded.

When purchasing the Free Spins feature for 85 times the bet, the triggering wilds may come with a random multiplier ranging from x1 to x20.

Comparison with Other Games

Excalibur Unleashed stands out with its unique twist on the Arthurian legend, featuring adorable animal characters. The expanding wilds with variable multipliers add excitement to the gameplay.

Game Design of “Excalibur Unleashed”

“Excalibur Unleashed,” developed by Pragmatic Play in collaboration with Wild Streak Gaming, takes players on a whimsical adventure inspired by Arthurian legends. In this slot game, the legendary sword Excalibur comes to life with an anthropomorphized twist. Let’s delve into the game design elements that make “Excalibur Unleashed” a unique and entertaining experience.

Visuals and Theme

The game’s visuals transport players to a serene glade in Ye Olde England. The diamond-shaped grid features a 3-4-4-4-3 pattern, surrounded by golden light and a blurred treeline. A playful bunny adds a touch of whimsy. Despite the high drama of Arthurian tales, “Excalibur Unleashed” opts for a quieter day, where even mighty rulers are represented by a mouse and an owl.

Reels and Paylines

• 5 reels and 20 paylines.
• Win lines pay both left to right and right to left, enhancing winning possibilities.
• High volatility (rated 5 out of 5).
• RTP: 96.05% (96.02% when buying free spins).
• Base bets range from 20 p/c to $/€100 per spin.

Excalibur Unleashed: Slot Verdict

While there's no shortage of slots themed around Arthurian legends, Excalibur Unleashed manages to stand out in a few ways. One of them is its animal angle, which adds a unique twist to the classic tale. It's a bit of a toss-up whether this approach works or feels out of place. Using a cute mouse and a mysterious owl instead of knights and wizards brings a different vibe, though it might lack the weightier feel of traditional characters. Still, it's refreshing when a studio takes a bold step to try something new.

Now, onto the gameplay of Excalibur Unleashed. The full reel wild multipliers at both ends of the game grid can occasionally lead to decent results. This double wild system pairs well with the pay-both-ways mechanic, making for an interesting dynamic. But don't expect easy wins. While the game didn't undergo thorough statistical testing, it was observed to be highly volatile with a relatively low hit rate. The first free spins bonus round triggered early but turned out disappointingly, setting the tone for a rollercoaster ride of results ranging from meh to a maximum win of 5,000 times the bet.

In a nutshell, Excalibur Unleashed offers moments of excitement, especially with its unique wild multiplier setup and pay-both-ways feature. However, there's something missing that keeps it from being a standout game. It lacks that special spark, an extra feature, or perhaps didn't fully deliver on its theme to make it truly memorable.