It’s no secret that there are a lot of slots based on the ‘book of’, but you might not realize that there are also a lot of ‘of Dead’ games. Most of them are products of the Play’n GO assembly line, with Book of Dead being among the most well-known and well-liked. Pilgrim of the Dead joins the increasing list of similar titles. Like many of its contemporaries, Pilgrim of the Dead follows a tried-and-true formula, but with a few alterations here and there to offer fans a taste of something new. This feature in Pilgrim of the Dead awards free spins during which a randomly selected symbol extends and rewards in a unique sticky manner from any position.
While some have looked towards cryonics as a way to guarantee a future resurrection, the Ancient Egyptians saw death as only a transitional stage on a journey that would never end. Death, in their view, was only the beginning of the next stage of a person’s journey toward eternity. Aside from producing some of the world’s most impressive works of art, architecture, and literature, the civilization that developed this perspective also provides a sense of comforting familiarity. Even if it’s not as overwhelming as the Hand of Anubis, the Pharaonic/temple/tomb mood permeates Pilgrim of the Dead. Fans of Play’n GO’s ‘book of’ aesthetic should feel right at home, as it still has distinct visual ties to Book of Dead.
Pilgrim of the Dead also has a connection due to its layout, which consists of a grid of 5 reels, 3 symbols on each reel, and 10 fixed paylines. High swings in volatility are to be expected, with a theoretical maximum RTP of 96%. The service, like Play’n GO of yore, uses coins to represent a large number of its values, which is either charmingly retro or mildly irritating. Players may adjust their wagers anywhere from 10 pence to 100 pounds or euros every spin by selecting a suitable combination of coin value and coin count.
Wins are created along the 10 paylines when at least two premiums or three low payments land left to right, beginning with the first reel. Payouts for five matching symbols along a payline range from 4x the wager for the 10-A card values to 100x the wager for the scarab, scales, Anubis statue, or Pharaoh symbols. It’s possible that the stakes are lower than usual, but the sticky symbols feature during free spins helps even things out.
Game Play in the Pilgrim of Death Slot
Unlike Book of Dead, which uses a book as its wild/scatter symbol, Pilgrim of Dead uses a tomb. This change was presumably made for legal considerations. The tomb symbol can substitute for any other symbol (with the exception of the expanding symbol) to assist form winning lines. It’s a payoff too, equal in value to the top Pharaoh premium. Free games are triggered when 3 or more tomb scatters appear.
To begin the bonus round, a pay symbol will be picked at random to become the unique expanding symbol. Players have the option to reject the disclosed symbol and have a new one selected at random. The second symbol presented to a player must be accepted.
When the selected symbol appears on at least two reels during high-paying free spins, or three reels during low-paying free spins, it expands to fill the whole reel. To clarify, this happens after any normal line winners have been given out. Expanded symbols pay on all lines regardless of where they land. What’s unusual is that the first of a certain symbol to land on any given reel will remain there permanently. Once it has grown and paid out, it contracts to 1×1 size and stays in place until the conclusion of the round, when it can once again multiply wins. If you get three tomb scatters, you’ll get up to 30 extra spins.
Judgment in the Pilgrim of the Dead Slot
Play’n GO has proven time and again that they are the masters of ‘book of’ themed slots with an original twist. The production company already has a lot of them under its belt, and they don’t appear to be planning on leaving anytime soon. That’s great news for players who enjoy this genre, as Play’n GO is known for producing high-quality products in this category. One such film is Pilgrim of the Dead. It has a professional appearance, a proven track record, and a novel and welcome spin on the genre.
Some people may feel uneasy about the system of checks and balances that is in place. Free spins are difficult to activate, therefore Play’n GO reduced the amount of spins players started with and lowered the value of symbols to make sure the bonus doesn’t get out of hand. This makes the bonus round up a little more tense than normal, as players will want to put as many sticky expanders as possible before their free spins expire. It is technically possible for there to be a retrigger. Depending on the second sign, the ability to reject the first might be a boon or a bane. It’s great to obtain an upgrade, but it’s really funny to pass on the King and end up with the Queen in one of the early triggers.
And then there’s the flip side. Repeat win streaks in Pilgrim of the Dead are awesome because sticky symbols remain in place and grow with each subsequent spin. When you put it all together, you get another enjoyable slot from Play’n GO in the ‘book of’ style. It’s possible that Pilgrim of the Dead may turn off as many players as it attracts, but if this genre of game appeals to you, it’s definitely worth looking into.
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