Medusa MegaWays is a Greek myth and legend-themed video slot from NextGen Gaming. Based on the snake-haired Gorgon, it’s played using the shape-shifting MegaWays game engine where the number of ways to win can be anything from between 324 right up to 117,649. Also in play are expanding wilds and a free spins round with a dynamic multiplier, wild reels and transforming scatters. Play on your PC, tablet or mobile device from between 25p and £62.50 per spin.
The design here is nicely done. Set against a backdrop of ruined marble columns and brooding purple skies the reels are made up of A to 10 royal values plus a selection of symbols relating to the myth and legend theme. The most lucrative symbol is the winged horse. Land 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 of these on adjacent reels and you’ll pocket an award of 30 times your bet for 6 on a payline. Medusa herself is the wild.
Land a winner and the successful symbols are removed and new ones drop in from above to replace them. These ‘reactions’ continue as long as a new winning combination is created – this is called the Reactions feature.
NextGen Gaming has also packed a good array of extras into Medusa MegaWays.
- Medusa’s Gaze feature – above the main reels you’ll see a set of 4 positions. If Medusa lands in 1 of those, you’ll trigger this extra. The Medusa wild expands directly below and turns the whole of that reel wild. A new ‘reaction’ then follows. It’s possible to land multiple Medusas in combination to create multiple wild reels.
- Free Games feature – landing 3 scatters on the same spin gets you 10 free spins. Any addition scatter on the triggering spin adds another 5 free spins to that total. These free spins come with some potentially exciting extras too, starting with the Unlimited Win Multiplier feature – beginning at 2x, every ‘reaction’ win brings with it an increase in the multiplier by 1x.
Also joining the action here is the soldier symbol which can appear in the 4 windows above the main set. To the side of the windows are a pair of serpents. If the soldier appears, he will be bitten by 1 of those snakes. If bitten from the left, the soldier transforms into Medusa and turn the whole of the reel directly below wild. If bitten from the right, the soldier turns into a scatter which can help deliver a re-trigger and another round of free spins. This is known as the Snake Strike feature.
Once the free spins are complete, you’ll be offered a gamble in the Temptation feature. Pick collect and you’ll bank your winnings. If you gamble, the prize is another round of free spins. Lose the gamble though and you’ll lose your winnings from the free spins round. If you can’t wait to trigger the free spins round you can opt to buy a trigger for 100 times your bet with the Buy Pass feature.
We liked this ancient Greek adventure. The visuals are neat and tidy and there’s a suitably epic quality to the backing track. The gameplay stacks up pretty well too. The MegaWays game engine delivers plenty of action in its own right and is a nice idea to add to the classic Medusa video slot. The goodies in the Free Games feature impress too, especially if you manage a re-trigger or 2.
Then the dynamic multipliers can really come into their own and can provide wins of up to 50,000 times your bet on each free spin. If you like classical era video slots or you enjoy the MegaWays machine, then Medusa MegaWays is well worth investigating. I would also suggest you try Medusa II Jackpots which has a progressive jackpot element.
