Partnering developer Pragmatic Play releases a new slot named Eye of the Storm, but wait, it’s just another ripoff of another studio’s work. This one is modeled after the popular Merkur/Reel Time slot machine Eye of Horus, which is well-known for its symbol-upgrade mechanism in the course of free spins. Another blatant duplicate from one of the least innovative companies currently designing slot machines, Eye of the Storm offers that and very nothing else that’s fresh.
It’s important to point out the countervailing points, and the most glaring contrast is in appearance. The original’s mostly brown tones have been enhanced with more vibrant colors in Reel Kingdom. The game is played on a standard slot machine with 5 reels and 10 paylines, while the reels themselves are framed by distant pillars, temples, and pyramids. Not everything about Ancient Egypt is as it is usually portrayed here. Players in this region typically experience bright, clear blue sky and a warm, happy sensation, like they’re riding gently on a felucca down the Nile while farmers plow the fields. Eye of the Storm (the title should give it away) has a very different atmosphere. Wow, this is a hefty one. Storm clouds pass overhead, and lightning strikes as if war were imminent. The atmosphere in Eye of the Storm is the most innovative aspect of the film.
Next, the default RTP is somewhat higher than Eye of Horus’s, coming in at a very respectable 96.71%. Similar to becoming lost in the desert and having to wade through a lot of sand before finding an oasis, market volatility has remained high. The maximum bet has been raised to £/€250 each spin, which may appeal to big rollers who are fans of the Eye of Horus slot machine, but the minimum bet has been lowered to 10 p/c.
To win, you need to see three or more identical symbols in a row, starting on the leftmost reel. It’s intriguing to see how the symbols have changed visually while remaining largely consistent with the original. Folding fans, Ankhs, scarabs, birds, jackals, and the Eye of Horus are at the bottom of the hierarchy. Payouts of 20x to 50x the wager are generated when five premiums of a kind are dealt. The wild is the only emblem to have such a striking visual contrast; it may represent a priestess, a warrior woman, or a queen. In any case, the wild may make winning combinations when it appears on reels 2, 3, or 4, and it expands to cover the entire reel when it does so.
Slot Features in the Hurricane’s Eye
In addition to growing wilds, Eye of the Storm also has free spins with a symbol upgrading mechanism. When 3 or more pyramid scatters show up, you’ll get 12 extra spins. When 3, 4, or 5 scatters initiate the feature, you receive a monetary infusion of 2x, 20x, or 50x the stake, respectively.
When 1, 2, or 3 wilds appear during a free spin, they may enlarge to provide 1, 3, or 5 more free spins and advance the game level by 1, 2, or 3 respectively. At each new level, the top-tier, high-paying symbols get an update. A folding-fan is transformed into an Ankh by the first wild, and then into a scarab by the second. Scarab symbols evolve into bird icons, then jackal icons, and eventually the highest paying eye sign. Obviously, this greatly improves your chances of forming bigger paying combos. Finally, free spins may be retriggered by landing three or more scatter symbols.
Storm’s Core: The Slot Decision
There isn’t a much to applaud about this endeavor. When compared to the fairly old visuals of the original, perhaps it appears a little prettier, a little more current. However, Eye of Horus’ allure also lies in the fact that it has a retro appearance that brings back fond memories. As the old adage goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” therefore it will be up to each player to make their own mind up. Some people clinging to the old ways of the wild may find the allure of a tall, muscular warrior more appealing than the more conventional 2D depiction of a deity. Furthermore, there are the statistical modifications, the most favorable of which is the return to player (RTP) while playing at a casino utilizing the maximum setting; nevertheless, high rollers may also appreciate the freedom to select even larger stakes if they so want.
Though it’s not terrible, Eye of the Storm is really just another imitation of the immensely popular Eye of Horus. Already having released many Eye of Horus variants, including a Megaways and a Power 4 Slots edition, Blueprint Gaming has done an impressive job of securing a dominant position in this sector. There’s little reason to doubt that Reel Kingdom is behind the investigation into the aforementioned mystery. You may find imitations of popular games like Fishin’ Frenzy, Reel King, and the recently released Eye of Horus by browsing their library. It’s like visiting a parallel dimension where familiar sights and sounds are accompanied by subtle differences.
Fans of Egypt who aren’t familiar with or can’t play the original could find a lot to like in Eye of the Storm. Of course, the higher expected return is a bonus as well. Eye of the Storm loses whatever coolness it could have had due to its blatant plagiarism. If you’re not desperate to try anything with an Eye of Horus theme or willing to put down serious cash for a symbol upgrading function, you can safely skip this slot machine.
