Merlin Journey of Flame

Get ready with your wands, swords, and grimoires, players, as it's time to immerse yourself in a fantastical adventure with Play'n GO's online slot Merlin: Journey of Flame. While the accuracy of the Arthurian Legends may be up for debate, Merlin: Journey of Flame offers a glimpse into this legendary era, complete with dragons and medieval enchantment. But enough speculation—let's dive into what we do know: Merlin: Journey of Flame is essentially a replica of Play'n GO's slot Scroll of Dead, featuring expanding special symbols reminiscent of Book of Ra, but with a medieval fantasy twist.

Play'n GO has a rich history of crafting Arthurian-themed and 'Book of' slots, refining their expertise over time. Set within a cavernous landscape adorned with rocky formations and mystical fireflies, Merlin: Journey of Flame may not be Play'n GO's most visually stunning creation, but it's packed with the professional polish expected from a studio with a proven track record in this genre.

One notable feature of Merlin: Journey of Flame is the locked sixth reel, which remains inactive until triggered during free spins. Until then, the game unfolds on a standard 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 paylines available for forming winning combinations. With a high volatility rating of 9 out of 10, Merlin: Journey of Flame offers several RTP configurations, with the highest set at 96.28%. Before embarking on their quest, players must select their desired bet size, ranging from 10 p/c to $/€100 per spin.

Regular wins in Merlin: Journey of Flame occur from left to right across adjacent reels, while expanded symbol wins deviate from this pattern, as we'll explore further. The paytable features runically inscribed stones in green, blue, red, orange, and yellow as low-paying symbols, while premium symbols include a bottle, book, staff, and Merlin himself. Landing a 5-of-a-kind low-paying combination rewards players with 10 to 12.5 times their bet, while premium symbols offer payouts ranging from 50 to 500 times the bet. However, with the sixth reel unlocked, a 6-symbol combination yields even greater rewards, ranging from 15 to 20 times the bet for low-paying symbols and 100 to 750 times the bet for premium symbols.

Merlin: Journey of Flame offers two main features: a free spins bonus round and a gamble option. The Dragon Egg symbol serves a dual purpose as both a wild symbol, substituting for any pay symbol, and the game's scatter symbol.

Free Spins:
Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Dragon Egg Wild scatter symbols in the base game, players receive 8 free spins along with a payout of 2x, 20x, or 200x the bet, respectively. During free spins, the sixth reel unlocks, allowing additional symbols to land. Additionally, one symbol is randomly chosen as the special expanding symbol. When these symbols contribute to a win, they expand to cover their respective reels entirely, paying out across all active paylines regardless of position. Landing 3 or more Hatched Dragon Egg Wild scatters during free spins awards an additional 8 free spins, with no limit on the number of retriggers.

Gamble Feature:
Though somewhat antiquated, Merlin: Journey of Flame includes an optional Gamble feature, allowing players to double or quadruple (or lose) their winnings by correctly guessing the color or suit of a face-down playing card. This feature can be played up to 5 times, with potential wins capped at 250x the bet.

While Play'n GO's affinity for Arthurian Legends and 'Book of' style games is evident, Merlin: Journey of Flame stands out as a seamless fusion of these elements. Despite its resemblance to Scroll of Dead, Merlin: Journey of Flame benefits from captivating artwork and atmospheric storytelling, elevating it beyond mere cloning. From a gameplay perspective, the addition of the sixth reel significantly enhances the slot's potential for big wins without compromising symbol values. With a maximum payout of 5,000x the bet on a five-reel full-screen win and 7,500x on a six-reel full-screen win, Merlin: Journey of Flame offers substantial rewards.

While some may view Merlin: Journey of Flame as a derivative of existing slot concepts, its polished presentation and impressive gameplay make it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

• Title: Merlin: Journey of Flame
• Developer: Play'n GO
• Reels: 5
• Rows: 3
• Paylines: 10
• RTP: 96.28%
• Max Win: 7,500x
• Volatility: High (9/10)
• Min/Max Bet: 0.10/100
• Release Date: July 13, 202