Once again the creative Aussies in Big Time Gaming have set out to create a revolutionizing new mechanic, although we’re not talking about a brand new game engine this time. They’re sticking with their very own dynamic reels engine in other words, and they’ve even removed the usual cascading reels mechanic, at least for the most part. The base game will come across as pretty barebones between Wild Portal feature triggers in other words.
The 2×2 MegaWild vacuums up a random royal symbol type to increase its multiplier, and this process repeats indefinitely as long as the next randomly chosen portal symbol is present. Visually, the game is pretty simple, with a futuristic gemstone grid set inside what looks like a space alien UFO dance floor. The presentation is a tad too clinical and sterile in its finish perhaps, but it allows the Wild Portal feature to shine and strut its stuff when the 2×2 symbol appears on every bonus round spin.
The premium gemstone symbols pay between 0.6 and 10 x your stake for 6 of a kind wins, and the core mechanic of this game is definitely the Wild Portal feature. TheMegaWild Portal symbollands insize 2×2, and it can appear on reels 2 to 5 only. It substitutes for regular pay symbols, like wilds usually do, but it also opens up a portal that reveals a random royal symbol type.
All instances of thechosen Portal symbol are then removed from the grid, and each removed symbol increases thePortal Wild Multiplier by +1. Unlike with regular wins, the removed symbols trigger a cascade, and you’ll then see new and/or existing symbols drop down to fill the gaps.
ThePortal Wild moves to a new random position, and it also opens up to reveal a new random symbol type. This process repeats until the symbol type revealed is not represented on the grid, and the portal wild multiplier boosts all wins it partakes in.
You need3+ scattersanywhere in view to trigger the Bonus Round, and this awards8 free spins(with+2 extra spinson top of thatfor each triggering scatterabove the minimum of 3). You get aguaranteed Wild Portal symbol per free spin, and it’s even carried over (with the current multiplier intact) if it was present when the bonus round was triggered.
TheWild Portal Multiplier does not reset between free spinseither, and the2x2 MegaWildkeeps moving around doing its thing the whole feature as its multiplier keeps growing. You win+2 extra spinswhen you land3 scattersin the same free spins sequence, and+2 spinson top of that for each retriggeringscatter above the minimum of 3.
TheWin Exchange feature, which is also available in the UK, allows you toexchange any win of 75x, or more, for8 free spins. The win amount above 75x is pocketed, andany win between 25 and 74 x your stake can be used to gamble for the bonus round. This plays out on a red/green segmented wheel, and landing on red means you lose your winnings.
We had a great time testing Wild Portals Megaways, and this feature can really rock your world when things go your way. We’ve whipped together a brief and edited highlights video from our session as usual, and you can hit the play button below to see for yourself how we fared.
Visually, Wild Portals’ simple and polished presentation reminded us of Star Clusters Megaclusters, but this BTG release is even more focused when it comes to the core mechanic. Some have accused the innovative Aussies of lacking visual creativity lately, but it’s understandable in a simple, yet potentially lethal, installment like this truly is. The math model is even more solid than in brutal releases like The Final Countdown and Wild Flower, and even the base game can lead to solid 26,900x payouts.
Don’t expect anything remotely close to that most of the time though, as the overall symbol values are 1x or lower (except for the decent 10x top-tier gemstone). You need to get really lucky with the Portal Wild Multiplier in other words, and your chances are much higher for that to happen when the MegaWild appears on every bonus round spin. The free spins thrill-ride can land you eye-wateringpayouts up to 116,030x your stake, but impatient players and low-risk punters might wanna try their luck elsewhere.
Pros
Cons
Star Clusters Megaclusters- is a visually similar gemstone-infused BTG release. Winning symbols split into smaller symbols, and these are then removed to cascade in new symbols. This mechanic is highly satisfying to behold, and you’ll also benefit from a progressive wild multiplier bonus round for payouts up to 23,000x your stake.
Wild Flower- is another heavy hitter from Big Time Gaming, and it rolls the best parts of 3 former smash hit releases into one. This sturdy beast of a game comes with a chaotic soundtrack from the gothic post-punk band, The Cult, and eye-popping payouts up to 114,000x can be landed from a single spin.
The Final Countdown- is a trip down the nostalgic 80s memory lane, as this BTG installment pays homage to the iconic hit song from Europe by the same title. You can choose between 2 different modes when the bonus round triggers, and payouts up to 36,000x can be landed when you’re ‘heading for Venus’.
