Montezuma Megaways Slot Review
Montezuma is the latest popular slot to be in receipt of the Megaways treatment. Originally developed by WMS, this brand new version of the slot has been developed by SG Gaming in partnership with Big Time Gaming who are the owners of the ‘Megaways’ concept.
This is an Aztec-themed game, and thanks to Big Time Gaming has an extra reel plus some thrilling extra benefits.
Before we get too involved in the review of this new Megaways-ed slot, you may be wondering just who or what Montezuma is, and why it, he or she has ended up as an online slot machine. Montezuma is actually a ‘he’ – he was the chief of the Tenochtitlan people, a part of the Aztec Empire, between 1502 and 1520. Poor Montezuma (or ‘Moctezuma’ as it is now thought his name should be spelt) was killed as soon as the Spanish came invading the Aztec Empire in 1520 – let’s hope it wasn’t Gonzo of Gonzo’s Quest fame who offed him, as we’d never be able to play Gonzo’s Quest again!
Montezuma is probably now best remembered for the term ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’, the name given to … ahem … stomach issues after eating spicy food. We at WhichBingo have no doubt that Montezuma would much prefer to be forever identified with this online slot!
How to Play
Montezuma Megaways is a 6-reel slot. All reels are made up of symbols of different sizes. The minimum number of symbols on one row that can appear in the playing grid is two, and the maximum is seven. There is a maximum of 117,649 pay lines.
Rather than a coin size, you simply choose your total bet per spin. This can be anything from 0.20 all the way up to 20.00.
In most circumstances, you only need to land three identical symbols on a pay line to secure a payout.
The Aztec Pyramid symbol is wild and substitutes for all other symbols aside from the scatter symbol. The wild symbol only appears on the wheel, not the reels.
- 5 x Montezuma symbols = 25 x bet (max £500)
- 5 x Aztec Queen symbols = 1 x bet (max £20)
- 5 x Eagle symbols = 0.5 x bet (max £10)
- 5 x Aztec Headdress symbols = 0.5 x bet (max £10)
- 5 x Gold Mask symbols = 0.25 x bet (max £5)
- 5 x Snake symbols = 0.25 x bet (max £5)
- 5 x Ace symbols = 0.25 x bet (max £5)
- 5 x King symbols = 0.2 x bet (max £4)
- 5 x Queen symbols = 0.2 x bet (max £4)
- 5 x Jack symbols = 0.2 x bet (max £4)
Jackpot
This game does not have a progressive jackpot. Because of the Megaways feature and the possible 117,649 ways to win, we think the max win could be as much as £6 million, but you’d have to achieve six reels full of Montezumas or Wilds seven symbols high, plus the Megaways reel would have to be full of the same, too.
Bonus features
The Megaways Wheel
As the reels spin, a wheel above the reels spins too. This wheel contains four symbols, each acting as an additional symbol in sequence for reels two to five.
Cascade Wins
If a spin contains a win, then all winning symbols explode from the reels (and the wheel) to allow new ones to tumble down in their place. Cascade wins continue until no more cascade wins are possible.
Montezuma Respin Wheel
After a non-winning spin, there’s always the random chance that the wheel above the reels will award a free respin and spin to a new position.
Free Spins Bonus
Three or more scatter symbols will trigger free spins. The number of spins you are awarded is determined by the spin of the wheel. Different reels are used during free spins. If you land two or more scatters during free spins, then you are awarded the Montezuma Multipliers. This allows you to play a single spin on the Montezuma Multipliers Wheel. This wheel has multiple multipliers and any wins from your spin are multiplied by the multiplier you are awarded.
The Megaways multiplier will increase by one every time a win is triggered (including cascade wins). If less than 30x your total bet is won during free spins, then your free spins winnings are increased to 30x your total bet.
Buy Pass
You can, at any time, buy a pass to the free spins bonus feature. This is a set amount of 85.5 times your total bet.
Bonus Bank
The cost of the free spins bonus can be reduced by selecting a bonus bank feature:
- Bank wins off: all wins are added to the balance
- Bank all wins: all wins are added to the bonus bank
- Bank small wins: all wins of three times your stake or less are added to the bonus bank
When you exit the game, all unused bonus bank funds are added to your balance
Graphics and Sounds
The music and sounds used in this are reasonably subtle, which many people will prefer as opposed to slots that go all out to deafen you while you play. There is, however, something hugely satisfying about the way the winning symbols slide out of the screen when they’re winners, then explode, plus the ‘crunch’ as new symbols fall into place.
The graphics are not much different to the original Montezuma game, and perhaps are not quite up to modern standards, but that does not affect gameplay one single jot.
Conclusion
It’s perhaps a shame they didn’t call this game ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’, but hey ho. The original Montezuma slot has always been a popular one, and with its added gameplay and the ‘Megaways’ feature, it’s hard to see Montezuma Megaways not becoming as popular as the original, if not more so!
Author And Managing Editor
Anita is well-known and respected within the online bingo industry, she loves all things bingo and slots and has been involved with online bingo and gambling sites since the late 1990’s. She has been the full-time writer and Editor of WhichBingo for much of that time and is respected by operators and players alike for her no-nonsense judgments and opinions. Anita has seen the highs and lows of the industry she loves, has seen it grow and develop and contract again into what it is today. She has worked with the biggest names in the industry and has a reputation for being fair and to the point in her writing.
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