Gold Volcano

Overview of Gold Volcano

Gold Volcano is from the developers at Play ‘n’ Go and it is not the first time the slot world has been treated to volcanic eruptions with lava that runs free. Volcanoes have been used on occasion probably for the raw power they provide and the emotions that they can stir within players. It is for this reason that Play ‘n’ Go have created this slot and the theme has been slotted easily into nearly every part of the slot.

From minor rumblings to major eruption and all things in between, and if you find volcanoes frightening this may not be the slot for you. However, you will be keeping your fingers crossed that the volcano will erupt and throw out molten lava as this is always a good sign from this type of slots.

Game Play, Theme & Statistics

The slot is played out over 8 columns that take on a unique configuration which is 3-4-5-6-6-5-4-3 and creates the shape of a mountain. Above the grid there are faded white spots which shows what could play out during the bonus features when the columns expand. Behind the transparent grid there is the volcano which looks very menacing.

Volcanoes are known for their volatility and they are either sitting still doing nothing or they are erupting causing all types of issues. Whilst this is not the most volatile slot Play ‘n’ Go have given it a rating of 7/10 which is high on their meter. The return to player stands at 96.2% but I would advise you to check this as casinos all set their own RTP so it may not be as high.

Before you are ready to play you need to choose the bet you want to use and this can be from a minimum of 10p per spin up to a maximum £100 per spin which is a good range that will appeal to a number of players. To create a win, you need to land 4 or more symbols that are either touching horizontally or vertically and you have a winning cluster. True to form winning symbols get removed from the grid and new symbols fall from above to fill in the gaps and possibly create new win combinations. The cascading continues until no more winning clusters form.

Pay Table & Symbols

On opening the pay table, you will come across the 8 regular symbols which although well designed seem a little underwhelming considering the theme. However, when you think about it what choices did the developers really have?
Maybe it is not the most interesting image wise but instead of the usual playing card symbols they have gone with the card suits clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. The higher paying symbols are represented by purple, red, green, and gold gem symbols. The gold gem is the most valuable and landing 30 or more will reward you with 1,000x your stake. The other gems range in value up to 35x your stake for the green one.

Volcanic Features

No slot can be a successful grid without several features and Gold Volcano will not let you down and offers features in both the base and active bonus game. Whilst in the base game the dormant feature can appear when you spin your reels and do not land a winning spin. Once the dormant feature is active there are three different effects that can come into play. The first of these is the Rumble where all the symbols on your grid are shifted around to provide you with an extra change to win as well as a scatter symbol being created. Next is the Lava where an extra layer of symbols apart from the scatter are created.

Finally, there is the Excavate feature where three to five wilds are randomly added to the grid. After the dormant feature there is the pressure feature which is activated at random when you land winning symbols, and these are removed. The wild will be placed in one of the empty spaces prior to the new symbols dropping down into place, and the wild can carry a 2x multiplier. If you are lucky and land more than one wild multiplier in a cluster the values are multiplied rather than being added.

The glowing rock scatter is the symbol you will want to keep your eyes open for as this is the key to cracking the Crystallisation feature. In this feature every 3 scatter you collect will change one of the lower paying symbols into gold symbols. This transformation process is re-set after every spin apart from when the bonus feature is activated, in this case the current progression carries over and there is no re-set.

When you have gathered enough pressure in the volcano the final step is the eruption, but this will only happen when you have landed 6 cascades in succession. You are awarded 5 free spins which then play on an 8x8 grid and the volcano pushes the symbols from the centre columns to fill the outer positions. Whilst playing during the free spins feature the Crystallisation feature is not re-set between the free spins. You will also be rewarded with an extra free spin for every consecutive 6 cascades.

Closing Thoughts

Gold Volcano is a beautifully designed and presented grid slot from Play ‘n’ Go, and although the developers never hint at what they are going to release their calendar is rammed so you do not have to wait too long. This slot makes really good use of the theme and the power of the volcano and this is also integrated expertly into the features.

This may not be as volatile or hard hitting as other slots on the market, but it is still high enough. The wide bet range will tempt all types of players who are sure to appreciate the mix of game play and features. The potential is also high and can reach up to 10,000x the stake and it is safe to say that this slot offers double what you would expect from this developer.
I really enjoyed this slot, in my opinion Gold Volcano is another high-end grid slot which slots in perfectly with the other Play ’n’ Go titles. It is fair to say that it is different to their usual slots and will provide you with something new to crack. To sum up this slot it is an unusual set up which provides compelling play, high potential, and a real air of intrigue.