Bonanza Megaways Slot
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The Bonanza Megaways slot is something of a superstar in the world of online casino software development. The game was created in 2016 by Australian development house BTG (Big Time Gaming) and was the first to feature the BTG proprietary Megaways format. The Megaways game engine enables the possibility of 117,649 potential ways to win, with every spin. This is done by varying the number of icons on each reel. If you have seven horizontal slots, on all six reels, it equals 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 (117,649). All you have to do is get three matching icons and you are in the Megaways money.
- An incredible 117,649 Ways to Win!
- The classic rewarding Megaways engine.
- A bonus that keeps on giving!
- Not the best graphics.
- Lack of theme/story to immerse yourself in.
- Can sometimes be too much going on.
The Megaways format was the brainchild of BTG. It was showcased on Bonanza Megaways and was a massive hit, despite huge reservations from industry insiders. BTG CEO Nik Robinson remembers clients telling him: ‘there is no way this is going to catch on, it’s too complicated.’
In fact, Bonanza Megaways transformed BTG, from small scale Aussie outback outfit, into one of the igaming industry’s most important players. Today, the Megaways game engine is licensed by scores of fellow operators. The bendy straw, the biro, the Post-it note, the iPhone, the Zippo. These are all examples of products (straw, pen, paper, phone, lighter) that were tweaked so brilliantly they became iconic. The Megaways format is in the same category: truly, a reinvention of the reel.
Bonanza Megaways Slot – The Look and Feel
The Bonanza Megaways online slot not only came with a new engine when it was launched, the bodywork also looked pretty good, with no compromise on quality. There are six vertical reels, with anything from two to seven symbols on each reel.
Across the top of the screen, a mine train adds an extra four symbols horizontally. As the reels hit, the potential number of winning Megaways permutations is revealed: anything from 64 to the magical 117.649.
The reels are set on a rocky cliff face. On one side is (presumably) the miner’s cabin. On the other side, a waterfall powers a mill. It’s all illustrated beautifully; highly detailed, with gems, grass, moss, and rocks. When you spin the reels, the train shoots in and out a tunnel.
This is a collapsing, avalanche-style, game. When you hit a winning combination, of three or more matching adjacent symbols, the rocks crumble and are immediately replaced. This enables multiple wins from a single spin. Visually, the game nails it. The music, however, is pretty manic. This is hillbilly, country, Appalachian blue grass, with added synthesizers, gone wild. Fortunately, it plays only as the reels spin, fading out after each play. It’s great the first time you hear it but, after a few spins, it really starts to grate. The mute button is your friend.
How To Play Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza Megaways is a collapsing-style game. The best outcome is a big juicy avalanche, with multiple wins hitting on a single spin. This outcome is more likely when you max out your potential winning combinations. There are no paylines with this online slot. All you need to win are matching symbols on adjacent reels. If you land three, seven-tier, adjacent reels, you can win several different combos on a single spin. The winning symbols crumble away and are replaced. The key to playing this game is deep reels.
On the main screen, you can set your total bet anywhere from £0.20 a spin to £5. There is also an auto play option. There is no turbo mode but – to be honest – this game doesn’t need it. It’s fast enough, as it is. The game comes with both a wild and a scatter. The wild appears only in the mining cart. The scatter pops up everywhere and is the key to the bonus round – more on this to follow below.
According to its creators BTG, the Bonanza Megaways online slot was created with one eye on the Twitch streaming marketing channel; where players spin reels, live online, as entertainment. With its raucous score and fast-paced action, the game is perfect for broadcast. However, if you are just playing at home, it can be tricky to stay abreast of the action, as the reels collapse, the wins roll in, and it all repeats.
Bonanza Megaways Symbols
This is very good-looking online slot and the detailed design is reflected in the quality of the icons. The low value icons are the generic playing card rankings, from nine to ace. The rest of the Bonanza Megaways icons are simply gemstones: emerald, sapphire, ruby, and diamond. The latter is the game’s jackpot; a row of six diamonds nets you 50x your total stake.
The game’s wild is a bundle of dynamite. This substitutes for every symbol, except the scatter. When you hit a wild in a winning line, it explodes and disappears. The final icon to watch out for is the scatter. This comes in the form of ingots of gold, with the letters G.O.L.D. Spell the magic word and you unlock the bonus round.
Graphically, all the icons are on the money: detailed and carefully illustrated. All you have to do is line up the right ones!
Our Verdict
Bonanza Megaways is a little slice of online slot history. It’s a niche field of study, but this is what put both the Megaways game engine and (subsequently) Big Time Gaming on the map. You can see exactly why this game is so popular. It’s busy, exciting, and packed with promise.
In fact, the RTP is 96%; pretty good, but nothing special. The frenetic action, the high-octane soundtrack, and the ever-shifting potential of winning combinations is what makes this 2016 online slot stand out from the crowd. The wild west theme is a cliché, but it’s one that still retains its popularity. If there was a complaint, it is the hectic pace of the action. It’s good to know what you are winning – and why. Sometimes, the Bonanza action is so bombastic it’s hard to keep up. it’s a niggle-level moan about an important game. Go on: dig in and mine that jackpot!
Bonanza Megaways Bonuses
There several bonus features to play for on the Bonanza Megaways – and it’s worth taking the time to dig them up.