If, like me, you came across the title “Scroll of Seth” in connection with Play’n GO, you might have initially suspected it to be another one of those ‘book of’ slot games. However, despite its name, Scroll of Seth breaks away from the typical ‘book of’ releases. While it does incorporate the concept of expanding reel symbols, they aren’t your usual standard pay symbols. Instead, these symbols are added to the reels through a unique mechanism involving a special Wild Reel positioned above the grid, designed to resemble an elongated scroll. So, it offers a distinctive twist. But before we delve too deeply into the inner workings of Scroll of Seth, let’s set the stage.
When it comes to creating an immersive atmosphere, Scroll of Seth excels. With numerous Ancient Egypt-themed titles already in its portfolio, Play’n GO has perfected the art of capturing the sights and sounds of this genre. While it might seem like Play’n GO could create these types of games effortlessly by now, Scroll of Seth remains visually appealing and sonically captivating. The colors are vibrant, the picture symbols are eye-catching, and the music sets a sultry tone. Scroll of Seth might not earn high marks for originality, but its execution is superb, with one exception – the voiceover. It bears a resemblance to the announcer who introduces boxers at the beginning of a match or an MC trying to rile up a crowd at a strip club.
Now, let’s delve into the core features of Scroll of Seth, which boasts a highly volatile mathematical model offered in five different RTP configurations. The default return rate stands at 96.31%, but it’s worth noting that, depending on the market, it can drop as low as 84.31%. Keep an eye out for this variation. Additionally, there’s a user-friendly bet selection bar running along the bottom of the reels. By simply clicking the left or right buttons, players can choose their stakes, ranging from 10 p/c to £/€100.
Played on a 5-reel, 3-row active gaming grid (with an upper Wild Reel), Scroll of Seth offers 50 paylines for assessing winning combinations. The lower-paying symbols consist of card rank symbols 10 to A, etched in an Egyptian style onto stones, while the higher-paying symbols are five stone symbols adorned with jewels, each resembling what appears to be a fish, gryphon, crocodile-headed deity, snake, and a monkey holding an eye. Apologies if we’ve misidentified any of them. Aligning 5 matching symbols along a payline rewards players with payouts ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 times the bet for the card ranks or 0.6 to 1.6 times the bet for the premium symbols.
In Scroll of Seth, you’ll encounter two types of wild symbols – the regular wild and the Enhanced wild. Both can substitute for any of the standard pay symbols. Regular wilds appear in stacks on reels 2 and 4, but they can also show up on any reel, including those introduced by the Enhanced wilds, as we’ll discuss below. Achieving a line of 5 regular wilds results in a payout of 6 times the initial bet, while a line of 5 Enhanced wilds grants a more substantial payout of 30 times the bet.
Scroll of Seth: Slot Features
Unlocking Scroll of Seth’s exciting features hinges on the Scroll scatter symbol, which exclusively appears on the third reel. When the Scroll scatter lands, it sets in motion the Wild Reel, a unique horizontal reel that stretches above the standard reels once activated. This Wild Reel comprises two tiers: one for the base game and an additional tier specially designated for free spins.
Wild Reel Tier 1
During the base game, when the Wild Reel comes to life, it can host anywhere from 1 to 3 enhanced wild symbols. However, in the free spins mode, this Wild Reel becomes even more enticing, as it can accommodate 2 to 5 enhanced wilds in addition to a potential Scroll scatter.
Whenever a wild symbol occupies a position on the Wild Reel, all symbols located beneath it undergo a magical transformation, turning into wild symbols themselves. Furthermore, even the Ankh scatter symbols are not spared from this enchanting effect; they, too, convert into wild symbols. This feature can significantly boost your chances of landing lucrative combinations and big wins.
Wild Reel Tier 2
The upper tier of the Wild Reel springs to life when a Scroll scatter symbol makes its appearance on the Wild Reel during the free spins feature. When this occurs, you can anticipate the arrival of special symbols that bring additional excitement to the game.
In this upper tier, you’ll encounter multiplier wilds with the potential to boost your winnings by factors of x2, x4, or even x11. Additionally, Ankh scatter symbols may also grace the reels, offering not only extra free spins but also transforming into wild symbols without multipliers.
It’s important to note that only the symbols highlighted in this upper tier are active during this stage. The multiplier wilds enhance regular wilds with their respective multipliers, while the Ankh scatters contribute both extra free spins and wilds, although these wilds lack multipliers. This added layer of complexity can lead to substantial rewards and an even more thrilling gaming experience.
Free Spins
Achieving a particular number of Ankh scatter symbols can open the doors to a free spin bonanza in Scroll of Seth. Landing 3, 4, or 5 Ankh scatters on the reels will grant you 8, 11, or 15 free spins, respectively.
Once you’ve entered the realm of free spins, you’ll notice a crucial change – Ankh scatters now exclusively appear on the second tier of the Wild Reel. This design choice adds an extra layer of excitement to the free spins feature.
What’s particularly thrilling is that, with a bit of luck and the right combinations, you can potentially accumulate up to a maximum of 50 free spins, allowing for extended gameplay and increased opportunities for substantial wins.
Scroll of Seth: Summary
Contrary to initial expectations, Scroll of Seth doesn’t quite fit into the ‘book of’ slot category, but it doesn’t break new ground in terms of originality either. Its gameplay and features are reminiscent of a previous Play’n GO slot called Coywolf Cash. Elements like the two-tier Wild Reel, the trigger symbol on the third reel, and the multiplier wilds were all present in Coywolf Cash. However, Scroll of Seth isn’t merely a straightforward reskin. Play’n GO has made some adjustments here and there, providing a slightly different gaming experience. For instance, Scroll of Seth is a tad less volatile compared to Coywolf Cash, although this might not be readily apparent. It’s rated 9 out of 10 for volatility, while Coywolf Cash received a full 10 out of 10 rating. Scroll of Seth can offer higher multiplier values on its wilds, but it limits the number of free spins you can win, unlike Coywolf Cash.
When it comes to winning potential, Scroll of Seth emerges as the winner in this comparison with a maximum payout of 5,000 times the bet. Overall, Scroll of Seth offers a decent gaming experience with decent numbers and features. However, what makes it somewhat challenging to fully embrace is the feeling of déjà vu. This sensation is heightened by the fact that the previous Play’n GO slot we reviewed was Sweet Alchemy, which was essentially a complete reskin. Peel away the glossy exterior of Scroll of Seth, and you’ll find a game that feels like a repetition of something that didn’t leave a lasting impression the first time around.
In the end, it’s another instance of Play’n GO delivering a makeover, not quite a ‘pure’ reskin, but very close to the original with a few thematic tweaks. Play’n GO once again brings Ancient Egypt to life on the reels, and there are moments when Scroll of Seth’s gameplay shines. However, by the end of the review, it’s hard to shake the feeling that we’ve seen it all before, which somewhat dampens the excitement.
