Pragmatic Play's John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure slot offers a high-volatility adventure into the heart of Mesoamerica. Lush rainforest surrounds a weathered Aztec temple, creating an immersive atmosphere for this 5-reel video slot.
The game utilizes a dynamic payline system, where the number of ways to win can change on each spin. Each reel can display between 2 and 6 symbols, resulting in a maximum of 7776 potential winning combinations. This mechanic is similar to the Megaways engine from Big Time Gaming.
While base game wins are possible, the true potential for high payouts lies within the Free Spins bonus feature. Landing three or more Aztec Shield scatter symbols triggers this feature. A bonus wheel then determines the number of free spins awarded (ranging from 5 to 25) and a multiplier applied to each free spin (from 2x to 10x).
The Free Spins feature offers an interesting twist. Landing additional scatter symbols during the bonus retriggers the feature, awarding more free spins. Notably, the multiplier value active when the feature is retriggered applies to all additional free spins. This creates the potential for the multiplier to build throughout the bonus, leading to potentially significant wins.
Standard game symbols include playing card values (A, K, Q, J), Aztec-themed imagery (toucans, snakes, panthers), and explorer John Hunter, who represents the highest paying symbol. The Golden Totem Mask acts as the Wild symbol, appearing stacked on reels 2, 3, and 4 to substitute for other symbols and create winning combinations.
Intriguing Mechanic:
Beyond the high volatility and potential for large wins, John Hunter and the Aztec Treasure's most intriguing feature lies within the free spins retrigger mechanic. The ability for the multiplier value to increase throughout the bonus adds a layer of strategic excitement. Players are actively engaged as they spin, anticipating the potential for the multiplier to climb and unlock substantial rewards.