Slots from Universal Monsters: The Phantom's Curse
NetEnt: Scandinavian Creators of Online Slots These seasoned developers excel at transforming iconic films into exciting slot games. Players ready to wager real cash have already enjoyed the captivating 3D features of The Invisible Man slot , while the recent Dracula horror-themed slot is filled with exciting graphics and multiple bonus features.
What was the connection between those two titles? Both were spawned from a major partnership with Universal Studios, breathing life into beloved cinematic classics through the lens of gaming. And now, the iconic silent film from 1925, Phantom of the Opera , is to receive the NetEnt treatment.
Will the Phantom's Curse enthrall players or will it just be another Webber-style musical? Let's delve deeper with a thorough review.
Yet Another Classic Horror Slot Revamped by NetEnt
Universal Studios has made several attempts (pun intended) to adapt the tale of the Phantom of the Opera. Their 1925 version featured Lon Chaney in the role of Erik, a shadowy figure who lurks in the Paris Opera House.
This film faced a lengthy delay, but fate smiled as Lon Chaney rose to stardom in Hollywood. It hit theaters in 1925 with Mary Philbin portraying the enchanting Christine Daaé. Universal also revisited the story in 1943.
Similar to The Invisible Man, the Universal Monsters: The Phantom's Curse slot features 5 reels and offers a range of betting options. Of course, the game has also been fine-tuned for players on mobile devices through NetEnt Touch.
Play from Coins at Just 0.01
The layout of Universal Monsters: The Phantom's Curse includes 5 reels and 4 rows. While it features a standard 40 paylines, we expect a potential additional 10 to be available. However, these 40 win lines seem to be fixed.
Betting starts as low as 0.01 and goes up to 1.00. Players can also modify the betting level from 1 to 10, leading to a maximum bet of 200.00.
In the base game, most symbols are stacked. Unfortunately, many of these stacks consist of the lower-value royal symbols. The suits—spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts—offer payouts between 5-20x your line bet for matching 3 to 5. The dagger and the mirror award 10-40x, while the yellow rose gives 10-50x, and the Phantom’s ring provides 10-60x for 3 to 5 matches.
The more rewarding payouts come from Christine and the Phantom himself. Christine can pay out between 15-100x your line bet, and the Phantom can go even higher with payouts of 15-200x.
Chase those stacks, but don't forget about the Free Spins.
Even though regular payouts might not be overwhelming, there's a solid reason behind it. The game employs stacked symbols, allowing for fascinating combinations. Stacked Phantom symbols can mix with Masked Phantom icons, and Masks can collaborate with Stacked Mask symbols. Hitting a bet line with five matching symbols will reward you with 200 coins. These stacked symbols are limited to Reels 1 and 5 and can act as wilds.
Pick and Click: Triggering this feature requires filling Reel 1 with Stacked Phantom symbols and Reel 5 with Stacked Christine symbols. You'll first pick from 8 roses to uncover coins or blockers. Choosing a blocker pushes you to the next stage, where you pick from mirrors to unveil a multiplier.
Masked Phantom Re-Spin: If you land Stacked Phantom icons on Reel 1 and Stacked Mask symbols on Reel 5, you earn a re-spin. At this point, all bonus and mask symbols become wild.
Free Spins: There is also a great free spins bonus feature To trigger this unique round in the game, land three chandelier scatter symbols on Reels 1, 3, and 5. That's when the fun truly begins. A chandelier swings into action on the reels, tethered to one reel with a rope. Whenever a Masked Phantom appears on a reel, the corresponding rope gets severed. This process continues until all ropes have been cut, concluding the round. The Masked Phantom functions as a wild symbol throughout this bonus.
Compare Top NetEnt Universal Slots
If you're a fan of NetEnt's volatility and crave an immersive experience tied to Universal, check out The Invisible Man. Its graphics far surpass those in this 5-reel game, plus players can enjoy a range of wild symbols. The Police Wild shuffles along the reels at the start of special re-spins, while the Griffin Wild does the opposite, moving from Reel 5 to Reel 1. Additionally, you can score 10 free spins and multipliers during the main bonus feature.
Another Universal development, Dracula, takes the horror experience to the next level with an incredible 3D opening sequence, drawing you straight into the narrative. The game offers free spins with stacked wilds, and the 'Bat Feature' randomly activates to introduce clusters of wilds across your reels.
Venture into the Opera House
In terms of new online slots Overall, the free version of Universal Monsters: The Phantom's Curse is a worthwhile addition. It may lean towards a higher volatility for some players, but if you enjoy classic horror films, this is right up your alley. A sprinkle of actual film footage or a creative video intro would greatly enhance the experience.
Despite these minor complaints, the game packs plenty of bonus features to satisfy everyone. With various stacked symbols and the free spins bonus, there's ample opportunity for players to boost their bankrolls. Step into the opera and find out if it’s worth the price of entry.