Africa Slot
We’re off on an adventure into the dangerous jungles of Africa, a 3D real money slot from the creators over at MGA. To start you off on your exploration, a monkey will swing across the screen, bringing the 3x5 grid along with it, its cute little face filled with happiness at having company. How fun that company is up to you.
Expecting the Unexpected
There seems to have been a shift in the brand’s aesthetics of late, with a lot of its newer works brimming with technological innovation, which sadly means their old school vibe takes a backseat. Although this may upset some of their loyal players, we can’t help but be totally bewitched by the level of detail they’ve put into this contemporary game.
Rather than focus on substance however, MGA have opted for appearance over features, which does mean that the depth of games such as Africa, are more limited than usual. If you’ve played Castle, a slot extremely similar to this one, you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about: looks great, plays well, variance wise it’s pants.
The reason for this is because there’s only one unique symbol throughout the whole game, functioning as both the wild and scatter. What is more, while the gamble feature looks to be fresh and new, if you’ve played other 3D titles from the brand, you’re about to be slapped in the face with uncomfortable familiarity. And familiarity breeds contempt.
Unique Looks
Before we get into the core of the game and what it really offers, we need to talk about the aesthetics of Africa, for although graphically similar to Castle, the overall appearance is very different. In Castle it was all curved edges and Dreamworks animations, but here there’s more of a squaring off of the imagery; they’re more basic, more primal. Consequently it really drives home that sense of being somewhere exotic and different.
Nonetheless, while the design is indeed exclusive to this title alone, the inclusion of card suits leaves us with a bitter taste in our mouths; an advanced set of graphics like those shown shouldn’t need to rely on such boring icons. And even though MGA have tried to jazz them up with animal prints and vivid colours, they still reveal a lack of depth in their theme. On the other hand, it certainly makes identifying the low paying tiles from the higher ones much easier, which is about the only positive we can take from this design oversight.
Limited Demo
As a lot of you will undoubtedly opt to play the demo before committing, it’s vital we point out that the play for fun version of Africa is very limiting. During demo versions of most games, a high number of virtual credits are normally provided, allowing you to play at your leisure. However that isn’t the case here, instead you’re given a balance of just 50 coins.
Initially that may sound good enough, but that’s only going to get you five spins before the game terminates and you have to register to play for real. It’s a sneaky tactic, and one we definitely don’t like, for it means you’re unlikely to ever see the free games on offer, or the gamble option. Without seeing those two aspects, you might be inclined to go elsewhere for your R&R.
Seeing as we’ve mentioned the balance already, we might as well explain that, due to the 10 winlines, the minimum you can bet is 10 credits per game, with the most being 300. That range isn’t accessible for lower incomes, but definitely one for high rollers, making this a more selective gaming experience.
A Land of Possibilities
Africa is a restricted game, but it still goes to show what can be done when a brand like MGA put their minds to it, which gives us hope for future titles. This one may have little variance, yet medium volatility, but it’s a pleasant enough experience if you’re looking for a happy medium gap filler.
If you’re wanting a lot more substance for what you pay, why not try Robin from the brand? It’s a stark contrast to this slot, but it has way more features and a busier interface for you to engage with.
