Gameplay Features and Mechanics
For fans of today’s modernized video slot machines, the
interface presented by Queen of the Nile may feel a bit
outdated, but for a title nearing its 20th birthday the game
still holds up quite well.
Queen of the Nile is a 5 reel, 20 pay line standard slot
machine offering players low to mid-range variance. As a true
penny slot, one credit costs only $0.01, but in order to take
advantage of the game’s full functionality regular players
recommend activating as many pay lines as possible.
The standard play is to activate all 20 pay lines while
wagering five credits per line, which equates to $1.00 per spin.
For the adventurous crowd, the maximum amount of credits you can
wager on a given spin is $60.00, or $3.00 per pay line while
playing all 20 pay lines.
However, with 60 unique wagering combinations in play on
every spin, Queen of the Nile is built to accommodate both
casual, low stakes slot fans simply looking for a fun time, and
high-rollers searching the casino floor for their next big
score.
With wild symbols, free spins, and a 3x multiplier bonus game
in play, Queen of the Nile provides just enough punch to keep
players entertained, but the game does lack the allure of a
progressive jackpot. A list of basic specifications for Queen of
the Nile can be found below:
- Wilds: Yes
- Free Spins: Yes
- Multiplier: Yes, for 3x
- Bonus Game: Yes
- Progressive: No
- Return to Player: 94.88%
The base game jackpot for Queen of the Nile totals 9,000
credits, and fittingly, this prize can only be earned by landing
five of the Cleopatra symbols on a pay line. By landing four
Cleopatras you can win 2,000 credits during the base game, while
three Cleopatras are good for 200 credits, and a pair of
Cleopatras returns two credits.
During the base game players can win a variety of payouts
depending on the arrangement of symbols landed on a pay line.
The hieroglyphics symbol rates as the lowest, offering between
two and 125 credits when you land between three and five
matching symbols on a pay line. The Nile thistle and Seeing Eye
symbols are next, paying out up to 250 credits for five matches.
Landing five scarab beetles on a pay line rewards you with 400
credits. Finally, the golden rings and King Tut mask offer the
highest payouts at up to 750 credits when you land five on a
single pay line.
Wild Symbol
The Cleopatra symbol is the only wild in play during Queen of
the Nile. When it appears on any pay line, Cleopatra can
substitute for any other symbol except for the bonus and
scatter, to create a winning a combination. Whenever you make a
winner using a Cleopatra wild symbol, the payout is
automatically doubled.
Scatter Symbol
The scatter symbol for Queen of the Nile is represented by a
pair of golden pyramids set against a clear blue sky. When you
land the pyramid scatter symbol anywhere on the screen, it
creates winning combinations throughout all of the pay lines you
have in play.
If you happen to land five pyramids scatter symbols on any
activated pay lines, Queen of the Nile pays out a generous bonus
of 400 times your original wager. Smaller prizes are paid out
for landing two, three, or four pyramid scatter symbols on an
activated pay line.
Triggering the 15×3 Bonus Game
While the Queen of the Nile base game is indeed enjoyable,
slot enthusiasts know that the real prizes are won when you
enter the 15×3 bonus round.
This bonus game can only be triggered by landing three of the
pyramid scatter symbols anywhere on the screen, but regular
players report that Queen of the Nile allows this to occur with
reasonable regularity. After landing three pyramid scatter
symbols, the game will congratulate you with an onscreen graphic
proclaiming “Yes! You’ve Done It! 15 free games remaining.”
During the 15×3 bonus game all winning combinations are paid
out at triple the standard payout. This means that the
appearance of a Cleopatra wild symbol within a winning
combination during the bonus round actually pays out at six
times, because both the 3x bonus multiplier and 2x wild
multiplier are concurrently applied. Even better, should you see
three pyramid scatter symbols show up again during the bonus
round, Queen of the Nile provides you with another set of 15
free spins.
Enjoying 15 free spins on any game is always a treat, but
Queen of the Nile ups the ante by including a bonus game of 100
spins. This incredible chance to earn big wins without spending
a single penny can only be triggered by landing five pyramid
scatter symbols on screen. While this feat is obviously much
rarer than the 15×3 bonus, lucky players have posted footage of
their 100 free spin game online over the years as proof that the
ultimate bonus does indeed exist.
Queen of the Nile II
Most sequels fail to live up to their original versions, but
Aristocrat took great lengths to ensure that Queen of the Nile
II would satisfy the expectations of slot players who fell in
love with the first game.
The sights and sounds of the first Queen of the Nile are
replicated for Queen of the Nile II, including many of the same
base game symbols. Just like in the first version, Cleopatra
symbols are wild and pyramid symbols act as scatters.
Astute players will notice a few subtle differences, however,
as Aristocrat has updated its graphics to provide a more
visually entertaining experience. This means the symbols you’ll
see on Queen of the Nile II appear to be worn and dated, and
even a bit dusty, suggesting that they have been dug up from the
desert sands of Egypt.
Sequels always seek to expand on their source material,
however, so Aristocrat increased the pay line amount from 20 to
25 for Queen of the Nile II, making it a 5 reel, 25 pay line
slots. When you manage to land three pyramid scatter symbols on
screen, the bonus game you’ll enter now offers 20 free spins,
rather than the 15 which made the first game famous.
The Bonus Round
Perhaps the most noticeable adjustment between the original
Queen of the Nile slot and its sequel arrives during the bonus
round. The first version of the game kept things simple, and
three pyramid scatter symbols took players straight to a 15 free
spin game sporting a 3x multiplier.
Now, players have a new level of control over the parameters
of their bonus round. Queen of the Nile II enables players to
select between four distinct bonus games, toggling between more
free spins with a smaller multiplier, or fewer free spins with a
higher multiplier.
For example, once you’ve landed the three pyramid scatters
needed to enter bonus round play, the game will present you with
a menu of options beginning with 20 free spins and a 2x
multiplier. Depending on your personal preference, or even the
way a particular machine has been performing of late, players
can decide to gamble a bit by switching to just five free spins
and a 10x multiplier. The available multipliers during this
bonus round include 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x depending on the amount
of free spins you prefer.
Gamble Feature
Queen of the Nile II also includes a new Gamble feature,
which comes into play after any winning spin. After you’ve
landed a winning combination, the game will activate a Gamble
button. Should you opt to gamble, a side screen will open and a
simple guessing game is presented, offering a selection of four
card suits. When you guess correctly, your winnings from the
previous spin is either doubled or quadrupled.
Wager Values
Wager values for Queen of the Nile II have also been updated
to cater to modern slot fans. The minimum credit requirement is
still $0.01, but this penny slot can be transformed into
high-roller heaven, as players can wager anywhere from one penny
to $4.00 on a single pay line. With 25 pay lines now available,
Queen of the Nile II offers a maximum wager of $100.00.
Summary
In nearly 20 years since its debut, the original Queen of the
Nile has secured its status as one of the most well-known slot
machines ever designed. Although the game is quite basic when
compared to the video slots produced today, many players seem to
enjoy that sense of simplicity.
Between the first Queen of the Nile and its sequel,
Aristocrat succeeded in designing a game which holds lasting
appeal for a wide audience.
