9 Masks of Fire slot has lit up MGS casinos thanks to its bonus features

In this new slot from Gameburger Studios, in conjunction with Microgaming, we are going to take a look at the 9 Masks of Fire.

No, I have no idea what the nine masks of fire is based on. I can't find a myth that corroborates in with the slot, so if Gameburger have come up with it themselves then I am impressed. The fiery theme is enhanced in the slot, which looks like it is played out against the orange-glow of a fiery volcano or something.

Anyway, this new game is the latest from Gameburger as part of their agreement with Microgaming, so how does it shape up? We decided to take a closer look and find out.

Overview

• Game: 9 Masks of Fire
• Developer: Gameburger Studios (for Microgaming)
• Reels: 5x3
• Pay Lines: 20 (non-selectable)
• Minimum Bet: 0.20
• Maximum Bet: 60.00
• Jackpot: 2,000x
• Free Spins Bonus: Yes
• Other Bonuses: Yes
• Progressive: No
• Volatility: Medium

Presentation

The presentation of the 9 Masks of Fire slot is rather unusual. It is an African themed slot based on the music that accompanies you as you play (which I have to say is rather good and gives the slot a nice atmosphere) and the different types of symbols on the reel.

However, the backdrop of the slot is rather unusual as it is just a dark glowing red, orange colour with what looks like embers drifting up from the bottom of the screen. Now of course, this is linked in with the 9 Masks of Fire that the slot is about, but there aren't any masks visible on the screen.

My guess is that this is somehow linked to a volcano as that appears to be the overriding impression I get with the slot, but that may be just me. That said, it doesn't really matter, but it is just unusual to have a slot game where the backdrop isn't entirely discernible and doesn't really have a clear point to it.

What is on the reels?

There are just seven standard symbols on the reels and if you are a lover of retro-styled slot games then the symbols chosen for the 9 Masks of Fire slot will appeal to you. The lowest value symbols are the famous Cherry and single Bar symbols. This is followed by the Bell and then a dollar symbol. There are then three other symbols, a single, double and a treble 7 symbol.

These final three symbols award higher value wins if you land three or more of the same combination of symbols on the reels (so three single sevens, three or more double sevens etc). However, you can win smaller amounts by combining the single, double and treble symbols across the reels. This is good as it gives players more flexibility about how they could win across the reels, even if the wins are not huge.

The only other three symbols on the reels are the Wild symbol, the Free Spins bonus symbol and the Mask Scatter, which all link in to the main bonus features of the slot as we will explore below.

Wild features

The diamond symbol is the Wild symbol and it can substitute for any of the higher standard symbols on the reels. It doesn't pay a multiplier on wins though which is a little disappointing. However, you can land some of the best value win sin the base game if you can land three or more Wilds across the reels with up to 125x your total bet available to be won if you can land five Wilds on a pay line.

Free Spins features

The key to the Free Spins feature is the Shield and Spear Free Spins Bonus symbol that appears anywhere across the middle three reels. When you land all three of these symbols on those middle three reels on a single spin, then you receive a shot at the Free Spins bonus game.

Here you get to spin the Free Spins wheel. Each wedge on the wheel contains a number of Free Spins in the outer section and on the inner is a multiplier which ranges from 2x to 3x the stated amount. You spin the wheel and whatever section you land in, that is the number of spins and multiplier you have on the bonus round.

The good news is, if you trigger three more Free Spins Bonus symbols in your Free Spins, you can re-trigger the bonus at the same number and multiplier that you won on your spin of the Bonus Wheel. Other than that, the Free Spins bonus round takes place with much the same symbols on the reels as the base game, however that multiplier can lead to some better value wins.

There is a Scatter symbol in the game and this is the Mask of Fire that gives the game its title. These Scatters can appear anywhere across the reels and up to nine are on the reels on any one spin. If you can land three or more of these symbols on the reels on a single spin, then you will win a cash prize, with the more masks landed the bigger the prize.

Land all nine and you win the jackpot prize of 2,000x your bet in the game.

Best feature of the 9 Masks of Fire slot

There's lots of nice touches in the 9 Masks of Fire slot. The game has three excellent bonus features and the Free Spins section is nicely done, with the bonus wheel giving this part of the game a little more excitement than your standard Free Spins bonus round. The Mask Scatter symbol is also a good addition to the game, but I feel a little more could have been made of it. The Wild also could have been made a little more exciting, so it is the Free Spins bonus and the regular wins on the medium variance slot that will have players coming back for more spins.

Conclusion

I rather like the 9 Masks of Fire slot. Gameburger have produced a couple of memorable games for Microgaming already since teaming up and I think they will prove to be a hit with fans given they are very different to other slots the company releases. 9 Masks of Fire is no different and with regular wins in the base game, albeit of smaller value, and a smaller jackpot, this is a game that will definitely appeal to mid to lower stakes players in particular., The bonus features are well thought out and the game I feel has real appeal to slots fans who enjoy regular wins and want to bet smaller amounts per spin.

You can play the 9 Masks of Fire slot at any of the Mega Moolah casinos.