Atlantis Megaways (ReelPlay): Overview

The legend of Atlantis has appeared in plenty of slots, but this seems to be the first time it’s been paired with the Megaways format. Australian studio ReelPlay may not be a big-name provider yet, though they’ve been steadily releasing some noteworthy titles. Most recently we saw El Dorado Infinity Reels, which introduced a distinctive game mechanic supported by strong promise thanks to expanding reels and jackpots. Now, with Atlantis Megaways, the studio brings back the familiar engine. ReelPlay isn’t new to Megaways either, having used it last year in Hypernova with mixed feedback. It clearly did enough to warrant a repeat, because Atlantis is essentially a clone that delivers the same play experience, just dressed in a different theme.

And it’s a strong makeover at that. From the outset, it’s hard to deny ReelPlay’s talent for visuals. El Dorado delivered a beautiful, vibrant setting, and Atlantis is equally eye-catching. As expected, everything unfolds underwater, with a backdrop that feels mysterious and atmospheric—an appealing place to keep spinning. In true Megaways style, there are 6 main reels with up to 7 symbols per reel, plus a 1×4 bonus reel above. Atlantis makes full use of the system, reaching up to 117,649 win ways when the reels are fully expanded. Betting options are broad enough to start the dive at 20 p/c to $/€100. With up to 999 auto-spins available, you’re set to take a deep plunge.

The symbols look just as polished, and it’s good to see ReelPlay maintaining a high visual standard across the board. There are 10 standard pay symbols, divided into low and high values. Low pays are the familiar 10 – A royals, which ReelPlay has styled with a touch of seaweed to match the theme. High pays come from four sea creatures—lionfish, seahorse, octopus, and dolphin. They’re not the usual aquatic slot picks, which is a refreshing change, and each is drawn in a realistic style. The top-paying symbol is the Neptune-like character, which pays from only two of a kind, and landing 6 awards 100x the stake. Helping out is the submerged temple Wild, which substitutes for any symbol except the scatter. As you’d expect, the Wild is exclusive to the top bonus reel.

Since the game is a clone, the mechanics are matched by the same underlying math model, which hasn’t been altered. As in Hypernova, volatility stays at medium, and RTP remains at 96.09%. That pairing is likely to appeal more to casual players than those chasing higher-risk action. Still, both groups can appreciate Atlantis’ respectable payout promise, which is unlocked through its features.

Atlantis Megaways (ReelPlay): Features

The feature you’ll see most often in Atlantis is the Megaways cascade mechanic. When a win lands, the winning symbols disappear and new ones drop into the gaps. This can create additional wins, and the sequence keeps going for as long as fresh winning combinations continue to appear.

The most distinctive part of ReelPlay’s Megaways approach so far is their debated choice to leave out free spins. Instead, the main bonus comes in the form of the Pearl Jackpot Respins feature. You enter the jackpot round through the scatter, shown as a glowing treasure chest carrying a value. Get six of these on screen to trigger the feature. It starts by locking the 6 treasure chests in place and awarding 3 respins. Each time another treasure chest lands, the respins reset to 3 and the round continues. The feature ends when the respins are used up, or when every available position is filled by a scatter. Either way, the values on all chests are added together and paid out. The prizes can be cash values from 1x to 100x, or one of the jackpots:

• Mini jackpot prize is 10x the stake.
• Minor jackpot prize is 50x the stake.
• Major jackpot prize is 250x the stake.
• Grand jackpot prize is 2,000x the stake.

The Mini and Minor jackpots may be collected multiple times during a single feature, while the Major and Grand jackpots are limited to one win each.

Atlantis Megaways (ReelPlay): Verdict

If you’ve already played Hypernova Megaways, your take on Atlantis will likely be very similar. Because it’s a clone, the features, flow, and key figures are essentially unchanged. Enjoyed Hypernova? You’ll probably enjoy this too. Didn’t like it? Then Atlantis won’t give you much reason to return. Visually, though, Atlantis is a step up, presenting a huge, lavish underwater realm to explore. But as with anything, style alone can’t carry the whole experience. A slot needs substance to stay engaging, and while Atlantis looks fantastic, that alone won’t convert the skeptics.

For anyone who missed Hypernova, Atlantis Megaways is easy to sum up: it does its job, but it’s weighed down by a bonus that feels better suited to a generic Asian-themed slot than a Megaways title. With no free spins, players have to rely on Jackpot Respins for the main excitement. That said, the Grand Jackpot can deliver satisfying returns, so it’s far from a lost cause. The overall upside is solid, with wins of up to 8,640 times the stake available from this underwater setting.

All told, Atlantis Megaways isn’t the benchmark for Megaways slots, but it still provides decent play in an attractive environment.