Montezuma Slots & More Online Casino Game at play-nj.com

It’s rather sad that today one of the greatest native leaders in history of the Americas, Montezuma, is best known by the tummy upset that can ravage people when they eat Mexican food.

As a somewhat tragic leader, the Aztec emperor deserves a better tribute. WMS‘ excellent Montezuma slot is certainly more fitting.

This 5×3 reel slot boasts some innovative features that really show what can be done with a modern slot.

Overview: Montezuma

Montezuma was a tragic figure, leading his people at a time of great unrest in the Aztec civilization.

He also ran into the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, who took the emperor prisoner. That saw Montezuma lose the respect of his people, and he died under a bombardment of stones and arrows as he tried to address them.

Although not the nicest story, it provides the backdrop for a New Jersey online slot game where the focus is on the more glorious aspects of Aztec society: magnificent temples, wildlife and artifacts on the reels, and set against the lush backdrop of the Central American jungle.

Who will the Montezuma slot appeal to?

This WMS slot will have a large number of fans; ancient history-themed slots enjoy a good following.

However, what will really catch the attention of players is the medium-to-high variance and the chance of some massive multiple payline wins both in free spins and the base game.

The free spins round is downright pioneering and will attract players who like a new take on this popular bonus.

The beautiful presentation of the slot, which is certainly among the best I have come across in many years, will doubtlessly draw in players.

Where to play Montezuma online in New Jersey

No need to head into the wilds of the jungle to meet this guy – you can get a taste of adventure right from your home when you log onto Virgin online casino or Tropicana.

Montezuma is at a bunch of other NJ casino sites as well, including Golden Nugget, Betfair, SugarHouse, Caesars, and Borgata.

Gameplay: Montezuma

Montezuma is a 30-payline slot, fixed, although you can place bets from $0.01 per line up to $1.00 per line, giving a minimum bet of $0.30 and a maximum bet of $30.

The maximum wins on the reels during the base game are relatively small; 300 coins for the five Montezuma symbols on a winning payline. You can trigger several winning paylines at once, which can radically increase the value of a win.

The reels feature a mix of card low symbols, from the jack through to the ace. The six higher value symbols are Montezuma (the highest-paying), his queen, an eagle, a headdress, a golden mask, and a snake charm.

These are not the only symbols on the reels. The Pyramid Wild is crucial.

Although it only appears on reels two, three, and four, it can appear stacked on the reels. When it lands, it can help create winning paylines. Of course, if you can land several wild symbols together, stacked on the reels, then you can win several paylines at once, which radically increases the win value.

It is possible to earn some very big base game wins using this feature. This is a medium- to high-variance game, so you tend to win a nice mix of cash prizes that range from the more frequent smaller value prizes to the occasional bigger win, and the rarer big base game win.

There are two key factors with the Montezuma slot that really help elevate it above its competition. The first of these is the free spins bonus game.

This is triggered when you land three or more of the Shield Bonus symbols on the reels in the base game. The number of shields you land awards you a cash bonus:

Three shields gives you 3x your stake
Four gives you 10x your stake
Five across the reels also gives you 10x your stake

To decide how many free spins you win, a spinning wheel awards you between three and 25 free spins once it comes to rest. The free spins will then start.

During the free spins, however, you can earn additional free spins by landing two or more shield symbols across the reels. Up to 25 free spins can be won this way.

Best of all, each spin comes with a multiplier, which is displayed at the top of the reels. Any wins you achieve will be subject to the outcome of the multiplier, which can be 2x, 3x, 5x, or 10x your win. If you win free spins, all additional spins are subject to the same multiplier you hit on your last original free spin.

Furthermore, if you don’t win at least 10 times your stake in free spins, the game will increase your win to at least that amount using the Bonus Guarantee technology on the slot.

The second outstanding feature is the presentation.

The sound is simple, quiet, and evocative. The reels increase in size when they are in play to make it easier to see. The payline display, which shows you exactly what paylines and symbols were the winners on each spin, is a brilliant element.

Watch the video below as PlayUSA’s Anthony gives a rundown on how Montezuma online slot works. Tune in to Twitch for more streaming video.

https://youtu.be/x2Rqeh4jsN4

Special features: Montezuma

Free spins wheel

Land three or more shield symbols in the base game to earn a cash prize, and then take on the free spins wheel. Spin the wheel to reveal how many free spins you win (between three and 25), and then click the button to start the free spins in motion.

Multiplier bonus in free spins

During your free spins, another wheel is in operation that can massively increase the value of your wins.

It’s a multiplier wheel that spins above the reels and applies the chosen multiplier to any free spin win. The multiplier can be 2x to 10x the standard amount.

Pyramid wild

During the base game, the stacked symbols of the Pyramid Wild are particularly useful. They can produce multiple winning paylines from a single spin and increase the value of the win markedly.

What works?

Win line highlighter

I absolutely love this feature. There’s no looking at a slot and wondering why one payline is a winner when another isn’t.

Every win in the game is outlined clearly by this feature.

Free spins game

The way WMS has devised the free spins game is superb. Add to that a Bonus Guarantee of a win of at least 10x your total stake and you can see why this free spins bonus game is one of the best around and why it has received a lot of positive chatter in NJ online gambling forums.

Stacked wild symbol

The stacked wild symbol is hugely useful in the base game. Without it, winning decent amounts of money would be impossible. This feature really livens up the base game.

What doesn’t?

High degree of variance

If you are a slot player who likes regular smaller wins to keep your balance topped up, then Montezuma may not be to your liking. This is a very volatile slot at times, but it will reward patient play with a big win every now and then.

Low base game jackpot

The one thing that may put off some jackpot hunters is the relatively small jackpot available in the base game and free spins for a single line win.

However, most wins tend to come with multiple paylines, and when the stacked wild is used, it can ramp up the value of these wins significantly.

Low value base game wins

Of course, volatile slots mean that not all wins will be huge, and there are a number of times when the reels spin and play very tight.

The scores

[wp-review id=”7103″]

Graphics and soundtrack: 3/5

I like the graphics and backdrop of the Montezuma slot. They are perfectly in keeping with the theme of the game, and they are unobtrusive, yet bright, cheery, and colorful.

Alas, there isn’t really any wow factor with the graphics.

Originality and creativity: 5/5

These are rare top marks, especially for a 5×3 slot offering free spins and wilds. WMS has taken these basic elements and made them engaging with some additional flourishes, such as the Bonus Guarantee, multiplier reel, and stacked wilds.

The result is a slot that looks quite similar to others at NJ gambling websites, but actually plays differently.

Play value: 4/5

This is a highly variable NJ casino game, and I can only go from my experience. So while I have enjoyed some quieter and more expensive sessions on the slot, I’ve had some fantastic wins too.

I think the balance of these sessions is relatively fair. As such, I think the slot offers good value for the longer-term player, and less so for someone just playing one session.

Jackpot potential: 2/5

The one downside here is that the jackpot potential is relatively small per line. However, as we’ve noted in the review, it is easily possible to trigger several winning paylines at once.

This can ramp up the value of these wins massively, especially when stacked wilds are used.

Repeat play: 5/5

I love how the Montezuma slot is presented and plays. I love the fact that WMS has taken what could have been just another 5×3 free spins slot and made it into something extraordinarily unique.

It offers a great balance between risk and reward. This is one slot people will play for many, many years to come.

Total score: 19/25

Although perhaps not as big a name as some slots, don’t overlook Montezuma. This is a fantastic, fun, and enjoyable slot that offers some outstanding features you won’t find elsewhere.

We mentioned that ancient-themed slots are incredibly popular. If you’re a fan of this style of game, here are some others in the genre you might appreciate:

Image by Paul Simpson / CC BY-ND 2.0