You are probably familiar with names like Sasha Fierce, Slim Shady and for the older generation perhaps even Ziggy Stardust. So what do these characters have in common? They are all alter egos. Sasha Fierce is Beyonce, Slim Shady is Eminem and Ziggy Stardust is the alter ego of David Bowie.
I don’t have an alter ego myself, that I’m aware of at least. These guys are all incredibly successful at what they do so perhaps it’s the way to go and I have been missing out all these years. Do you guys have an alter ego and if so, please feel free to share it with me in the comment section.
The Key to All of Our Successes
Pragmatic Play doesn’t need an alter ego but they did just release a brand new slot with that exact name – The Alter Ego! Rocking a 10,000x multiplier, a 96.07% RTP and very high volatility, fingers crossed it could be the key to all of our successes.
The Alter Ego by Pragmatic Play
Is This Sherlock Holmes?
Is it just me or does this game give off a distinct Sherlock Holmes vibe? I mean the setting, the look of the main character observing the reels, the pocket watch symbol… it’s either an homage or a rip off as far as the design goes. Then again, perhaps it all comes down to an alter ego.
Regardless of the motivation behind it, the game looks great. Large symbols are always preferred as they are easier on the eye and there are a few cool effects, such as the firing of the guns etc.
Release Date: February 8, 2024
RTP: 96.07%
Bet Limits: €0.20 – €34
Layout: 3-4-4-4-3
Paylines: 576
Multiplier: 10,000x
Volatility: Very High
Features: Free Spins, Mystery Symbol, Bonus Buy
It’s all a mystery
It All Comes Down to Mystery Symbols
There aren’t a lot of fun features in The Alter Ego, which I find a bit disappointing. Sure, there’s the Free Spins of course but other than that players have to settle for Mystery Symbols. Let’s face it, no matter how mysterious they are supposed to be, they don’t really add much excitement, do they?
When they appear, as question marks, they will all turn into the same symbols and hopefully a decent win for you.
3 Scatters will do the trick
How to Get Free Spins and Bigger Wins
I feel that Free Spins is the bare minimum when it comes to slot features these days and yes, you can get them in The Alter Ego. It takes the “standard” 3 scatters to trigger them and this will give you 3 Free Spins.
Only 3 spins?
3 Are Actually More Than Enough
It sounds really cheap, I know, but don’t worry because it’s more of a Hold & Spin style of spins. What I mean is that during the round, every time you score a Scatter symbol, your spin count will reset back to 3.
Reset your count with a Scatter symbol
Start From the Bottom and Work Your Way Up
When you’re in Free Spin mode, the number of symbols on each reel can get bigger. As you continue to play, the reel with the Scatter will increase by 1 symbol. This continues all throughout the bonus round and helps you grow your reels, giving you a bigger shot at landing win after win.
Increase your reel size by landing Scatters
Reach the Maximum Size
The maximum size of each reel is 10 symbols and as you can see in the screenshot above, I was actually very close to maximizing all 5 reels. If you fill all the reels with 10 symbols, that will give you as many as 100,000 ways to win.
Sensational Win
Go Big or Go Home
It wasn’t until I had built my reels all the way up that the big wins started to come in. Yes, I was lucky along the way and managed to score the Scatter at the right time, more than once, but at the same time you won’t win without being lucky.
For a $0.20 bet, getting the $34 sensational win made my day!
How many scatters would you like?
Use the Bonus Buy to Save Time
Pragmatic Play was kind enough to implement the Bonus Buy option. This of course gives you a chance to skip the sometimes long wait for the 3 Scatters needed and instead go straight to the bonus round.
You will be asked to cough up some dough to get there but if you feel like you can afford it then I think it’s a very good option. We all know how much time and money you can waste trying to nail that last Scatter.
Your options are as follows:
- Buy 3 Scatters – 100x your bet
- Buy 4 Scatters – 150x your bet
- Buy 5 Scatters – 200x your bet
Is It a Rip off or Have I Missed Something?
I do wonder though, since you’ll get 3 Free Spins regardless and your spin count will reset as soon as a Scatter appears. Why would you pay for 4 or 5 Scatters? I may have missed something because otherwise it is a complete rip off.
Explore The Alter Ego
The Alter Ego – Pass or Play?
Ok, so after having taken The Alter Ego for a trial run, I’m still not clear about what made Pragmatic Play give it that title. As far as I know, there’s nothing in the game that has anything to do with it or even hinting towards it.
Other than a confusing title, I actually think it’s a pretty good game. As long as you get to the Free Spin round that is, because the base game alone is quite boring after a while. It’s tough for a game if it solely depends on Free Spins and no other feature giving you a helping hand.
I do like the setup of the Free Spins with the expanding reels system but I’m afraid players will give up on it if they don’t make it there. Considering its volatility is set as very high, it can quickly feel like you’re fighting a losing battle.
So, is The Alter Ego by Pragmatic Play a pass or play? I will say play, but you better get to the bonus round!
Where Can I Play The Alter Ego?
For those of you wanting to give The Alter Ego a chance and perhaps get some inspiration for your own, I suggest heading to:
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