Rasputin Megaways

Rasputin Megaways: Slot Overview

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin might be better known in certain circles as 'Russia's greatest love machine', thanks to the hip grating tune from Boney M, but his description, according to Wikipedia includes being 'a Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who befriended the family of Nicholas II.' By many accounts, Rasputin lived a rather interesting life indeed. However, Australian software provider Big Time Gaming has played it somewhat loose with historical accuracy, preferring instead to focus on Rasputin's later association with disco. Keen to cut a rug?

If so, the location appears to be somewhere like Red Square in Moscow, just outside Saint Basil's Cathedral. With its bulbous roofs, it's one of the most recognisable buildings in the country. Saint Basil's Cathedral was consecrated in 1561, and one wonders if, in all that time, it's seen many shindigs like the one on display in Rasputin Megaways. Here, the space is smothered in flashing lights, spotlights, and when free spins are triggered, the hardcore disco is cranked.

Playing Rasputin Megaways starts with choosing your bet size, ranging from 10 p/c to $/€20 per spin. It comes with a single return to player value of 96.68%, and this applies when playing normally or when buying free spins. Big Time Gaming has classed Rasputin Megaways' volatility as highly volatile, which makes sense after a playthrough and seeing how the features have the capability to build something special under the right circumstances.

Rasputin Megaways is a slot of big biceps and big numbers. In the base game, there can be up to 1,000,000 ways to win in play, while in free spins, that figure can grow as high as 2,985,984. This all takes place on a 6-reel game grid which holds a minimum of 2 symbols and a maximum of 10 in the base game, 12 in free spins. For pay symbols, lows are 9-A card tiles worth 0.8-0.9x the bet for six-of-a-kind or 1 to 50 times the stake for a six-of-a-kind premium jewellery egg win.

Rasputin Megaways: Slot Features

It's in features where Rasputin's presence is most felt, where extras include Rasputin Wilds, two types of free spin rounds, and, where possible, the Win Exchange and bonus buy options.

Rasputin Wild

When the Rasputin disco ball wild symbol lands, it reveals a number. This number equates to the number of symbols added to the reels, which can be up to 48 symbols in the base game or 60 in free spins. After the symbols have been added, any wins are evaluated. Wilds substitute for all symbols in the game except scatters.

Free Spins

Landing 3 or more scatter symbols in any position triggers the free spins bonus round. Players get to choose from one of these:

• Big & Strong Free Spins – 7 free spins are awarded with Extending Reels. After the first free spin, the number of symbols on each reel carries over to the next free spin. Every time a reel reaches 12 symbols in height, +3 additional free spins are awarded.
• Ecstasy & Fire Free Spins – 10 free spins are awarded with an unlimited win multiplier. The win multiplier starts at x1 and increases by +1 for every fifth symbol Rasputin Wilds added to the reels. Hitting at least 3 scatters during the round retriggers the free spins session.

Win Exchange

When winning 100x the bet, players have the option of exchanging an amount equal to 100x the bet for free spins. Or, when winning between 25x and 100x the bet, players have the option of gambling the prize for a chance to win free spins on a gamble wheel. The chance of scoring free spins is indicated by the green segments on the wheel.

Bonus Buy

Alternatively, if it is available, players can buy entry to free spins for 100x the bet. Whether from successfully using the Win Exchange or the bonus buy, it is possible to pick the 7 or the 10 free spin option.

Rasputin Megaways: Slot Verdict

Rasputin Megaways was one of those odd left-field releases you might have to just go along with for a while to figure out whether it's your cup of tea or not. 'Rasputin', the song, and the band Boney M were huge once upon a time, forming in West Germany in the 70s, and still getting quite a bit of air time. So much so that it shouldn't be a surprise to know this isn't the first Rasputin slot out there. Merkur, for example, released Magic Monk Rasputin, taking a darker approach to the topic than Big Time Gaming. Rasputin Megaways, by contrast, is an explosion of bright flashing lights, bopping tunes, and flippant attitude, basically nut-shelling the disco vibe to a tee.

Complementing the attitude, Rasputin Megaways' gameplay is spot on as well. It's a game with features which fired fairly regularly, most commonly Rasputin Wilds, but organically triggering free spins wasn't the colossal task it might have been. Interestingly, free spins felt mildly familiar. There was a very faint Danger! High Voltage element to being able to choose from two options and an equally faint echo of White Rabbit to the 12 symbol high reels aspect. Here players get 6 reels, though, compared to White Rabbit's five, so ways to win in Rasputin Megaways can be eyebrow-raising. There's potential to match, too. At full whack, Rasputin Megaways can hit 3,200x in the base game, which might feel a little out of step with the up to million possible ways, but rising to 68,180x in free spins.

Where a contemporary slot like The Rave went dank, Rasputin Megaways goes in the opposite direction, and it's hard not to tap a toe to its vivacious sights and sounds. Rasputin Megaways came across as a well-rounded betting machine, allowing various methods of attack in a game that spins old and new elements into one vibrant mix.