Masked Mayhem

Masked Mayhem: Slot Overview

Grab your mask and cape, folks, we're about to leap from the top rope and dominate opponents in software provider Push Gaming's wrastlin' slot Masked Mayhem. To be more precise, this is lucha libre, a form of wrestling which originated in Mexico that not only entertains fans of its high flying style, but also gamblers who enjoy this particular brand of sports entertainment on the reels. Past releases such as Luchamigos, Lucha Maniacs, and Wild Luchador from Play'n GO, Yggdrasil, and Quickspin, respectively, best be suiting up as Masked Mayhem brings Instant Prizes, Jackpots, and a roaming Win Zone to the squared circle.

Lucha libre is an over-the-top experience, where dramatic, mask-wearing luchadores leap about a ring, in an event that's as much carnival or street festival as wrestling match. To celebrate this passionate cultural tradition, Push Gaming has designed a bold-looking game to match. Grid colours are bright, the symbols are detailed, and although the background wrestling ring in the street setting isn't the most vibrant ever seen, it is a pleasantly presented one, all the same. Furthermore, Masked Mayhem sports a bunch of colourful character symbols dripping personality to express the spirit of lucha libre.

The gaming area where Masked Mayhem gets it on is a 5x5 grid with 50 paylines awarding wins left to right from the leftmost reel. Whilst thinking of which wrestling persona they'd like to adopt, players can also choose a stake from a minimum of $/€0.10 to a maximum of $/€100. A medium-high volatile math model runs the event, producing an RTP of 96.29% at its highest configuration.

Masked Mayhem's 10 pay symbols are made up of J-A royals, guacamole, corn, tacos, and three-character symbols. Should 5 OAK combinations land, they are worth 1x for the royals, and 2.5x to 15x for the rest. Wilds hit on all reels as well. They substitute regular paying symbols, and have the same payout value as the highest luchador.

Masked Mayhem: Slot Features

Masked Mayhem is predominantly an Instant Prize symbols collection and Jackpot game. Both are awarded by a Win Zone feature that appears in both game phases, though Jackpots may only be won when free spins are active. If you can't wait for that to happen, the bonus round may be bought.

Win Zone

The Win Zone is an overlay that highlights a number of grid positions. In the base game, it can randomly appear in any size of 2x2 to 5x5. If any Instant Prizes land within the Win Zone, their values are paid out. Instant Prize symbols have values ranging from 0.2x to 1,000x the bet.

Free Spins

Hitting 3, 4, or 5 scatters respectively triggers 6, 8, or 10 free spins. Only scatters, Instant Prize symbols, Jackpot symbols, and duds may land during the feature. The round consists of 4 levels, which progress by collecting scatter symbols. When 4 scatters have been collected, the round progresses to the next level. The feature always starts at level 1.

• Level 1 - 2x2 Win Zone.
• Level 2 - 3x3 Win Zone, an x2 multiplier on Instant Prize symbols, and +4 free spins.
• Level 3 - 4x4 Win Zone, an x3 multiplier on Instant Prize symbols, and +3 free spins.
• Level 4 - 5x5 Win Zone, an x5 multiplier on Instant Prize symbols, and +2 free spins.

The Win Zone is persistent during free spins and starts at 2x2. Throughout the feature, the Win Zone either stays in place or it moves to collect landed scatter symbols, starting with the closest. It takes the shortest route and always prioritises Jackpots first, then the highest value Instant Prize symbols. Instant Prize symbols and Jackpots that land in the Win Zone are collected. If the Win Zone passes through or lands on any new Instant Prizes or Jackpots during this movement, they are collected. Instant Prize symbol values in free spins are 1x to 1,000x. Dud symbols have no value or purpose. Sometimes, when there are mostly dud symbols on the reels, a Second Chance feature may trigger, causing 1 or 2 duds outside the Win Zone to convert to a scatter symbol.

Jackpot Symbols

Jackpot symbols only appear during free spins. There are five of them - the Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, and Grand, worth 10x, 50x, 250x, 1,000x, and 2,500x the bet, respectively. Jackpots are paid when enough Jackpot symbols have been collected on their respective meter. When a Jackpot has been awarded, the meter for that Jackpot resets and can be collected again.

Feature Buy

As well as triggering free spins organically, they may also be bought for 60x the bet.

Masked Mayhem: Slot Verdict

Masked Mayhem is equipped with several mechanics that Push Gaming has shown an affection for down through the years, such as Instant Prize symbols, Jackpots, and free spins that progress through various levels, powering up as they do so. All are core features that get pulled out of the studio's toolkit on a regular basis, so while they might not blow socks off with crazy originality, Push Gaming has used various tricks and techniques to give them a creative spin. The studio has also dressed them up in an easy-on-the-eyes skin, which might not be the most flamboyant portrayal of Mexican wrestling ever seen on the screen, yet the luchadores, symbols, and the expanding Win Zone bird provide a healthy dose of sass.

Sass doesn't count for much if the gameplay is weak, and fortunately, Masked Mayhem's mechanics are able to tag team their way to thrills. Possibly exponentially, should play progress. It starts in the base game, where the Win Zone may appear to award Instant Prizes, though not Jackpots, yet. Those don't appear till free spins are active, and the bird-filled Win Zone gets to roam about the screen collecting goodies. Collect enough scatters and the Win Zone gets bigger and bigger, decreasing those sad face moments when rewards go begging outside the zone's reach. In a way, Masked Mayhem has echoes of Push Gaming's iconic Fat Rabbit release, aside from the fact it grows to grab Prize/Jackpot symbols rather than expand to substitute pay symbols. Sizeable grabbing can occur, too, up to 10,231x.

By and large, Masked Mayhem was a fun game to review. Push Gaming has designed it to a high standard, as it usually does, and while Masked Mayhem might not be up there with the Razor Sharks or Joker Troupes of the portfolio, its Win Zone concept brings about a fresh way of potentially scooping Instant Prizes and Jackpots.