Thai Flower Megaways: Slot Overview
For travellers with South East Asia in their sights, Thailand is one destination that is usually quite high up the bucket list. It's a country possessing incredible beaches, secluded islands, intriguing religious sites, friendly people, big lumbering elephants, and an anything-goes attitude. Mix in the full moon parties, floating markets, and Pad Thai, and it's no wonder Thailand is such a popular choice for idealistic backpackers.
Blueprint Gaming apparently likes the spot too, as they have revisited an old land-based slot (of which there is also an online version) called Thai Flower by provider Reel Time Gaming and given it a Megaways upgrade. Obviously, this has modernised everything to a degree, giving it a completely different dynamic. However, fans of the first will be pleased to know that Thai Flower's showpiece, the three symbol only free spins round, has been retained for the makeover.
Players are welcomed to Thai Flower Megaways by a friendly Thai lady, standing before a temple, rendered in a photorealistic way, who shows up later on the paytable. When entering the game properly, we find a six-reel grid, with an unusual background made up of pillars, a confusing patterned wall, and what looks like a pond in the foreground. You get a Thai touch, but everything looks a tad messy, like the studio wanted to go HD but got bored halfway and just threw up what they had. Players who like quiet games will appreciate the absence of any music in the base game, where the only sound being a blast of classic slot noise when the reels are spinning.
Playable on tablets, smartphones, or desktop devices, Thai Flower Megaways offers stakes from 10 p/c to $/€10 per spin. Like the original, Thai Flower Megaways offers medium-high volatile gaming, though there has been a small decrease in RTP to 96.12% – still comfortably average; it should be mentioned.
This being a Megaways game, the number of symbols appearing on each reel on any given spin alternates from 2 to 5. Differing symbols means a differing number of win ways, as well, starting at 32, then rising to 15,625 when the grid is filled to capacity. Players score a win when two or more of the top-paying premium hit, or at least three of every other symbol type. Winning combinations are made up of adjacent matching symbols, starting from the left side of the grid.
Blueprint has used the same symbols as were found in the previous Thai Flower game, so the paytable starts with 10-A royals before displaying pots, boats, temples, elephants, and our Thai lady friend. Values are modest where a 6 symbol premium winning combination triggers payouts of 1 to 10 times the total stake. Like a 'book of' game, the lotus symbol is both scatter and wild. As wild, it substitutes for any other symbol in the game.
Thai Flower Megaways: Slot Features
Thailand might be bursting with interesting experiences, but Thai Flower Megaways has just one extra. The sole feature here is a batch of free spins triggered when 3 or more flower symbols land on the reels. The number of spins awarded is 10, 25, 20, or 25 when 3, 4, 5, or 6 are in view.
Before free spins begin, 10 lotus flowers appear on screen and players must choose 3 of them. Picked flowers reveal a pay symbol, and these 3 are the only ones that appear during free spins. This means lotus flowers do not land either, so there are no wilds, and the feature cannot be retriggered.
Thai Flower Megaways: Slot Verdict
And that's it really, there is not much to Thai Flower Megaways to report back on. It's old school, so already feels dated on the day it was released. That's probably the point, though, since this is a remake of a mature slot, giving fans a return to the good old days of gaming. If you weren't there or didn't get around to playing the original Thai Flower, the point won't be readily apparent, and the game will struggle to appeal. The reduced number of symbols on the reels produces a lower-powered Megaways game, and their values aren't amazing either. It means the base game limps along, not doing a lot, while you wait for the three (or more) lotus flower scatters to hit, in virtual silence.
There is an uptick in energy when free spins hit, and the fact only three symbols appear throughout is an interesting idea. As mentioned, low values prevent the bonus from turning into a free for all, but it can be a pleasing event. Maybe the fact the base game is so low key makes free spins seem more exciting than they really are, however.
Thai Flower Megaways does deliver a taste of Thailand, but it's a relatively small one, indicative of the game as a whole. Some travellers like to rough it, backpack their way around, staying wherever, to get an authentic feel for the country. Others prefer to be pampered by the pool at a Western run chain hotel, and there's nothing wrong with that. Players firing up Thai Flower Megaways should expect to be treated to the second 'safer' option.
Thai Flower Megaways does deliver a taste of Thailand, but it's a relatively small one, indicative of the game as a whole.
