Gonzo's Quest Megaways - reimagining the classics

Introduction

NetEnt's original Gonzo's Quest became a cult automaton back in 2011, setting trends for cascading drums and cinematic presentation. Almost a decade later, the slot received a second wind in the format of Gonzo's Quest Megaways, created in the collaboration of NetEnt and Red Tiger. The new version combined the iconic atmosphere and visual style of the original with modern Megaways mechanics, offering players up to 117,649 ways to win and even more opportunities for large payouts.

Performance Highlights

Developer: NetEnt + Red Tiger
Release Date: 2020
Drums: 6
Number of characters per reel: 2 to 7
Maximum number of ways to win: up to 117,649
RTP: 96. 0%
Volatility: High
Subjects: Adventures, Maya, Lost Civilizations

Gameplay and mechanics

Gonzo's Quest Megaways retained all the key features of the original, but strengthened them with the capabilities of the new mechanics:

• Megaways: Each spin forms a unique grid with a varying number of symbols on the reels.
• Avalanche (Cascade): The winning symbols disappear, giving way to new ones, which allows you to collect several wins in a row in one spin.
Avalanche multipliers: with each new cascade combination, the multiplier grows:
• x1 → x2 → x3 → x5 in the main game;
• x3 → x6 → x9 → x15 in freespins.
• Unbreakable Wilds: Wild symbols are not destroyed in a cascade and can participate in several combinations in a row.
• Earthquake Feature: Randomly, all low-paid symbols can be destroyed and only premium ones fall in their place.

Bonus features

1. Free Falls:
• Activated by three or more Free Fall characters.
• The player receives a minimum of 9 free spins.
• Multipliers start with x3 and can grow to x15.

2. Unbreakable Wilds:
• Wild symbols are retained even after winning, which significantly increases the chance of new combinations.

3. Earthquake:
• Removes all low symbols from the reels and replaces them with premium ones, dramatically increasing the likelihood of a large win.

Visual and atmosphere

Gonzo's Quest Megaways stayed true to the original idea:
• The protagonist is the charismatic conquistador Gonzo, who accompanies the player in search of treasure.
• The symbols are made in the form of stone slabs with images of gods and animals.
• The backdrop is the jungle and ancient ruins of the Maya civilization.
• Animations are even smoother and more modern thanks to Red Tiger technologies.
• The soundtrack enhances the atmosphere of the adventure, immersing in the world of ancient secrets.

Why Gonzo's Quest Megaways was a hit

1. Cult base: the slot gained popularity thanks to the original version, and the Megaways update attracted a new generation of players.
2. Balance of classics and innovation: Avalanche and adventure atmosphere have been preserved, but new chips and 117,649 ways to win have been added.
3. Strong bonus features: Avalanche and Earthquake multipliers make the game dynamic and unpredictable.
4. World-class visual: One of the few Megaways slots where attention to detail is comparable to AAA games.

Impact on industry

Gonzo's Quest Megaways was an example of how you can reimagine a classic without losing the original atmosphere. The success of the game showed that Megaways mechanics are ideal for restarting legendary slots, and opened the way for similar remakes (for example, Piggy Riches Megaways or Twin Spin Megaways).

Conclusion

Gonzo's Quest Megaways is a lucky combination of nostalgia and innovation. It retained the spirit of the classic slot, but received powerful bonus mechanics that make the game dynamic and profitable. This is one example when the remake is not inferior to the original, but in many ways surpasses it.