Ocean Pearls Slot Machine
The latest title from NeoGames has arrived and it is aptly named Ocean Pearls, a video slots game that takes place in a rich, wildlife-filled biome straight out of “Finding Nemo”. Much of the budget must have been spent on the visuals when making this game, as it looks absolutely gorgeous, not unlike some of their other titles from the same brand (such as Legend of Terra).
The game features a rather interesting setup, offering three individual reels as opposed to a standard 5x3 reel system, the setup of the game is not dissimilar to that offered in their other video slots game Ready, Set, Go. The gorgeous presentation and unique setup make this a very attractive-looking game, so how will the gameplay compare?
Embracing the Elements
Imagine swimming in a coral reef – picture the crystal blue water, the sunlight gently percolating to the bottom of the seabed, the schools of fish swimming along with the current. Such an experience is one only few people could dream of achieving, perhaps off of the coast of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Such an experience must have been in mind when the people at NeoGames decided to create their next video slots game, as the scenery present the minute you open this game is absolutely gorgeous – it almost looks like you are sailing through the oceans.
We really want to harp just a little more on how stunning Ocean Pearls looks – everything about it, from the interface to the myriad of little animations that creates the impression of being in a wildlife sanctuary far from civilization, looks simply amazing. Here’s my own suggestion, turn off the background music and sound effects and play the “Aquarium” movement from Camille Saint-Sa?ns’ piece “The Carnival of the Animals” – it’s the perfect accompaniment.
The menu manages to look incredibly crisp and clean in contrast to the dazzling background imagery, and the game manages to run very smoothly in spite of all the stuff that’s going on.
More than a Drop of Water
Let’s move on to the actual gameplay itself. Ocean Pearls doesn’t utilise your standard paylines and reels. What you get instead are three 3x1 reels that act independently of each other (the game actually plays more like a scratch card game, but functionally of the reels play like a slot). So while you can spin any combination of the above reels, the three don’t interact with each other when determining if you’ve won prizes – that is to say, there aren’t any pay lines here: either you win in one reel or you don’t.
Aside from that, the game allows for your standard modifications. You can adjust the coin denominations used, change the number of active reels, choose to bet the maximum amount and then “spin” when ready. There is an auto-play function available as well if you don’t want to strain your finger pressing the spin button repeatedly.
The Waves of the Sea
Being that the game utilises a very traditional 3x1 reel setup, the gameplay is strictly no-frills, as there aren’t any wild or scatter symbols, nor are there any winnings multipliers, free spins, or even a progressive jackpot. But don’t let that deter you in any way – Ocean Pearls offers the famous 10,000-coin base jackpot seen in most of NeoGames’s video slots offerings. That’s just if you bet one coin on a line – imagine the prizes when you bet the maximum number!
That said, there isn’t much else to say on the subject, save that you get three reels to spin with every time you play, tripling your odds of winning the jackpot on a spin if you keep all three active.
Delving into the Deep Blue Sea
Ocean Pearls looks to be yet another winner from NeoGames (as if the conclusion was ever in doubt). The game’s incredible visual direction immediately sets it apart from the hordes of generic look-alikes that plague so many casino websites.
The only thing we would say that may be a turn-off to some people is that the gameplay is very basic. But this may be a good thing if you prefer your gaming experience to be clean, straightforward, and uncomplicated. For the casual or first-time gambler, Ocean Pearls is a great way to both introduce them to the world of video slots as well as to demonstrate what a good game in the genre should look like.
Hardcore gamblers will also find something here, as the high jackpot and payouts combined with the multiple reels spinning simultaneously give them the chance to risk a lot to earn big. Make Ocean Pearls your next game choice and you won’t be left disappointed.
