Great Blue

As you dive into the depths of this Playtech slot, you’re greeted by the sound of calypso-style percussion, whose lively rhythms set a vibrant backdrop for the underwater journey. All the elements work in unison beautiflly to bring the aquatic theme to life, from the blue backdrop, to the ocean life sybmols.

Visually, Great Blue offers photo-realistic designs of marine life, particularly orcas and sharks, which adds authenticity to the gameplay. The color palette is rich with deep blues and aquamarine hues, enveloping players in the vastness of the ocean. Despite its slightly dated graphics, there’s a charming retro touch within the game that adds to its appeal, offering a smooth style that resonates with a wide range of players, not just those looking for nostalgia.

There aren’t too many ambient sounds like bubbles or gentle splashes but the graphics will further draw you into the oceanic world each time the reels spin. Together, the sound and visual elements of Great Blue create a relaxing yet engaging atmosphere that makes each spin a delightful escape into the aquatic world.

You can wager as little as €0.01 per payline and up to €2 per payline. You can also choose anywhere between a single payline and 25 paylines per spin. Therefore, your maximum bet could reach €50 per spin, if you change the settings for a maximum value and 25 paylines.

Activating the number of paylines is straightforward—despite the seemingly random order of numbers, like those found on a roulette wheel. Simply select the number of paylines on the number columns located on the left and right side of the screen, and a graphic will visualize your selection, which while not immediately clear, can be grasped.

The medium volatility of the slot means that wins are fairly distributed throughout the game. This will make casual players happy, as the game rewards wins more often. However, the potential for massive payouts is somewhat reduced.

The RTP is set at 94.3%, which is slightly below the industry average. Yet, combined with the slot’s medium volatility, it doesn’t significantly hurt the game’s playability. Players looking for fun, steady action will find this game entertaining, even though it rarely offers those bigger jackpots.

In Great Blue, the gameplay revolves around a variety of marine-themed symbols along with the classic card suite icons found in many casino games.

The wild symbol, represented by an orca, substitutes for all other symbols except the scatter to complete winning combinations and doubles the payout of any win it contributes to. 

Landing five wilds can yield the game’s top prize, a 10,000x multiplier, and during my playthrough, the wilds appeared quite frequently, helping my chances to win often.

Here’s a breakdown of the different values marine symbols offer in the game, based on the number of matches you achieve:

• Shark and Turtle: Starts with 2x for 2 matches and goes to 750x for 5 matches.
• Angel Fish: Starts with 20x for 3 matches and goes up to 400x for 5 matches.
• Sea Horse and Starfish: Starts with 15x for 3 matches and goes to 250x for matching 5.

Here is an overview of the card suite symbols value:

• A and K: Starts with 10x for 3 matches and goes to 150x for 5 matches.
• 10, J, and Q: Starts with 5x for 3 matches and goes to 100x for matching 5.
• 9: Starts with 2x for 2 matches and 100x for 5 matches.

Don’t forget that every time a wild is involved in a winning payline, the win is multiplied by two. 

A seashell pearl represents the scatter symbol. Landing three or more scatters triggers the Sea Shells Bonus round, which can be quite lucrative, offering dozens of free spins and the potential for substantial multipliers. However, getting to this bonus round proved to be more challenging than expected.

The game also features an auto-spin option where you can choose between 10, 25, 50, or 99 automated spins. There’s a handy setting that allows spins to continue automatically until the bonus round is triggered. Keep in mind that the bonus round won’t come your way too often, so be aware of bet values and monitor your balance.

While the Great Blue slot has a limited number of special features, those included make a big difference in the gameplay and your chances of securing a splashier win.

Free Spins

In Great Blue, free spins are not just an add-on, they’re a major part of the game’s appeal. Landing three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels grants you eight free spins accompanied by a 2x multiplier. This setup primes you for the larger rewards that might follow in the bonus game.

Multipliers

The multipliers in the game can be triggered by the presence of a wild in the payline, which grants a 2x multiplier to a winning combo. The other occasion is when you enter the Sea Shells bonus game. The initial 2x multiplier with the free spins can significantly boost your payouts. During the Sea Shells Bonus game, you can increase this multiplier even more.

Sea Shells Bonus

Triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols on the reels, the Sea Shells Bonus starts you off with eight free spins and a 2x multiplier and also invites you to choose two out of five sea shells. These shells can reveal additional free spins and multipliers, with the possibility of winning up to 33 free spins and enhancing your multiplier up to 15x.

If you land three or more scatters during the free spins round, you can earn an extra 15 free spins. However, these will play out with the original 2x multiplier rather than any enhanced multiplier from the bonus game.