This is the first time we’ve gone head to head with Swintt, a casino game creator headquartered in Malta, despite both of our studios having released a number of games over the years. Book of Shai is the name of the relevant slot game. A new ‘Book’ space was as necessary as a Dim Mak to the crotch, we know what you’re thinking. In any case, you should know that the Book of Shai does not fit into the mold of the typical ‘Book of’ position. There are some parallels, however Swintt has made some changes to the template to make something that isn’t like anything else out there.
Well, it deviates from convention in certain respects. Players’ ears and eyes are immersed in the sounds and images of Ancient Egypt. Burning braziers, stone sculptures and temples, hieroglyphics, pharaohs, the full Egyptian slot shebang; that’s what it implies in Book of Shai. In case you were wondering who or what Shai is, Wikipedia says that Shai has both masculine and feminine characteristics. Shai, who was present in the Duat for the judgment of souls, was essentially fate because he determined how long people lived. In other words, Shai is a very intriguing protagonist, and it’s surprising he hasn’t shown up in a ‘Book’ spot previously.
Shai has finally arrived in this game, which is played on a panel with 5 reels and 3 rows. The increased chance for winning in Book of Shai may be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that the number of paylines has been increased from the standard 10 to 20. In practice, this means that winnings are produced across these paylines when matching symbols appear, starting at the game’s leftmost side and moving clockwise. Book of Shai is a high-variance slot machine featuring many RTP models (the highest paying out 95.9%) and a betting range of 20 cents to £/€20 per spin.
Symbols at the moment, and while the number of paylines is double that of a standard ‘Book’ slot, the symbol values are quite low. Jewellery depictions of the Ankh, bird, cat, eye, and scarab pay 4 to 15 times the wager for a 5-of-a-kind win, whereas 9-A card rankings pay 1 to 2.5 times the bet. Wild symbols, which can appear on any reel, can increase payouts. Five OAKs are worth 25 times the wager, and the wild symbol can substitute for any other symbol to increase your chances of winning.
Slot Game Featuring the Book of Shai
The fact that Book of Shai’s wild does not trigger the extra round is one of the game’s minor flaws. The wild card has an image of the Pharaoh, while the bonus icon is a book. In the base game, when a book appears on reels 2, 3, or 4, it opens to reveal either a high-paying or low-paying symbol. This randomly chosen symbol turns into a wild for all other appearances of it on the reels. If 2 books land and show the same symbol, it will spread to cover the entire reel. Landing three book symbols that reveal the same icon causes that icon to grow into a wild symbol with a multiplier of 2, 3, or 5 applied at random. The values of the multipliers are cumulative.
No Risk Turns
Free games can also be triggered by getting 3 books in the main game. During free games, if you get just one book symbol on the reels, it will disclose a random pay sign, and all other books will expand to cover the whole reel. When 2 books land with the same pay symbol exposed, it expands into a wild with a multiplier of 2, 3, or 5 applied at random. As with the standard game, multipliers are used. If three books fall and one of the pay symbols is revealed, the payout is multiplied by three. In addition to the standard 8 free spins, getting 3 books awards an extra 8.
Finally, by selecting the feature purchase button, players may pay 100 times their wager to unlock the free games bonus round.
Shai’s Law: The Slot’s Decision
Although it appears like Book of Shai may be a direct descendent of Book of Ra, Swintt has added its own unique twist to the game by not just providing growing symbols. A double-edged blade, maybe, since some gamers who seek the traditional ‘Book of’ slot experience would be better served with the traditional games. Take your pick from the Book of the Dead, or any of a hundred and one additional options.
However, Swintt’s ideas may pique the interest of ‘Book’ readers who are eager for a fresh take on the series. Not terrible suggestions, overall. With more paylines, multipliers, and a maximum payout of 10,325 times the initial wager, this slot machine makes a strong case. As a result, it seems that Book of Shai might drum up some fairly exciting action if given a massif roll on. It’s also possible that progress will be sluggish. Take the whole sequence of books, each of which reveals a symbol and makes all occurrences of that symbol in the grid wild, extending to fill the entire reel. It’s easy to lose interest in a process when you know full well that it won’t result in a positive outcome. Book of Shai’s characteristics aren’t like simple expanding symbols that only activate when they can help you win. Then you may anticipate receiving a reward. After a book is revealed in Book of Shai, you can predict when you will and will not receive a reward. When it appears like a string of victories is about to occur, this system amplifies the excitement, but when it doesn’t, it quickly deflates it.
If you just want a standard Egyptian-themed growing symbol game, though, you don’t have to go with Book of Shai. That kind of excitement may be found at a wide variety of different slot machines. Book of Shai instead takes an unconventional approach that won’t appeal to everyone but will give gamers a fresh flavor to explore.