Gonzo’s Quest
It may have been released a decade ago, but Gonzo’s quest remains a firm players favourite. Revolutionary and innovative at the time of its release, it continues to stand the test of time. Its cheeky humour and impressive graphics make it a quirky evergreen, with lots of impressive design features which have ‘influenced’ many other games down the years. I would say copied, but m’ learned friends may be licking their lips…
Overview
Gonzo is a portly, bearded Spanish Conquistador with a map of the golden city of El Dorado. Can you help him find the treasure buried deep within the Central American jungle? At first glimpse, it looks like a typical five reel, three row format. And it is, sort of, but the reels don’t really spin. Instead, stone blocks drop into place from above. Meanwhile, our hero stands quietly next to the action, watching progress.
A tropical sounding soundtrack with added pan pipes contributes to the steamy tropical atmosphere, while an occasional snort or snore from Gonzo adds a touch of humour to your efforts to find the missing gold. The stone block sound effects are impressive, as are Gonzo’s flinching attempts to avoid the rubble as they fall. There are twenty possible wining lines, and the Return to Player Rate (RTP) is 96%.
Game Play
There are seven different stone blocks, denoted by a unique Inca symbol on the front. Whenever you get any winning lines, the stone blocks which formed part of the winning combination are destroyed. These are then replaced from above by further falling blocks. The process continues until you have no more winning combinations. At this point your prize total is awarded.
This ‘Avalanche’ feature was unique at the time of the game’s release, but is now included on may other titles. Each avalanche also increases the prize multiplier by 1 x, with a maximum of 5 x possible.
The Wild on this game is a Question Mark (?). This really can substitute for ALL the other symbols on this game, including the Scatter, so it really does add to the likelihood of you getting a winning combination.
The Scatter is a special gold engraved stone block. Get three anywhere in the first three columns to trigger ten free spins, although of course in this game, that’s ten ‘Free Falls’. These also have a multiplier effect, only this time the range runs from 3 x up to a massive maximum of 15 x. You can also trigger more Free Falls if you get more of the Scatter symbols on your reels during your free session.
Bonus Features
Expecting even MORE features would be a bit greedy under the circumstances. With Avalanches possible on every spin, Wilds which can replace absolutely any symbol and the prospect of ten Free Falls at any time, there is more than enough here to keep most players happy.
Conclusion
Gonzo’s Quest is a widely acclaimed classic – still a player favourite a decade after its spectacular release. This charming treasure hunt can surely be enjoyed just about everyone.