The Dragon and Phoenix online slot game is a straightforward 5-reel slot with 20 paylines and a 96.01% RTP, with a historical Chinese setting. Players can win up to 8090x their bet.
The game mechanics are quite simple. The gameplay differs considerably from titles that made Betsoft’s reputation as a developer of more complex games with intricate stories and features, such as Gold Canyon.
Dragon and Phoenix stands out for its elegant design and traditional setting, in line with its simple mechanics and classic gameplay.
Dragon & Phoenix focuses on design over slot complexity
Betsoft seems to have put almost all its efforts into creating a visually appealing design with an Asian theme rather than investing in developing an innovating or challenging game.
The historical Chinese setting is aimed at further exploring the growing Asian market for online casino games. From a design perspective, they pull this off very well.
The theme is a royal palace of imperial China, with the Royal Couple symbolising the union of the dragon and the phoenix bird. These mythical creatures, aside from wielding great power, were a symbol of the ideal marriage.
The music is a very welcome surprise. The Chinese strings and drums in the background provide a soothing melody. And the sound effects are subtle enough not to drown out the music, but without getting lost or redundant. In a sector where so much development goes into visual effects, it’s exciting to see someone put effort into creating a good ambience sound. And it pays off! If there’s one thing you’ll miss after closing the game or moving on to another one, it’s the relaxing music.
But let’s get back to the design. The pay symbols are beautifully crafted. This is good because the background is a bit too messy for my liking. So having the slots themselves draw all my visual attention helped me enjoy the game a lot more.
Aside from the Royal Couple expanding wild, the dragon and the phoenix themselves yield the highest payouts: 500x for a five-symbol combo across the pay line. The mid-paying symbols are the double 8 and the sycee, a historical Chinese currency in the form of gold ingots. Lastly, the classic A, K, Q and J, together with the crystal ball, the palace and the jade dragon make up the lowest paying symbols.
Dragon & Phoenix bonus features
When it comes to the game’s mechanics itself, things are less complex. There are four features in Dragon and Phoenix, and they are pretty standard.
- The Royal Couple expanding wild symbol replaces any symbol except the scatter.
- The scatter golden tree scroll yields rewards beginning from 3 and up to 15.
- Free spins are activated by the presence of at least 3 scatter symbols. The maximum is 15 free spins.
- The Double Up button lets you go double-or-nothing with your winnings on a coin-toss game with a 50% chance of winning.
The only drawback to all this is that there is no multiplier. So the free spins come in handy for the extra playtime and chances at winning, but they won’t increase the winnings themselves.
So this is perhaps where the audience will be split in two. For those interested in classical and simple online slots games, Dragon and Phoenix gives you just that. Plus, it has a great visual design and ambiance music. On the other hand…
If you’re into more complex games that reward strategy and depth, you might be disappointed, which is too bad because there’s a strange feeling of comfort from playing in the palace setting that makes me sad that the gameplay didn’t hook me. But who knows, maybe you’ll get lost in the dream and will be satisfied regardless of the technical shortcomings.
Asian-themed slot
Betsoft’s slot will lose its appeal if you prefer more complex games after you’ve finished taking in the visual and musical aesthetics. So if you prefer more traditional slots or enjoy Chinese history as a theme, you’ll enjoy the following games.
Try Dragon and Phoenix for free in demo mode
We recommend trying the free demo of Dragon and Phoenix first. Fully experience this slot for free and see what it has to offer before you play at an online casino!
Dragon & Phoenix: Classic and smooth
Dragon & Phoenix is a traditional, beautiful and simple game that combines a classic theme with classic gameplay. For players looking for a simple yet immersive online slot game, this is a great choice. For those interested in more complex mechanics and gameplay, it’s possible that the beautiful design won’t be enough to keep them playing long. Either way, Dragon & Phoenix deserves credit for delivering exactly what it promises, without overreaching or overdoing any of the details.
Leave a Reply