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Upgradium: A Slot with Upgrading Crystals?

Upgradium by Playtech is named after one of its special features which upgrades the symbols for you to get higher payouts. The game is mobile-ready to give you the freedom to play it on the go. But does the game live up to its name and features? Read on to find out.

Graphics and Sounds

The out-of-this-world gem-filled cave background of Upgradium highlights the game’s crystal theme. Different animations when you land winning combinations are also eye-candy, especially when you observe just how smooth they move onscreen. Alongside these stunning visuals is the heavily orchestrated sci-fi-like background music you will hear while playing the slot.

Ten crystals of different colors and sizes serve as the game’s symbols. The sizes of these symbols are important when you play. The bigger a crystal is, the higher its value. The Wild, the Big Red Crystal with a “W” written across it, has the highest value in-game. However, you should know that the symbols can be difficult to distinguish because most of them look alike especially in terms of colors.

Playtech made sure that the slot will make you feel as if you were in another planet’s habitat. Upgradium’s graphics and sounds will capture your attention when playing, but its symbols may be confusing when playing the title.

Gameplay

Upgradium has five reels spinning across three rows and 25 variable paylines. It features a left-to-right pay direction and presents a bet range of 0.01 to 10 coins per payline. This means you can place bets as low as 0.01 and as high as 250 coins, depending on how many paylines you have active. This wide bet range makes the game accommodating to the betting preferences of both easygoing and aggressive players. Also, the game features a return-to-player percentage of 95.07%.

An Auto Spin feature is available, giving you up to 99 automatic spins. You can couple this with the game’s Turbo Mode which makes the reels spins faster if you prefer faster hands-free betting. All in all, Upgradium’s gameplay is straightforward and is a no-brainer to follow.

Bonuses and Special Features

Upgradium has two special features, one of which gives the reason behind the game’s name. Know what to expect from these features below:

Upgrading Wild

The Upgrading Wild feature, from which the name Upgradium came, stays active while you play the game. Whenever a payline with a Wild wins, the symbols level up to give you a higher payout.

Leveling up means the symbols will transform into higher-paying symbols. However, you should know that the upgraded symbols’ appearance is temporary.

Crystallization Respin

When the game’s Orange Star-like symbol lands on the hotspot, the Crystallization Respin feature activates. You can easily identify the hotspot, located in the middle of reel 3, because of its pink background.

Once the feature turns on, an animation of your reels moving further down the cave will occur. Also, reels 2, 3, and 4 will become hotspots and all symbols go a level higher. You are then entitled to a re-spin every time you trigger a hotspot.

Retriggering the other hotspots work the same way and further upgrade the cards until all turn into Wilds. However, if a re-spin does not activate any hotspot, your reels will go back to the normal base game. Also, you must know that the Upgrading Wild feature will remain even during re-spins.

Other than these features, Upgradium has a jackpot prize of 250,000 coins. However, there is no Gamble option.

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Should You Play Upgradium?

This crystal-themed slot will relax and attract you with its design and sounds. Plus, the gameplay is fairly simple and easy to master. However, the game has its shortcomings. There are certain symbols that look similar to each other, giving you confusion while you play. Another downside would be the features. If you are expecting great payouts from the bonuses, you might be disappointed with what the game offers. The game has only two features that provide rewards that are relatively less than what other games’ features can offer.

All in all, Playtech did a good job with the game’s design. However, a game is not just about looks; the gameplay and features should be given notice as well. But if you are someone who likes everything simple like Starburst slot, Upgradium may be for you. Nonetheless, there are a lot of other Bitcoin slots out there that can give you a better gaming session.