Cat Queen Slot
Cat Queen is a 5-reel video slot from the up-and-coming Casino Technology gaming platform. Released in mid 2014, the Ancient Egypt-themed title boasts 40 pay-lines on which players are tasked with finding matching combinations. Boasting wild and scatter icons, as well as a generous round of free spins, Cat Queen gives royalty and paupers alike plenty of bang for their buck. The game also includes a double-or-nothing gamble function.
Though there is no progressive jackpot to aim for in Cat Queen, I’ve certainly come across worse pay-tables. The presence of pharaohs, pyramids, crosses, scarabs and cat-people gives you plenty of opportunity to win, in a game whose medium variance nature should lead to frequent pay-outs.
Entering the Tomb
As with any game, it’s highly recommendable that you pay a visit to the pay-table and rules board before commencing play. There are 40 paylines here, meaning you can hit matching combinations in all kinds of crazy configurations. That being said, having a squint at the pay-table is the best way to get accustomed to each of the payline patterns.
The name of the game is pretty simple – simply land three or more matching symbols on any active pay-line, starting from the leftmost reel. The action, incidentally, takes place on a busy 5x4 reel grid that’s covered in gold. There’s a real ornate feel to the game, as each symbol looks as though it has been polished to a fine sheen in a workshop. The graphics are certainly superior to many Egypt-themed games we’ve reviewed such as WMS's Egyptian Riches, with fine detailing in the queen’s crown and on the pyramid and Eye of Horus icons.
The music, meanwhile, is a step up from the generic audio of many slot games – we’re not saying it deserves a Grammy, but it’s inoffensive and at least vaguely atmospheric.
As ever, the + and - signs below the grid are used to determine the number of pay-lines you wish to activate. The maximum is 40, of course, and gives you the best chance of winning the big prizes. Cat Queen supports a selection of coin sizes, which range from 0.01 right up to 50 per spin. Bet Max, Autoplay and Turbo Mode configurations are also available, meaning you can play the game as quickly or as slowly as you like.
Egyptian Symbols
As stated, the game is populated by many symbols apt to the theme. The eponymous Cat Queen takes up the role of wild, and is able to stand in for other icons to complete wins. However, the starlet cannot replace the scatter, which in this case is the pyramid. Three or more pyramids yields 15 free game, during which further free spins can be triggered. The pyramids are also linked to figures in the pay-table. Three, four or five scatters, in any position across the reels, awards instant-credit wins of 5x, 10x and 50x your total bet. Nice!
Incidentally, the aforementioned wild pays a whopping 1,000x for five in a line. It also pays 500x for four and 200x for three.
Other symbols in the game include golden artefacts presumably uncovered from the queen’s tomb. The Eye of Horus and golden cross pay 100x for five and 20x for four. The blue scarab and golden eagle pay 100x for five but just 15x for four, and the handsome male pharaoh – the Cat Queen’s other half? – pays 200x for five and 50x for four.
Care to Take a Risk?
The Double Up gamble feature comes into play after each and every winning spin. The objective is to guess a higher card than the dealer’s. You can double your money or lose the lot. Refreshingly, though, you don’t have to wager your whole bank roll; if you wish, you can stake just 50%. However, it’s worth deploying this feature sensibly. Remember, you’re not duty-bound to press that flashing light every time! Stay smart, put together some momentum and keep one eye on the cash-out.
Queen of the Reels?
Cat Queen is an estimable addition to the ever-growing pantheon of Egypt themed casino slots, joining the greats of the genre like Book of Ra 6. Not only are the reels gorgeous to look at, but the gameplay, which features both a wild and a free spin-inducing scatter, is excellent. Fourteen coin denominations also mean the game attracts both high and low-rollers. While the special features could certainly be improved, I have no qualms about recommending this game to all.
