Theme and Storyline
Mental takes players deep into a horror-filled mental asylum, with a storyline heavily influenced by the likes of Silence of the Lambs and American Horror Story. The game immerses players in a dark and twisted world, where the line between sanity and madness becomes increasingly blurred. As you spin, you’ll witness unsettling scenes of patients undergoing brutal medical procedures, their suffering depicted in graphic detail. Unfortunately, these disturbing visuals and the portrayal of mental illness may leave more players feeling uncomfortable than thrilled, overshadowing any potential excitement the theme could have evoked.
Graphics, Sounds, and Animations
The unsettling atmosphere is brought to life with creepy piano music, occasional screams, and eerie electric sparks, creating the perfect soundtrack for a psychiatric horror experience. The symbols in the game are a grim mix of crumpled photographs, stained notebook pages, and disturbing images such as body parts, fearful patients, and crawling insects. The most iconic symbol is a masked figure, reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter, staring out from the reels, but it’s the tortured patients that are most likely to leave players disturbed.
Behind the reels, a grimy, tiled room with a flickering lightbulb sets a claustrophobic tone, ensuring that everything about this game feeds into a truly unsettling atmosphere. While the music and animations are expertly crafted to create an immersive experience, the overall ambiance can be too realistic and uncomfortable for some.
Gameplay
Mental’s reel structure follows a 3-2-3-2-3 layout, with wins awarded for landing matching symbols across adjacent rows, starting from the leftmost reel. The game offers a mix of bonus features that are sure to engage players, though they are often linked to some of the more grotesque imagery.
Wilds, Bonuses, and Free Spins
The Wild symbol substitutes for all other symbols except the Scorpion, Spider, and Dead Patient symbols, helping to create more winning combinations.
- Fire Frame Feature: This random feature adds a frame to the reels, splitting symbols in two and boosting your chances for big wins.
- Dead Patient Feature: Triggered by two Dead Patient symbols, this feature reveals a multiplier between x5 and x9999.
- Enhancer Cells: Located beneath reels 2 and 4, these cells are activated by Fire Frames, revealing special symbols like Patient, Dead Patient, xWays, xSplit, or Wilds.
- Mental Transform Feature: Triggered when a Spider symbol lands on reel 2 or 4, transforming into special symbols such as Wilds or Dead Patients.
- Autopsy Free Spins: Activated by three Scorpion symbols, this feature starts with eight free spins, and additional Scorpions can trigger more spins.
- Lobotomy Free Spins: This feature is triggered by three Scorpions and one Spider, offering 9 free spins and extra special features compared to the Autopsy Free Spins.
- Mental Free Spins: The highest level of free spins, activated by three Scorpions and two Spiders, offers 10 free spins with more special features.
The game’s maximum payout can reach an impressive 66,666x your total bet, which is sure to appeal to players with an eye on massive wins.
Bet Sizes, RTP, and Variance
Mental has an RTP of 96.08%, which is considered average. The betting range spans from a minimum of $/£/€0.20 to a maximum of $/£/€70.00 per spin, giving players a good degree of flexibility in their wager choices. The game’s high volatility makes it a good match for those who enjoy a more intense and strategic approach to slot play.
Conclusion
While Mental’s robust volatility and diverse bonuses could make it appealing to certain players, its controversial theme makes it a tough recommendation. The unsettling portrayal of mental illness and disturbing visuals may not sit well with everyone. However, for those who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay and don’t mind the macabre atmosphere, the game offers a thrilling and intense experience.
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