One of NetEnt's partners, Red Tiger, is one of the more volatile developers on the market. There is no doubt that their visual presentation is always top notch, but the math model is always a bit of a gamble. So, it was kind of like hitting the jackpot when I had the opportunity to test Wheel of Amp. As a result, the Steampunk theme, the core features, as well as the math model, combine to create an experience that is not only compelling but also highly unusual for a video slot.

 

As a visual tribute to the engineering of the early 20th century, the game takes a while to gain momentum, akin to a steaming old locomotive barrelling out of the station at the crack of dawn. Step by step, you will increase the number of paylines, unlock premium symbols, until the sucker is cranked up to its maximum capacity. It is generally true that the Amp Wheel triggers fairly often to help you, but the volatile nature of the game, as well as the fact that you start out with a handicap, means that you will have to approach the game with a certain mindset.

 

 

 

It's all about the Amp Wheel feature in this game, and in order to trigger it, you need to land three wheel scatters anywhere in view, and you have to do this three times in a row. In this game you will not be provided with any wild symbols, so you are truly at the mercy of the Wheel at all times. As soon as the initial 10-segment wheel is spun, it will award either a 10x Win Boost Multiplier, 10 Free Spins, or a Step Change (8 out of 10 segments are initially available).

 

The Step Change segments look like light bulbs, and four of them reveal a high value symbol, while the remaining four will expand the reel set as they reveal high value symbols. The premium symbols are unlocked in chronological order, starting with the lowest paying velocipede symbol, and ending with the highest paying locomotive symbol, worth 10x for five symbols on an active payline.

 

Whenever the Amp Wheel awards a reel expansion, you get one more reel, then an extra row next time, then a new reel followed by a new row. It is possible to increase the original 3x3 grid to a 5x5 grid at most, and also increase the number of winning ways from 9 to 25. The next time you trigger a Step Change, that Amp Wheel segment is replaced by a Win Boost multiplier.

 

In addition, the Win Boost Multiplier will apply only to your next spin, and the initial Amp Wheel comes with a single 10x multiplier segment. When you unlock premium symbols and expand the reel set, the Wheel segments become multiplier segments of 6x, 5x, 3x, and 2x.

 

As a final feature, there is the Amp Wheel Free Spins segment that awards 10 free spins, and you can trigger the Amp Wheel during the bonus round as well. It is a feature that triggered more frequently, and you can win 5 extra free spins from it, as well as Win Boost Multipliers that remain in effect for the duration of the feature. If you win a prize on the first spin of the game, the Multiplier even follows you back to the base game and boosts your winnings there as well.