Grand Legends Slot Machine

I am someone who gets way too excited about slot machines in general, but there is always something a little bit extra special about a new Aristocrat game with a hold and spin. That’s exactly what the Grand Legends slot machine is.

If you are one of these people who are unfamiliar with your slots history (and presumably has a lot more friends than a slots geek like me), it was Aristocrat who created the hold and spin. It was designed for Lightning Link, and it has become an insanely popular bonus mechanism in slots ever since, through hits like Dragon Link and Buffalo Link.

The hold and spin is so popular, in fact, that other slot providers have done their own versions of it, but when it’s an Aristocrat one, it just hits a bit differently. It’s the difference between drinking Champagne and any other sparkling wine.

So, has Aristocrat delivered again with Grand Legends? Let’s have a closer look.

I think you could probably describe the theme as oriental history/Asian slot, with a little dash of mythology. It’s a bit like Dragon Link with ancient Chinese warriors and iconography, and the occasional dragon.

On the one hand, you could say it makes it a tried-and-tested formula. Another possible way of looking at it, though, is that it’s a bit of a cheap and lazy knock-off. I personally think the former, by the way, but I can certainly understand anyone who might suggest that, from a thematic point of view, the Grand Legends slot machine lacks some originality.

I have played two versions: Great King and Royal Emperor. I am told there is now a third version with a female main character, called Magic Warrior, so keep your eye out for it.

The changes are only really aesthetic, though. Great King is red; Royal Emperor, blue. The graphics and animations are much of a muchness between the two, with all featuring Oriental imagery and symbolism. It’s a very nice-looking game, no question.

Grand Legends is a really good-sounding game, too, which is something that Aristocrat always does very well indeed. It doesn’t have the x-factor like Dragon Link, nor the wow-factor of something like Spooky Link, but it’s better than most.

Where Grand Legends does push the boat out in terms of originality is in their ‘5-of-a-kind feature.’ Unlike other Aristocrat hold and spin hits, you don’t actually need to just collect six coins or balls to trigger it. In Grand Legends, you need at least one coin on reel one and then wilds on each of the other reels.

Get that, and a dragon will snake across the screen, replacing the wilds with coins. Be warned, though: you need to hit all five reels at once, which can get frustrating. And even then, you might not get a hold and spin, which is maddening.

The other thing you are looking for is three of the free game symbols, which are a bright yellow flag. These are scatters, so you don’t need them in any specific places. Just three on the screen on any one spin will suffice. It’s not as easy as I have probably made it sound…

To be honest, that is about it. You have to admire the way Aristocrat simplifies its games. Within just a few spins on their slot machines, you always seem to know exactly what you need and where.

At a glance:

• Layout: 5 reels × 3 rows, 25 lines.
• Minimum Bet: 50c
• Denominations: Multiple
• Theme: Oriental history
• Return to Player (RTP): Approximately 96% but dependent upon the land based casino and local regulations
• Volatility: Medium to high

For all my talk above about how well Aristocrat simplifies its games, Grand Legends can get a little confusing in the bonus and features department. There are four in total, with two very similar to each other and the other two very similar to each other. In fact, they are all very similar.

What I can tell you is that they all revolve around the 5-of-a-kind feature. If you aren’t getting that, you are unlikely to be winning much money on it.

So, let me take you back to the dragon snaking across the screen, replacing the wilds with coins. Sometimes, those coins will just have credit values and nothing else. In those situations, you just win what you see.

Other times, though, one of the coins will say ‘Hold & Spin’ on it. At that point, you get a hold and spin to try to add to your initial coin collection. The coin that told you it was a hold and spin will be replaced with a ‘Legend’s Touch’ coin instead. At the end of the hold-and-spin, you press it to reveal a larger value.

What you would really hope to see, though, is the rainbow coins. If the wild that spawns the coin has a rainbow outline, then so will the coin itself. These coins guarantee you a jackpot. These are Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, and Super. There is also a Grand Jackpot, but you only get it if you fill the screen during the hold-and-spin.

The free games bonus is a little confusing, too. When you land the three flags to trigger it, you will be given a choice of two bonuses. One will be six free games with the coin feature, and the other will be eight free games with a ‘reel 5 wild feature’.

I am not really that sure of the difference between the two, to be honest. The eight games guarantee you a wild on reel five, but both seem to be able to award the coin feature and hold and spin, so it’s all a bit confusing.

What I have found with the free games bonus on the Grand Legends slot machine is that they can be highly naff. I have had entire ones without winning anything of note, and that irritates me a little.

Incidentally, on the Magic Warrior version, things are slightly clearer. Instead of the wild feature, you get a wild multiplier feature instead. That is definitely the bonus to go for, I think, for more consistent pay.

If you are not already familiar with land-based slots, here is rule 101. Before you do anything with the spin button, insert your player’s card into the machine. That will ensure that your play is tracked and you are earning comps even if you are losing. And comps are good. Comps make the losing better.

I mean, obviously, winning is better, and if you have your card in the machine, you will still get comps even if you win, so make sure you insert it. For those unaware, ‘comps’ is short for ‘complimentary’ and can include dining, drinks, freeplay, and hotel rooms.

Also, be sure to take advantage of the waitress service. Almost all casinos have one in one form or another, and in many places, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the service can include free alcoholic drinks. Even if it’s just soft drinks, though, you still might as well get yourself a freebie.

Just be sure to tip so the waitress keeps coming back!

I wanted to like Grand Legends. Actually, as a massive Aristocrat and Dragon Link fan, I wanted to love it. I have tried, but it just doesn’t really do it for me.

I think what irritates me about it is the need for five perfect reels. As I explained, you need something on every reel to trigger the coin feature, which feels like a big ask. It plays out that way too almost always.

It’s not a bad game in terms of volatility, though. It does keep you topped up with small wins here and there, but I just can’t seem to get past the coin feature issues.

On top of that, the free games can really leave you disappointed, which I don’t think speaks well of any game. Once you have triggered the bonus, you have every right to be excited and expectant. Grand Legends doesn’t deliver either for me.

I mean, it’s not a bad game by any means, and I have friends who absolutely love it. Maybe it’s just me, then. Maybe my expectations were a little too high, or maybe I have just been too unlucky to love it yet.