Da Vinci Diamonds
- Da Vinci Diamonds Slot
- Overall Score: 4.2 /5
- Graphics:
- Sounds:
- Engagement:
- Overall rating:
In a way, the Renaissance was one of the most important time periods in human history. While focused in the West, pretty much all of Europe was suddenly engulfed in the rediscovery and appreciation of ancient art. Famous artists, such as Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael and Splinter (wait, that’s not a Renaissance artist, just a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character, my bad), attempted to recreate the works of art from days gone by, but through a modern lens, thus helping to craft some of the most memorable paintings and sculptures in the world, such as the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the sculpture of David or the statue of Gattamelata. Probably the most influential (or at the very least most popular) of all those artists was Leonardo, who was a painter, a sculptor, an inventor, a philosopher, a doctor, a comedian and most likely a belly dancer too – basically, if anything could be done at all, he did it better than anyone else. Such an influential (and, by all accounts, rather handsome) person deserves to be immortalized… But was a slot machine really the best way to do that?
Basic Features
Da Vinci Diamonds is a rather interesting slot, in that it doesn’t really try to attempt anything that’s radically different, but the way in which it’s presented is pretty unique and interesting. I have to say that, unlike other IGT slots such as Wolf Run which have NOT aged well whatsoever, Da Vinci Diamonds still manages to hold up well, with smooth animation, a surprisingly decent mobile version and great art (more on that in a second). While I don’t believe that many of IGT’s classics really needed to be brought to the online casino era, this one is not among them.
| Da Vinci Diamonds Slot | ||||||
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Software: | IGT | Double option: | No | ||
| RTP: | 94.94% | Mobile version: | Yes | |||
| Progressive: | Yes | Coin value: | £1.00 | |||
| Autoplay: | Yes | Bet value: | £20 – £400 | |||
| Quick spin: | No | Max. bet: | £400.00 | |||
| Reels: | 5 | Free spins: | Yes | |||
| Paylines: | 20 | Bonus round: | Yes | |||
Special props need to be given to the slot’s visuals, which aren’t just inspired by Leonardo’s stunning art – they ARE the art. The symbols are all minature versions of the artist’s most famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa. IGT definitely deserve a round of applause for that decision. It would’ve been so easy to just make the symbols typical stuff we associate with Leonardo, such as his prototype flying machine or a paintbrush or whatever, but the slot’s developers actually went out of their way to pay tribute to the artist their slot is named after, which isn’t something you see every day. The rest of the symbols are all, as the name suggests, diamonds of various shapes and sizes. Why diamonds, exactly, I have no clue, but hey, let’s just be grateful that it wasn’t letters!
Paytable
It’s very important to note that, as far as I could tell, Da Vinci Diamonds is a very expensive slot. I’m sure that some online casinos may lower the coin value just a little bit, because as it stands now the absolute minimum bet is 1 coin per payline, on all paylines, at £1 per line. Obviously, not everyone would want to pay £20 per spin, especially without the promise of a jackpot or huge winnings. If I wasn’t reviewing the slot, I know I would’ve been a lot more apprehensive about trying it out simply because it requires such a gigantic investment. If you prefer to (or need to) play slots on a budget, you should look elsewhere.
There are only 7 different symbols in Da Vinci Diamonds – 9 if we count the Wild and Scatter/Bonus symbols. Sadly, only 6 of Leonardo’s beautiful paintings have been represented in the slot, only 3 of which are found normally (the others replace the previous set as symbols during free spins), namely – the Mona Lisa, Portrait of a Musician and Lady with an Ermine, in that order. The highest winnings you can get from them – namely, 5 Mona Lisas – will net you 1000 times your bet, which isn’t bad at all for a 20 payline slot. The lowest, which is 3 Ladies, will allow you to break even. The rest of the symbols are all diamonds, which can get you between 10 and 100 times your bet.
Bonus Rounds/Free Spins
The most interesting feature of the slot are the so-called Tumbling Reels, which might take a little bit to explain. Do you know how in some puzzle games, such as “Bejeweled” or “Candy Crush Saga”, when you destroy a bunch of symbols (by, say, matching 3 of a kind), the rest of them immediately fall down towards the bottom of the screen and fill up the empty spots? Well, the exact same thing happens in Da Vinci Diamonds, too! It’s the exact same feature which was popularized by slots such as Gonzo’s Quest, except as far as I could tell it originated right here, and it’s as good as ever!
But the main bonus feature is always the one that gives you the free spins. In order to activate it, you have to – you guessed it – get 3 Scatter symbols on the screen at once, anywhere (even outside of your paylines). That automatically gives you 6 free spins, which doesn’t sound like much, but you have to keep 2 things in mind here – first of all, the Tumble feature is still in full force, which essentially gives you something akin to a free spin every time you win (the more you win, the more new symbols show up to fill the blanks), and second of all, you can win additional free spins by getting more Scatter symbols – up to 15 at a time, or up to 300 in total. While free spins are active, the music, symbols and even background all change, which isn’t really uncommon for slots, but it’s pretty rare for me to like the new version better than the regular one!
Experience of Playing the Slot and Other Recommended Games
While pretty old (almost 9 years at the time this was written), Da Vinci Diamonds is a slot that still holds up today. Its appreciation for fine art, alongside its Tumble feature and really pleasant music (especially during the bonus game), make it just as fun to play in 2015 as it was last decade. Is it the greatest slot in the world? No, but it doesn’t try to be. While it can certainly be very expensive, a lot more than its contemporaries, the winnings are frequent enough to make the risk worth it, and if you manage to activate the free spins feature (which, at least for me, was easier to do than in other slots), you can be sure to multiply your bet at least 50 times. However, if you don’t want to bet £20 per spin, but would still like to play a similar slot, Gonzo’s Quest is most definitely your game! Gameplay-wise, the two slots are identical, so you’re not going to be disappointed!