“With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two.” These words from the lead character in the classic Gothic novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson explore the duality of human nature. Some might argue that we harbor multiple inner characters, each vying to be heard or to satisfy their whims, constrained (or not) by repression, morals, ethics, laws, and our personal codes. One of these inner characters has the chance to break free and wreak havoc in an online slot from Yggdrasil partner Jelly, titled Fury of Hyde Megaways. This is the first release in Jelly’s planned Curious Cases range of games.
Fury of Hyde Megaways is also one of Jelly’s initial forays into Megaways slots, licensed from Big Time Gaming, with several more in development. Since Robert Louis Stevenson’s book was published in 1886, the game transports players to the dynamic world of 19th-century London. At that time, London was the largest city in the world, with the greatest population, the biggest port, and the center of global finance. It was a place where anything could happen, and where Dr. Jekyll, with the help of his homemade serum, would transform into Mr. Hyde to commit unspeakably immoral acts, though the specifics are not detailed in the book. Jelly’s dark depiction of London, with its overcast skies and mysteriously lit windows, invites players to imagine what those deeds might have been.
From the cobbled streets of old London, we turn to Fury of Hyde Megaways’ inner workings to discover a highly volatile math model with a return to player value of exactly 96%. The game features a 6-reel grid and a 4-symbol horizontal tracker reel on top, providing up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin—a classic Megaways setup. Fury of Hyde Megaways can be played on any device, with bet levels ranging from 20 p/c to $/€20.
At the core of the game is the cascade system, which removes winning symbols from the reels when they hit, allowing new symbols to fall into place. If a new win forms after the cascade, the process repeats. Players win when three identical symbols land from left to right on adjacent reels starting from the first reel. Six-of-a-kind wins pay 0.6 to 1.5x the bet for low 10-A symbols, and 5 to 10x the bet for six serum bottles, science kits, books, Hydes, or Jekylls. Jekylls replace Hydes when Hyde Free Spins are triggered. Wilds, which substitute for all paying symbols, appear only on the top tracker reel.
Fury of Hyde Megaways: Slot Features
Like the main character in the story, Fury of Hyde Megaways blends various gaming elements, combining classic Megaways features with some fresh twists. The game includes mystery symbols, Hyde Super Spins, free spins, and bonus buys.
Mystery Symbols
Pocket watch mystery symbols can land anywhere on the board. When they appear, all mystery symbols transform into the same regular symbol, which can be any symbol except the scatter or wild.
Hyde Super Spin
Winning symbols on the top reel reveal letters behind them. If the word H-Y-D-E is fully revealed in all four positions, players are awarded one Hyde Super Spin after the wins have been evaluated. During the Hyde Super Spin, any of the following can occur:
- Symbol Removal: At least one symbol is removed, starting from the lowest.
- Multiplier Increase: An increase of x2 or x3 is applied to the win multiplier.
- Minimum Megaways: The number of ways to win is increased to 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, or 117,649.
Free Spins
The golden scatter symbol can appear on the main reels during the base game or the tracker reel during the bonus round. Landing 4, 5, 6, or 7 scatter symbols awards 10, 12, 14, or 16 free spins, respectively. In the free spins round, the win multiplier increases by +1 after each cascade. Triggering Hyde Super Spins awards an additional free spin, and any multiplier increases or minimum ways enhancements from the Hyde Super Spin continue until the free spins end.
Bonus Buys
Players can also access the game’s features through the bonus buy option, allowing direct entry into the free spins round for a set price.
Fury of Hyde Megaways: Slot Verdict
Whether intentionally or not, Jelly has effectively stepped in to provide competition for iSoftBet’s Twisted Tales slot series. Fury of Hyde Megaways has a look and feel reminiscent of games like Moriarty Megaways. Like Moriarty Megaways, Fury of Hyde Megaways features famous literary characters—or rather, two sides of the same character. The subject matter is a great choice, as the Jekyll and Hyde story is thought-provoking, illustrating the dual nature of humanity, with a metaphorical voice on each shoulder guiding choices. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive repression or the unrestrained release of chaotic desire.
Interestingly, in Fury of Hyde Megaways, you want the Hyde side to come out, as that’s when the Hyde Free Spins are triggered—arguably the most innovative aspect of the slot. This feature is somewhat reminiscent of the elements used in Storm Gaming’s slots like Payday Megaways. Hyde Free Spins are a welcome addition in both the base game and the bonus round. Apart from this feature, Fury of Hyde Megaways offers a familiar yet enjoyable array of Megaways extras such as cascades, mystery symbols, and free spins with a progressive multiplier. These tried-and-true elements have worked well many times before and continue to do so in Fury of Hyde Megaways.
Players seeking a blend of reliable features with an intriguing, theme-inspired twist will find plenty to enjoy in Fury of Hyde Megaways. With its enticing atmosphere and a winning potential of 10,000x the bet, this game provides a solid foundation for the rest of the Curious Cases series to build upon.