Chinese mysticism and mythology have significantly influenced the arts and cultures of Eastern Asia for thousands of years. Among the most prominent symbols in Asian cultures are dragons, which are often associated with pearls, wealth, wisdom, and good fortune.
Many ancient tales recount how peasants, kings, and warriors encountered dragons, with these meetings often altering their lives or even the course of history. Modern scholars interpret dragons as symbols of clouds or powerful natural forces, with pearls representing the moon or magical fortune. In some legends, finding a pearl bestows great luck or prosperity due to its mystical properties.
In numerous stories, adventurers capture magical pearls from gods or powerful spirits and bring them back to the mortal world. These treasures grant them wealth and good fortune for the rest of their lives.
The Tiger, another potent symbol in Chinese culture, is considered the king of all beasts and represents strength and powerful energy. It is closely linked to Tsai Shen Yeh, the Chinese god of wealth. The White, Black, Blue, and Red Tigers symbolize seasons and elements, while the Yellow Tiger, associated with the sun, rules over them all.
The Rooster, often mistaken for the mythical Fenghuang or Chinese Phoenix, holds its place in the Chinese zodiac. The Fenghuang symbolizes peace and prosperity and is believed to appear only in lands experiencing complete harmony.
The ancient Chinese word for fish, "yu," is a homophone for "abundance" or "affluence," making fish a symbol of wealth. Similarly, the word "fu" for bat sounds like "good fortune," so bats symbolize happiness and joy. When depicted as a group of five, bats represent "The Five Blessings": long life, health, happiness, virtue, and a peaceful death.
In 2005, Aristocrat Leisure Limited released the "50 Dragons" slot game, incorporating these cultural symbols. With a theoretical return to player (RTP) of 94.71%, the game has become a favorite among slots enthusiasts. The online version of the game, introduced in 2012, retains the essence of the original land-based version, offering players an engaging experience with only minor adjustments.
Reels and Paylines: 50 Dragons is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot game with 50 paylines. Prizes are paid left-to-right, except for Scatter wins, and all payouts are multiplied by the bet per line. The game’s theme is inspired by gold jewelry fashioned into mythical and symbolic creatures from Chinese folklore.
Symbols:
Wild Symbol: The White Pearl acts as the Wild, substituting for all symbols except the Scatter. Appearing on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5, the White Pearl sparkles with magical energy when part of a winning combination, revealing the face of a golden dragon.
Scatter Symbol: The Gold Ingot serves as the Scatter, appearing on reels 1, 2, and 3. Three Scatter symbols pay 4x the total bet and trigger the Free Spins bonus game.
High-Value Symbols:
Golden Dragon: The highest-paying symbol, animated when part of a winning combination.
Golden Rooster and Golden Tiger: Moderate-value symbols.
Golden Fish and Golden Bat: Lower-value high symbols.
Playing Card Symbols: Traditional card symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10, 9) are adorned with embellishments and offer smaller payouts.
The controls are intuitive and positioned below the reels:
Balance: Displays the player’s available credit.
Rules Button: Opens the paytable and game rules.
Lines and Bet Per Line: Adjust the number of active paylines and bet amount.
Total Bet: Calculates the total wager per spin.
Spin Button: Initiates a single spin, with an option to stop animations.
Auto Spin: Enables automated gameplay with configurable spins.
Max Bet: Sets paylines to 50 and the bet per line to the maximum value.
Gamble Feature: Allows players to risk their winnings in an all-or-nothing mini-game.
Free Spins Bonus: Triggered by three Gold Ingots on reels 1, 2, and 3, awarding 10 free spins. An additional White Pearl increases winning chances during this round. Players can win up to 5 extra free spins if another set of Gold Ingots appears during the bonus game.
Gamble Feature: After any winning spin, players can gamble their prize by predicting the color or suit of a face-down card. Correctly guessing the suit multiplies the winnings by four, while a correct color guess doubles them.
"50 Dragons" combines the rich symbolism of Chinese mythology with engaging gameplay, offering players a visually appealing and rewarding experience. Whether enjoyed online or in land-based casinos, it’s a testament to how traditional cultural elements can enhance modern entertainment.
