Operating Mechanism
The functionality of a two-way pay machine is quite straightforward. In almost every aspect, the gameplay mirrors that of a standard slot, requiring no additional actions to make use of this functionality.
When you spin the reels, you will earn wins as usual by forming winning combinations from left to right across any active paylines for that spin. Additionally, you can also secure wins by creating right-to-left combinations starting on the last reel of the same line. Typically, the payouts remain the same regardless of the direction of the win.
It is important to understand that the paylines remain unchanged and not mirrored when achieving right-to-left wins. The gameplay still involves the same paylines; it’s just possible to initiate wins from either end to achieve success. The symbols must be consecutive to form part of a winning combination.
Advantages
The primary advantage of this feature is simple: two ways to win are better than one! Having a two-way feature on a slot machine enables you to secure wins that would not yield any credits in a regular game, significantly increasing the number of wins you experience on the reels.
Naturally, the odds of the machine are adjusted to accommodate this alteration, which means the odds with wins in both directions can be better, worse, or similar to those of a traditional “one-way” machine. The key distinction is that you are less likely to encounter the frustration often associated with near misses in conventional games. If you’ve ever landed four high-paying symbols consecutively but missed a match on the first reel, you’ve likely felt this disappointment before. With a two-way game, this near-miss transforms into a four-of-a-kind match and potentially a substantial win.
Moreover, integrating this feature into a game sustains player engagement throughout each spin. Normally, you might consider your chances of winning to be over as soon as the second reel stops. However, if there is a possibility of winning in reverse, you remain actively involved in the game until the fourth reel halts, maintaining your interest until the final symbols appear.
Disadvantages
If there is a drawback to this feature, it might be that it can be somewhat deceiving to players, potentially leading to a game that feels monotonous at times. Game designers must consider that players are more likely to win when wins can occur in both directions, and they may address this in various ways, none of which are particularly enjoyable. For instance, they might reduce the win amounts or increase the difficulty of finding matches.
It’s also important to note that this feature does not double your winning possibilities. In most cases, you can only secure one win per payline, meaning that lines completing five-in-a-row combinations will only count as a single win. Additionally, lines containing wild symbols towards the center may only yield the larger of the two potential prizes. While these occurrences are infrequent, they do slightly diminish the value of the two-way feature.
Availability
Slots that pay in both directions, or offer wins in both directions, are a recent addition to the expanding array of innovative features in online slots. The primary developers offering these games are Microgaming and Genesis, both of whom present numerous titles featuring this functionality.
Similar Characteristics
While only a select number of online slots permit wins in both directions, there are numerous others that propose solutions to circumvent frustrating near misses. One prevalent approach is the “all ways” system, where every right-to-left symbol combination on the grid can result in a win, essentially eliminating traditional paylines.
Some machines enable right-to-left wins by configuring certain paylines to flow in that direction. Although this method is akin to adding extra lines to the machine, it can still provide an enjoyable feature that maintains player interest even when the initial reels may not seem promising.