Gates of Olympus Slot Review
The world of online slot games has birthed a number of fan favorites stemming from various expert developers. One of the things that sets titles apart from others is their themes, with these being able to overhaul a regular slot blueprint completely. A game to which all these points apply is the Gates of Olympus slot from Pragmatic Play. This specific game adopts an Ancient Greek-inspired theme, a genre that is popular within the i-gaming world, and merges it with a wide array of gameplay modifiers and bonus features, all of which will be detailed fully in this following slot review.
Pragmatic Play Background
Before diving into Gates of Olympus, though, we must first take a look at the team behind this release, that being Pragmatic Play. When compared to developers such as Blueprint and Light & Wonder, this group is fairly new to the slot space, only making their debut in 2015. However, despite this, they have quickly managed to assert themselves close to the top, showcasing their expertise in game craft in all of their releases.
One element that has allowed Pragmatic Play to gain this reputation is its eye for detail in regard to graphical displays. This has become a trademark for the developers, with each and every release having intricate backdrop and symbol designs. It is not only the visuals which help this developer stand out either, with their gameplay formula also being a polished element of all their titles. Both of these elements, plus others, are evident when taking a look at the Gates of Olympus slot we are discussing.
Gates of Olympus Design
Loading into the game of Gates of Olympus, players are presented with the central playgrid. Unlike many other modern online slots, Pragmatic takes a more unconventional approach in terms of its design, favouring a 6×5 set of reels instead of the more traditional 5×3 layout.
The playtable at hand is outlined with an intricate golden frame; with this colour palette being carried over to the backdrop behind. This displays Olympus, the mythical city above Mount Olympus, the marble structures all boasting iconic greco-style architecture. Leading from the gates to the city are a number of flame-topped pillars. Towards the right of the play screen, the king of Greek Gods, Zeus; is displayed adorning a flowing white tunic, piecing the Greek influences together nicely.
One thing we have yet to mention in regard to the design of Gates of Olympus is that it actually doesn’t feature any paylines. Although this may sound a little confusing at first, this is because it actually employs a ‘Cluster Pays’ mechanic; which instead classifies combinations as a number of matching ones on screen as opposed to matching ones across a payline. This is yet another unique touch which showcases Pragmatic Play’s innovative design process.
Gates of Olympus Symbols
Unlike many other releases, Gates of Olympus doesn’t feature any symbols based on cards. Instead, the lower valued symbols are represented by various different coloured jewels, each accented by gold. The higher-valued symbols also feature an abundance of gold in their design; with these being comprised of a golden chalice, ring, hourglass and crown; the latter of which Zeus, beside the reels, is wearing.
Gates of Olympus Bonuses
Moving onto the bonuses in Gates of Olympus; there are a number of unique additions that add extra layers to the already polished base gameplay. The first bonus in this release is the ‘Tumble’ feature. This is Pragmatic’s equivalent to the cascading mechanic found in a number of Megaways slots. If you’re unfamiliar, this could remove symbols if they are involved in combinations; with new ones subsequently filling the spaces left behind.
The next bonus symbol which we will be touching on is the Zeus scatter symbol. If 3 or more of these manage to land on the reels at the same time; the free spins round in this release is triggered. During the free spins round, the aforementioned ‘Tumble’ feature is also active; and should any cascades triggered during the free spins; this could potentially increase a multiplier that begins at 1x in this round.
It is also worth noting that this Gates of Olympus release is also part of Pragmatic’s ‘Drop & Wins’ collection of slots. Essentially, this is a time-sensitive promotion which sees random games within their portfolio be injected with a progressive jackpot mechanic. However, these only implemented into certain titles for specific periods of time.
Can You Play Gates of Olympus On Mobile?
As well as all of the bonus features and graphical expertise on display in this release; Pragmatic Play has made Gates of Olympus fully compatible. Whether mobile phones, desktops, tablets or laptops are your preferred method of play; the overall quality of this release is consistent across all screen sizes.
Games Similar To Gates of Olympus
The Gates of Olympus slot is not the only Ancient Greek-focused title out there, though; with there being a whole host of alternative titles which also lend themselves to this popular genre. One of the other releases that embodies a similar theme is the Wild Link Zeus slot; with this being part of SpinPlay Game’s portfolio. This game, as insinuated by its title, also sees the Greek god Zeus take a predominant role; with him acting as the stacked wild. This actually ties into the game’s distinctive bonus, which could see the playtable expand with extra rows.
Another Greek-themed slot similar to Gates of Olympus is Ancient Fortunes Poseidon Megaways; with this instead being focused on Zeus’s brother, Poseidon. The god of the sea takes centre stage, with the reels positioned beneath the ocean; featuring a number of nuanced bonus elements and the titular Megaways mechanic, which makes the playgrid fully dynamic.
Responsible Gambling
Regardless if you choose to play any Greek-themed slots; it is always vital to bear in mind the importance of responsible gambling. The real gameplay comes in tandem with real risk; therefore, it is important for gamers to always refrain from chasing any potential losses; and only play with what they can afford if trying out any slot games.