Gates of Olympus 1000: Slot Overview
Pragmatic Play’s Greek Mythology-themed online slot, Gates of Olympus, has been a standout in the scatter pays category since its early 2021 release. Its success led to a series of similar games, including some direct clones. One notable example is Starlight Princess, an anime-themed slot that maintained the original’s multiplier symbol and scatter win mechanics but replaced the Greek God theme with a cartoon heroine. This was followed by Starlight Princess 1000, essentially the same game but with increased maximum multipliers and winning potential. Now, Gates of Olympus 1000 has emerged, closely resembling Starlight Princess 1000 in its gameplay and features.
Visually, Gates of Olympus 1000 borrows heavily from its predecessor, featuring Zeus beside a columned area with flaming braziers. Despite the familiar aesthetics, the game presents a well-crafted environment. However, the sense of déjà vu is palpable, as Gates of Olympus 1000 doesn’t venture far from the established formula.
The game mechanics remain largely unchanged. It operates on a highly volatile math model with an RTP of 96.5% for normal bets and Ante Bet mode, and 96.49% for the Buy Free Spins feature costing 100 times the bet. The Ante Bet option increases the base bet by 25% for more scatter symbols on the reels, with bets ranging from 20 cents to $/€100 per spin. The 6×5 grid aligns 30 symbols per spin, requiring a minimum of 8 identical symbols for a win.
The tumble feature removes winning symbols, allowing new ones to fall into place. There are nine regular pay symbols, including low-value gems and higher-value symbols like a cup, ring, hourglass, and crown. Scatter wins range from 0.25 to 10 times the bet for 8-9 matching symbols, and 2 to 50 times the bet for 12+ symbols. Notably, Gates of Olympus 1000 does not include wild symbols at any point in the game.
Gates of Olympus 1000: Slot Features
In addition to the tumble feature, the game also includes multiplier symbols and a free spins round, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
Multiplier Symbols: Throughout all phases of the game, multiplier symbols can appear on any reel. Each multiplier symbol acquires a random value ranging from x2 to x1,000. After the completion of a tumble sequence, the values of all visible multiplier symbols are summed up. This total value is then applied to multiply the entire winnings of that sequence, potentially leading to significantly boosted payouts.
Free Spins: The free spins feature is triggered by landing 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols. This not only awards a payout of 3x, 5x, or 100x the bet, respectively, but also grants 15 free spins. During the free spins round, if a multiplier symbol appears and contributes to a win, its value is added to a cumulative total multiplier. This total multiplier is then applied to all wins that occur as a result of subsequent multiplier symbols hitting and creating winning combinations. Additionally, landing at least 3 scatter symbols during the free spins round awards an extra 5 free spins, extending the opportunity for more wins. This feature effectively enhances the potential for significant wins during the free spins round, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.
Gates of Olympus 1000: Slot Verdict
Delving into the origins of Gates of Olympus 1000 can feel like navigating an infinite loop of slot game cloning. This game’s lineage can be traced back through a series of iterations and clones. It began with the original Gates of Olympus, which was then cloned into Starlight Princess. This led to the creation of Starlight Princess 1000, and now Gates of Olympus 1000, which is essentially a clone of Starlight Princess 1000. The lineage, while somewhat circular, is clear upon examination.
The most significant updates in Gates of Olympus 1000 are in the numbers, with an increased winning potential of up to 15,000x the bet, a substantial jump from the original Gates of Olympus’ 5,000x. This increase is partly due to the introduction of a new 1,000x multiplier symbol, compared to the original’s maximum of 500x. However, the likelihood of encountering this high-value multiplier in gameplay may be relatively low, as observed during extensive play sessions.
Gates of Olympus 1000 maintains the appealing aspects of its predecessors, such as slick scatter wins and the potential for significant multipliers. For players seeking the familiar Gates of Olympus gameplay but with higher stakes, this iteration fulfills that niche. The game’s visual and gameplay elements remain consistent, offering no surprises but delivering on the expected experience.
In summary, Gates of Olympus 1000 unfolds as anticipated, especially for those familiar with the original and its subsequent versions. It’s another addition to a well-trodden path, and for players who aren’t deterred by the repetitive nature of this game type, Gates of Olympus 1000 offers an enhanced scatter win experience with the potential for larger rewards.