Masters of Olympus Review
What starts out looking like just another slot based on the gods of ancient Greece suddenly turns into something altogether different during the bonus rounds. In fact, it bears a close resemblance to the game mechanics in play during the Money Train series of slots from Relax Gaming.
They’ve proved to be a massive hit with players, so clearly, Snowborn Games is hoping for a piece of the action with Masters of Olympus.
Design
The overall design is much as expected for a slot based on ancient Greece. There’s an abundance of gold and white, as well as elaborate columns holding up the reels. Zeus stands alongside the reels during the base game, ready to activate the Zeus Respins feature at random.
During the bonus rounds the reels take on a different format, adding two extra rows – although they don’t enter the game unless Poseidon puts in an appearance. It’s all perfectly executed and accompanied by a stirring soundtrack which gathers pace as the wins start building up.
Gameplay
Bonus Scatters only appear on reels 1, 3 and 5, and you’ll need to land all three at once to activate the bonus round. But landing just two Scatters on reels 1 and 3 will add to the Spartan Booster meter.
Once full, this meter upgrades your next bonus from Olympus to Spartan mode, bringing extra spins, extra gods and extra hot spots. Hot spots are frame overlays that have a higher-than-average chance of spinning up a god symbol.
During the bonus rounds only gods and shields appear on the reels. Silver shields come with an attached multiplier worth 2x – 9x, while gold shield multipliers range from 10x – 50x.
The Olympus Bonus starts with 3 free spins, with the number resetting back to 3 when new symbols are added to the grid. Three shields are also awarded to get you started, with their combined multiplier totals shown to the side of the reels.
Spinning up gods activates modifiers that increase the value of wins:
- Poseidon: Has a value between 1x – 9x. He opens up one row below the game and activates any symbols already present on it. Up to 2 Poseidon icons can appear per game, opening up to two additional rows.
- Ares: Has a 1x – 9x multiplier. He collects the value of all other symbols in view.
- Athena: Has a 1x – 9x multiplier. She collects the value of all symbols in view when she lands, and continues to collect the values from subsequent spins.
- Apollo: Has a 1x – 9x value. He awards his multiplier to all symbols in view for that spin only.
- Aphrodite: Has a 2x – 9x multiplier. She applies her multiplier to all symbols that land with her and to all subsequent symbols that land.
- Zeus: Has a 1x – 9x multiplier. He awards his multiplier to all symbols in view and continues to do so throughout subsequent spins.
- Hades: Has a 1x - 9x multiplier value. He reactivates any Apollo and Ares symbols for one spin only.
Win Potential
You’ll need to land five-of-a-kind playing card symbols to win back the cost of the spin. But since this is a Ways to Win game it’s possible to spin up multiple winning combinations with each spin, increasing the value of wins accordingly. Ultimately, this could lead to wins reaching up to 20,000x the stake.
Gods and goddesses that feature on the paytable are limited to Athena, Ares, Apollo and Aphrodite, so these are the only options for landing wins during base gameplay.
It’s during the two bonus rounds that the other gods put in an appearance, awarding their specific modifiers to boost the value of your final win multiplier. Fill the entire bonus round grid with symbols to win an extra bonus of 500x the bet on top of your win.
Some jurisdictions – although the UK isn’t one of them – allow players to Buy the Bonus feature. There are three options available, comprising the Olympus Bonus, the Spartan Bonus, or the Spartan Bonus with a guaranteed Athena symbol throughout. Buying the Bonus rounds is priced at 50x, 100x or 250x the stake respectively, but it’s not guaranteed to return its purchase price, so approach this option with caution.
Our Verdict
When we first started playing Masters of Olympus it felt much like any other mythical-themed slot - but once the bonus rounds kicked in the game moved up several gears. We particularly liked the fact that the bonus comes in two varieties, thanks to the Spartan Booster, which gives extra spins and increases the chances of landing a big win.
The bonus game instantly reminded us of the Money Train slots, so if you enjoyed that feature, you’ll definitely want to give this game a try. Just be sure to explore a few demo spins first, as the bonus mechanics take a bit of getting used to at first. Watch your bankroll too – this is a high-volatility game, so you’ll need to set clear limits before you start playing.
Marianne's interest in slots was sparked by a win on a one-arm bandit at an old-fashioned seaside arcade. These days she's turned her back on classic games, and has made it her mission to track down the most exciting slots offering innovative bonus features - and a great soundtrack!
Learn more about Marianne here
