Shield of Sparta Review
Heroes and legends are always popular themes among slot fans, especially when they combine a little escapism with some action-packed bonus features.
And this is familiar territory for Pragmatic Play, who have been creating slots for long enough to know exactly what players are looking for. So like all good mythical slot games, Shield of Sparta comes with a fast-paced free spins feature with multipliers thrown in for some extra excitement!
Design
As you’d expect, Shield of Sparta looks and sounds incredible. This is an epic theme, so the game designers have stepped up to the plate and created some bold imagery. Catapults, chariots and Spartan soldiers come to life when they feature in winning combinations.
The Wild is a snarling soldier in a golden helmet, and even the low-value poker card icons have been forged from metal.
Ornate marble columns support the reels, while waves crash on a rocky shore in the background. It’s all fairly typical of Pragmatic Play, including the suitably epic soundtrack, which builds in line with the on-screen action.
Gameplay
Shield of Sparta can be played across all devices and screen sizes. Game controls have been placed with mobile users in mind, so it’s easy to adjust your bet from buttons on either side of spin. The ‘I’ button takes you to the game’s paytable – which adapts according to your current bet – and you have the option of muting the soundtrack.
Wins are achieved by matching symbols across paylines. Spin up three or more bonus shields and you’ll activate the free spins bonus feature round, in which the multipliers come into play. Land just two bonus shields, and you’ll be awarded a respin with those shields held in place, giving you a second chance to enter the bonus round.
Bonus shields leave a frame on the reels, with each new bonus shield that lands within the frame awarding an upgrade. Up to 3 upgrades are possible, with win multipliers increasing with each level. At the end of the bonus round the frames reveal their final multipliers, which are added together and applied to the win total.
Win Potential
Shield of Sparta is highly volatile, so setting out a budget for your bankroll is important. Court card icons return up to 5x your bet for matching five of a kind, with better returns coming from the main game symbols. The Spartan warrior pays out up to 25x your bet, and the Wild Spartan commander doesn’t come with any associated cash prizes – but he can help towards other symbol wins.
The top payout is capped at 3,000x your bet, which isn’t particularly impressive, especially when the higher-than-average volatility is taken into account. So this is definitely a game worth exploring in demo mode before you start wagering any of your own funds.
Our Verdict
There’s no denying that Shield of Sparta looks and sounds incredible – this is an epic theme that’s been executed perfectly, as we’d expect from Pragmatic Play.
And there are definitely some interesting features on display, such as the second chance to land three bonus shields. The win multipliers during the free spins bonus are bound to attract the attention of players too, so this game has a lot going for it.
The only real disappointment is the relatively low max win potential. A top payout of 3,000x your wager seems like a low return for such a high volatility game.
But that’s the worst we can say about Shield of Sparta – if you love high-energy gameplay served up with the flavour of Ancient Greece, then this is a slot you’re going to want to check out!
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
