Overview
Prepare for battle in Pragmatic Play's Sword of Ares, a high-volatility slot with a 10,000x max win potential! Journey to a mystical realm alongside Ares, the Greek god of war, on a 6-reel, 5-row grid featuring 20 paylines. This electrifying slot utilizes a unique scatter pays system, rewarding wins when 8 or more matching symbols land anywhere on the grid. Unlike its predecessor, Gates of Olympus, Sword of Ares introduces a thrilling multiplier collection feature where unlocking progressively higher multipliers adds a strategic layer to the gameplay. The stunning visuals, complemented by the animated Ares, create an immersive experience that will captivate both seasoned slot enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Experience the adrenaline-pumping Tumble feature, where winning symbols explode, triggering cascading wins and increasing your chances of massive payouts. With its engaging mechanics and massive win potential, Sword of Ares offers a thrilling adventure for players seeking high-risk, high-reward gameplay. The game is available across multiple platforms, ranging from 20 p/c to $/€100.
Gameplay & Features
Each winning cluster triggers theTumble feature. This mechanicremoves all winning symbolsfrom the reels, letting symbols from above drop down to fill the empty positions. If a new cluster win hits after the symbols have filled the gaps, they are removed and replaced as well. When no new cluster win occurs, the sequence ends, and the total win is paid.
• Multiplier Collection Feature
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Sword of Ares comes withmultipliers, but the way they function is different than before. On top of the reels is ameterdisplaying 3 multiplier values in the base game, 6 values in free spins. These multiplier values start each new spin in alockedstate. Following tumbles, the number of winning symbols or exploded symbols iscollected. At set collection points, the multipliers areunlocked. At the end of a tumble sequence, the winning total is multiplied by thehighest unlocked multiplier. In the base game, this could be:
First multiplier– could be x2, x3, or x4, unlocked when 20 symbols are collected. Second multiplier– could be x5, x6, x7, or x8, unlocked when 50 symbols are collected. Third multiplier– could be x9, x10, x11, x12, x13, x14, or x15, unlocked when 100 symbols are collected.
• Bombs
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Present on all reels are four types ofBomb symbolsin the base game and in free spins. When a Bomb hits, it stays onscreen until there are no more winning scatters. Then they explode, removing all symbols from the board in a horizontal, vertical, cross, or X configuration. Removed symbols are collected by the multipliers, and new symbols drop down from above. In the base game, Bombs only explode if at least one tumble has occurred.
• Free Spins
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Landing4 or more scattersin the base game awards15 free spins. In free spins, the multiplier meter is extended like so:
First multiplier– could be x2, x3, or x4, unlocked when 15 symbols are collected. Second multiplier– could be x5, x6, x7, or x8, unlocked when 27 symbols are collected. Third multiplier– could be x9, x10, x11, x12, x13, x14, or x15, unlocked when 39 symbols are collected. Fourth multiplier– could be x16, x17, x18, x19, x20, x22, or x25, unlocked when 55 symbols are collected. Fifth multiplier– could be x26, x28, x30, x32, x35, x40, or x50, unlocked when 85 symbols are collected. Sixth multiplier– is always x500, unlocked when 235 symbols are collected. If available, players can buy free spins for the cost of100x the total bet. Whether bought or triggered organically, the bonus roundcannot be retriggered
Final Thoughts
If you've playedGates of Olympus, you'll see how Pragmatic Play has left some things the same while tinkering around with others. The changes aren't clear cut better or worse; as such, some things will be a better match perhaps, while others might grate. Having to collect symbols to unlock multipliers for one has more of a goal-based challenge to it than just having random multiplier symbols show up on the board like before. It was hard to decide whether collecting winning symbols, rather than racking up random multiplier symbols as inGates of Olympus, was better, worse, or simply different. For the curious, this particular method might have to be experienced to form a strong opinion about.
In some ways, the bonus game had a faintly300 Shields Mighty Waysfeel to it, due to the Hellenic references and the way you can build multiplier values. Here they reset between spins, whereas inLight & Wonder's game, multipliers have a more persistent quality. Having said that, the intermediate values in Sword of Ares can be quite high, so it is a case of swings, roundabouts, and personal preference. However, this method is clearly effective, and Pragmatic Play has stretched the win cap, pushing it out to10,000x the bet. Gear up for some crazy tumbling, symbol collections to get to that level.
In the end, Sword of Ares was a satisfying scatter-paying game to review. Pragmatic Play has married scatter wins to the tumble mechanic while tying in symbol collections and unlocking multipliers menagerie of mechanics quite well. Sword of Ares doesn't have the same level of fresh originality the first one had, which is understandable, being a follow-up, but the extended win cap and the new bits should be warmly received by players excited by this style of action.
