Strap on some sandals, sharpen your blades and prepare to take on Sword of Ares, a mythologically minded online slot from software provider Pragmatic Play. The studio is no stranger to the mythological side of life, and in fact, Sword of Ares is a follow-up to an earlier game titled Gates of Olympus. Like its predecessor, Sword of Ares is full of Ancient Greek imagery and uses a scatter pays system to award wins alongside growing multipliers. However, the way multipliers are unlocked is different than before. Is it better? Let's see if we can find the answer.
Like Gates of Olympus, the main character in Sword of Ares stands by the reels, quite animatedly actually, when certain events happen on the grid. In this game, the main character is Ares, the Greek god of war (amongst other things) and the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares is hanging out in a cloudy realm that's arguably not as celestial as Gates of Olympus but is a dreamy one full of mossy columns and ancient architecture. The six-reel game grid is quite plain by comparison, though; maybe some sort of pattern will be added later, like Gate of Olympus had to break up the monotony.
Statistically speaking, the return to player value has taken a knock compared to the previous game, though not drastically so. Available in three RTP settings, the highest being 96.4%, and functions with a highly volatile math model which Pragmatic Play has rated 5 out of 5. There are two ways of playing the game, the normal default mode or by buying free spins. In the first instance, individual paid spins can be wagered on for 20 p/c to $/€100, and any device may be used. When buying free spins, the RTP drops slightly, to 96.39%.
Sword of Ares makes use of a scatter system where wins are formed when at least 8 matching symbols land anywhere on the 6x5 game grid. On the lower paying side, five gems appear, whereas the highs are swords, shields, chariots, and helmets. Clusters of 8-9 of a kind pay 0.5 to 8 times the stake, rising to 2-40x the bet for clusters of 12-30. Wild symbols do not land on the board at any time.
Each winning cluster triggers the Tumble feature. This mechanic removes all winning symbols from 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.
Sword of Ares comes with multipliers, but the way they function is different than before. On top of the reels is a meter displaying 3 multiplier values in the base game, 6 values in free spins. These multiplier values start each new spin in a locked state. Following tumbles, the number of winning symbols or exploded symbols is collected. At set collection points, the multipliers are unlocked. At the end of a tumble sequence, the winning total is multiplied by the highest unlocked multiplier. In the base game, this could be:
Present on all reels are four types of Bomb symbols in 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.
Landing 4 or more scatters in the base game awards 15 free spins. In free spins, the multiplier meter is extended like so:
If available, players can buy free spins for the cost of 100x the total bet. Whether bought or triggered organically, the bonus round cannot be retriggered.
If you've played Gates 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 in Gates 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 faintly 300 Shields Mighty Ways feel to it, due to the Hellenic references and the way you can build multiplier values. Here they reset between spins, whereas in Light & 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 to 10,000x 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.
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