Wisdom of Athena

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Wisdom of Athena: Slot Overview

Wisdom of Athena, developed by Pragmatic Play, delves into Ancient Greek mythology, continuing the long-standing tradition of fascination with ancient beliefs. It also follows the trend of scatter pays slots, a format that Pragmatic Play has popularized with hit games like Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus. Gates of Olympus, in particular, has been a huge success, leading Pragmatic Play to create several spin-offs, some of which are reskins with minor tweaks. Wisdom of Athena falls into this category, essentially being Gates of Olympus with a new goddess and a twist on reel expansion.

While Gates of Olympus was centered around Zeus, the king of Olympus, Wisdom of Athena puts the spotlight on Athena, the goddess of warfare, handicraft, and wisdom. Athena stands gracefully to the right of the screen, overlooking a golden, peach-colored realm adorned with steps, statues, columns, and clouds. Much like the gameplay, the aesthetic of Wisdom of Athena closely resembles Gates of Olympus, but Pragmatic Play has added newer elements around the edges to inject some freshness into the experience. While it succeeds in part, it also feels familiar in many respects.

In Wisdom of Athena, players have three options for placing their bets. The first is the standard mode, where they can wager between 20 p/c to $/€100 per spin. The second option is to activate the Ante Bet, which increases the stake by 25%. The Ante Bet adds extra scatter symbols to the reels, theoretically improving the chances of triggering free spins. However, concrete figures to support this assumption are scarce in the game's information. Alternatively, players can opt to buy entry into the free spins round for 100 times the bet. Regardless of the chosen method, the game maintains a high level of volatility, with a maximum RTP of 96.07% for regular play and 96.08% for the other two options.

At the beginning of each paid spin and the bonus round, the playing area consists of 6 columns with 5 symbols each. To win, players need to land at least 8 identical symbols in any position on the board. Winning symbols are then removed and replaced by new symbols cascading from above. This tumbling sequence continues until no new wins are achieved. The lower-paying symbols, featuring various Ancient Greek images, offer payouts ranging from 0.25x to 0.75x the bet for 8-9 of a kind and 2.5x to 7.5x for 15 or more symbols. On the higher end, there are four premium symbols - a scroll, a pot-like object, a helmet, and a golden image - which pay out 1x to 5x the bet for 8-9 of a kind and 10 to 50 times the bet for 15 or more symbols. It's worth noting that Wisdom of Athena does not include wild symbols to assist players.

Wisdom of Athena: Slot Features

For players familiar with Gates of Olympus or its variants, much of Wisdom of Athena will feel familiar. However, there are some differences, particularly in how multipliers function during free spins, and the standout feature is the grid unlock mechanic. Here's how it works:

Grid Unlock

This is the new addition to the game. Running along the top of the active 6x5 grid is a row of symbols displaying the numbers 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. At certain points, a blocker symbol is removed, allowing an active symbol to appear. After the first tumble, the first symbol is unlocked. Then, after 3 more tumbles, the symbol on reel 2 is unlocked; after 6 more tumbles, the symbol on reel 3 is unlocked; after 9 more tumbles, the symbol on reel 4 unlocks; after 12 more tumbles, the symbol on reel 5 unlocks, and after 15 more tumbles, the symbol on reel 6 unlocks. In the base game, blocker symbols reset between spins.

Multiplier Symbols

Multiplier symbols, ranging from x2 to x500, appear on all reels. After a sequence of tumbles ends, the values of all multipliers visible on the grid are summed up and applied to the total win.

Free Spins

Players receive 10 free spins when at least 4 scatter symbols land on the screen. Free spins start with the top row fully locked. As tumbles occur, locked positions are unlocked, and progress is saved throughout the free spins round. The multiplier symbol feature differs from the base game as well. When a multiplier symbol lands, its value is added to a total multiplier that does not reset. This total multiplier is then applied to all wins. Additionally, landing 3 or more scatters during free spins awards an extra 5 free spins.

Comparison with Other Games

Wisdom of Athena immerses players in ancient Greek mythology, evoking nostalgia and a sense of wonder. The cascading reels feature keeps the gameplay exciting, while the absence of wild symbols is compensated by generous multipliers and scatters. Keep an eye on those multipliers during free spins—they can be game-changers! The game’s design, set against Mount Olympus, adds to its allure. 

Game Design Spotlight: “Wisdom of Athena”

In the realm of online slot games, “Wisdom of Athena” stands tall like the ancient columns of Mount Olympus. Developed by Pragmatic Play, this slot transports players to the heart of Greek mythology, where gods and mortals intertwine in a dance of fate. Let’s delve into the design elements that make “Wisdom of Athena” a captivating experience.

• Theme and Visuals: The game’s theme revolves around Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage, and warfare. The backdrop is the majestic Mount Olympus, shrouded in mist and mystery. The reels are adorned with symbols straight from Greek mythology: golden helmets, owls, olive branches, and the wise goddess herself. The warm sandstone tones evoke ancient temples, and the soundtrack hums with ethereal melodies.
• Cascading Reels Mechanic: “Wisdom of Athena” introduces the cascading reels feature, adding dynamism to the gameplay. When a winning combination forms, the winning symbols vanish, making way for new ones to fall into place. This chain reaction can lead to multiple wins in a single spin, akin to the ripple effect of a pebble dropped into a tranquil pond.
• No Wild Symbols, but Generous Multipliers: Surprisingly, “Wisdom of Athena” doesn’t feature wild symbols. Instead, it compensates with generous multipliers. During the base game, multipliers of 2x, 3x, or 5x can randomly appear on the reels. These multipliers enhance any wins they touch, creating suspense as you await their appearance.
• Gameplay and Immersion: “Wisdom of Athena” immerses players in a world where myths come alive. The absence of traditional wild symbols forces players to rely on multipliers and scatters, adding strategic depth. The cascading reels keep the pace brisk, and the anticipation of each new symbol drop keeps players engaged.

Wisdom of Athena: Slot Verdict

Gates of Olympus' gameplay has truly been a hit for both Pragmatic Play and the legions of players who enjoy its style. Since its initial release, we've seen several follow-ups like Gates of Gatot Kaca and Gates of Aztec. Now, with Wisdom of Athena, we're circling back to the original concept, exploring the Ancient Greek theme from the perspective of a female deity. If you've enjoyed the previous releases in this series, there's no reason why you wouldn't find Wisdom of Athena just as entertaining.

Given the success of the Gates of Olympus range, Pragmatic Play could have easily released another reskin and still garnered attention. However, the inclusion of a new feature in Wisdom of Athena adds an extra layer of excitement. The row of unlockable positions, while not always a game-changer, can significantly impact potential outcomes when it does activate. Unlocking all 6 positions requires numerous tumbles, which can be challenging in the base game unless there's a remarkable streak of tumbles. It's worth noting that progress with position unlocking carries over into the bonus round, along with the growing persistent total multiplier, offering players more opportunities for big wins. Additionally, changes to the way multipliers are used in free spins add another element for enthusiasts of the Gates of Olympus series to explore.

While it would have been the cherry on top, Pragmatic Play has capped the maximum win at 5,000 times the bet, a figure typical for these types of games. Nonetheless, with the introduction of a new feature to the range, Wisdom of Athena delivers another engaging experience of scatter-paying action that's sure to appeal to fans of the series.