Medusa

Medusa (Blueprint Gaming): Slot Overview 

Released on June 9, 2019, Medusa by Blueprint Gaming revisits one of Greek mythology’s most infamous figures — the serpent-haired Gorgon capable of turning mortals to stone with her gaze. While Medusa has appeared in many online slots over the years, Blueprint’s version takes a surprisingly lighthearted and cartoonish approach rather than the dark, dramatic tone typically associated with the myth. 

Part of the developer’s Colossal Payout Series, this slot runs on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 fixed paylines, offering payouts up to 2,000x your stake. It carries a 96.4% RTP, medium-to-high volatility, and allows bets between €0.10 and €20 per spin. Unlike Blueprint’s more feature-heavy titles, Medusa keeps things extremely simple, relying on a single wild transformation mechanic for most of its excitement. 

The result is a straightforward game that might appeal to casual players seeking uncomplicated gameplay, though veterans of Blueprint’s more complex releases (like The Goonies or ThunderCats Reels of Thundera) will likely find it underwhelming.

Design and Graphics 

Medusa’s visual presentation is a curious mix of mythological inspiration and cartoon-style execution. While many Medusa-themed games opt for ominous, gothic art design and photorealistic 3D models, Blueprint has taken a distinctly lighter tone — almost as if the Gorgon had wandered out of a Cartoon Network show rather than ancient Greece. 

The reels are framed by white marble columns, set against the eerie ruins of an ancient Hellenistic temple. The backdrop depicts statues of petrified victims, partially crumbled and covered in ivy, implying that they’ve fallen prey to Medusa’s stare. The environment is atmospheric, though somewhat static compared to the more dynamic backgrounds found in modern Blueprint releases. 

The reel symbols include a mix of standard royal values (A–10) and thematic imagery such as temples, pottery, crossed swords, Spartan helmets, and the Gorgon herself. The helmet serves as the highest-paying regular symbol, awarding 100x your stake for five of a kind, while the Medusa Wild — represented by three intertwined snakeheads — offers 200x your stake for a full line. 

Despite the intriguing setting, the game’s overall graphical quality feels dated. The artwork lacks the detail and depth typical of 2019-era slots, resembling early Flash-based titles rather than the crisp HD visuals of contemporary Blueprint releases. Still, there’s a certain nostalgic charm to its simplicity, and the theme remains cohesive throughout.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Mechanically, Medusa keeps things as stripped-down as possible. The game uses 10 fixed paylines, and winning combinations pay from left to right across adjacent reels. Each spin feels brisk and direct, with none of the layered features or elaborate animations that Blueprint’s later games would become known for. 

The standout feature — if it can be called that — is the Medusa Wild Transformation. During any spin, if the large Medusa symbol appears on the central reel, it activates this transformation mechanic. Once triggered, Medusa will randomly select up to two other symbols on the reels and transform them into additional wilds. 

If fortune favors you, these wilds can align across multiple paylines, dramatically boosting your payout potential. The best-case scenario — albeit rare — is for all reels to be covered in wilds, which results in the maximum payout of 2,000x your stake. However, most activations yield modest wins, as the transformation often affects only one or two scattered symbols. 

The base game lacks cascading reels, multipliers, or progressive modifiers. As such, the rhythm of play is repetitive — spin, wait for the Medusa symbol, and hope the transformation lands in your favor. Players who appreciate straightforward, old-school slots will find the simplicity refreshing, but those accustomed to Blueprint’s multi-feature structures might find it disappointingly shallow.

Sound and Music 

One of Medusa’s redeeming qualities is its soundtrack. The music is a grand, slightly ominous orchestral score reminiscent of an ancient Greek battle march. It combines brass, drums, and string elements to create a regal yet unsettling atmosphere that fits the mythological theme. The music swells at key moments — especially when the Medusa Wild feature activates — adding a sense of drama that the visuals alone don’t quite deliver. 

The sound effects are crisp and effective: spinning reels echo like marble columns clashing, and symbol hits trigger subtle stone-cracking noises, reinforcing the petrification motif. Medusa’s occasional hissing adds a playful yet sinister flair, preventing the game from taking itself too seriously. 

While the visuals may appear dated, the audio design is surprisingly polished and helps elevate the overall presentation. It’s one of the few elements that gives Medusa a distinct personality within Blueprint’s broader catalog.

Bonus Features 

Unlike many of Blueprint Gaming’s modern titles, Medusa includes only one feature — the Medusa Wild Transformation. There are no free spins, bonus rounds, or progressive jackpots here, which significantly simplifies the gameplay loop. 

Medusa Wild Transformation 

Trigger: The feature activates when the large Medusa symbol lands on the middle reel during the base game. 

Effect: Medusa randomly selects up to two other symbols anywhere on the reels and transforms them into wilds. These wilds substitute for all other symbols to form new winning combinations. 

Potential: In rare cases, if enough matching symbols and wilds align simultaneously, all reels can become wild, delivering the slot’s maximum payout of 2,000x your stake. 

Though the feature triggers fairly often, the outcomes are typically modest. The transformation mechanic adds mild excitement but lacks the depth and variety to sustain long play sessions. Without any free spin rounds or progressive layers, the game feels closer to a simplified classic video slot than to a modern feature-driven release.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Provider: Blueprint Gaming 

Reels: 5 

Rows: 3 

Paylines: 10 (fixed) 

RTP: 96.4% 

Volatility: Medium/High 

Max Win: 2,000x your stake 

Min/Max Bet: €0.10 / €20 

Release Date: June 9, 2019 

The betting range accommodates both cautious players and mid-level bettors, though high rollers may find the €20 ceiling restrictive. The medium-to-high volatility ensures that wins are not too frequent but can occasionally deliver satisfying payouts, particularly when multiple wilds align. 

Regular symbol payouts are conservative, with the lower-tier royals offering between 5x and 50x for five-of-a-kind combinations. The helmet pays 100x, and the Medusa Wild tops the chart at 200x your stake for a full line. Since there’s no multiplier mechanic, all major wins depend on wild-heavy spins.

Conclusion 

Medusa by Blueprint Gaming is a curious blend of mythological ambition and minimalist execution. While its concept draws on one of the most iconic figures in Greek lore, the game’s presentation feels dated, and its mechanics are too bare-bones to hold long-term attention. 

The cartoonish aesthetic might appeal to players looking for a lighthearted take on a traditionally dark theme, but others will find it tonally inconsistent — especially when compared to the atmospheric grandeur of other Medusa-themed slots like Medusa II (NextGen) or Medusa: The Curse of Athena (Play’n GO). 

From a gameplay standpoint, the single transformation feature offers momentary bursts of excitement but quickly becomes repetitive. The lack of free spins, multipliers, or secondary bonuses limits both depth and replayability. Even though the RTP of 96.4% and medium/high volatility provide a fair balance of risk and reward, the experience feels more like an entry-level slot than a standout Blueprint release. 

That said, Medusa isn’t without merit. Its soundtrack is engaging, and the Wild Transformation mechanic can deliver satisfying wins when luck aligns. For casual players or fans of Greek mythology seeking a simple, no-frills slot with decent payout potential, it may be worth a few spins. However, for those expecting the intricate excitement of Blueprint’s signature titles, Medusa ultimately turns to stone far too soon.