Shield of Athena (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena: Slot Overview 

The adventures of Rich Wilde continue in Shield of Athena, the fifth installment in the popular Play’n GO explorer series. This time, Rich is joined by his daughter Cat Wilde on a journey into the heart of Greek mythology, where the mythical Aegis shield—wielded by Athena herself—becomes the centerpiece of an atmospheric, highly volatile slot adventure. 

After the grid-based experimentation of Tome of Madness, Shield of Athena returns to a more traditional 5-reel, 3-row format with 10 fixed paylines, resembling the mechanics of Book of Dead. But while the setup may be familiar, the execution is sharp and polished, with cascading waterfalls, powerful relics, and fierce mythological forces converging for an experience that’s simple yet intensely rewarding. With a maximum win of 10,000x your stake and a tightly built feature set, this slot balances elegance and explosiveness.

Design and Graphics 

The visual presentation of Shield of Athena is rich and immersive, leveraging its ancient Greek theme to the fullest. The reels are flanked by crumbling temple columns and ethereal waterfalls, while golden symbols shimmer with arcane energy. The design is darker and more brooding than previous Rich Wilde games, reinforcing the idea that this chapter is both more mysterious and more dangerous.High-value symbols include the Golden Owl, Pendant of Courage, Ring of Wisdom, the Helm of Athena, and finally the Shield of Athena itself. These premium icons are carved with mythological precision, each offering a little more than just visual flair—they’re central to the features. Meanwhile, even the low-paying card royals (10 to A) are stylized to suit the theme, presented in carved stone with glowing embellishments. 

This game’s visual identity feels like a refined culmination of the Rich Wilde saga, with a tone that feels more serious and mythic. There’s no comedy or lightheartedness here—only divine power and deadly beauty.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Beneath its polished exterior lies a game that plays like a modern take on a classic template. Shield of Athena is built on a traditional 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines. Winning combinations are formed by landing three or more matching symbols from left to right, starting from the first reel. 

At the core of the gameplay is the Shield of Athena symbol, which plays a pivotal role both as a high-value symbol and as the trigger for the game’s standout feature—Medusa Respins. There’s also Rich Wilde himself, appearing as the wild symbol, and when five Rich Wilde symbols land on a payline, the result is a staggering 1,000x payout. 

The rules are intuitive and the pace is steady, but things can ramp up quickly when the right combination of features align. Even outside the bonus round, the Medusa Respin can inject momentum at any moment.

Sound and Music 

The audio design in Shield of Athena strikes a perfect balance between thematic depth and subtle tension. The soundtrack has an ancient, orchestral feel, layered with ambient waterfall sounds and foreboding chimes. It gives the impression of exploring a forgotten temple filled with secrets. 

The sound effects during spins and wins are crisp and fitting, avoiding overused jingles in favor of more atmospheric audio. When special features trigger—especially the Medusa Respin—the music swells with drama, signaling that something big is about to happen. It’s cinematic, yet restrained, allowing the tension to build naturally without overwhelming the player. 

Cat Wilde occasionally vocalizes her presence during features, but thankfully, the game avoids excessive voiceovers or character banter, keeping the mood focused and immersive.

Bonus Features 

There are two core bonus features in Shield of Athena, and both contribute to the game’s explosive potential:Medusa Respin 

This feature activates when a Shield of Athena symbol lands on any spin. All instances of this symbol—as well as any winning symbols on the board—are locked in place while a respin is triggered. If additional Shield or winning symbols appear, the respin continues, repeating until no new symbols land. Once it ends, all wins are evaluated, and all Shield of Athena symbols transform into wilds. 

Importantly, during these respins, all instances of Rich Wilde and Cat Wilde symbols also count as wilds, and are locked in just like the Shield. This can lead to massive wins, especially when the board is flooded with wilds. 

Medusa’s Gaze Free Spins 

Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Cat Wilde scatters, this bonus round awards 10, 12, or 15 free spins. The Medusa Respin feature remains active throughout, meaning every Shield of Athena symbol can trigger powerful respins. What’s more, the feature can be retriggered an unlimited number of times by landing additional scatters. 

The synergy between the two features is what elevates the bonus round. The Medusa Respin is already strong on its own, but when it’s always active across multiple free spins, it becomes a powerful engine for chaining big wins together.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Shield of Athena offers a flexible betting range, accommodating casual spinners and high-rollers alike. Bets can be placed from as little as €0.10 to a maximum of €100 per spin. The game operates with 10 fixed paylines, ensuring all features and payout routes remain available regardless of stake size. 

The RTP stands at 96.25% on the default setting, although, as always with Play’n GO titles, it can be configured lower by operators, so checking the game info panel is advised. The slot is rated 10/10 for volatility by Play’n GO themselves, which means that while smaller wins may be infrequent, the big payouts—up to 10,000x your bet—are designed to feel like heroic victories. 

Key symbol payouts are as follows: 

5x Rich Wilde = 1,000x 

5x Shield of Athena = 500x 

5x Helm, Ring, Pendant, or Owl = 100x to 150x These high payouts underline the potential locked behind the features and the wild-heavy respin sequences.

Conclusion 

Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena is one of the best-balanced titles in the entire Rich Wilde series. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. Instead, it refines the formula into a slick, visually rich, and mechanically sound experience that delivers excitement through clever, cascading features and high-stakes volatility. 

The Medusa Respin and Medusa’s Gaze Free Spins are deceptively simple but work brilliantly together. When they combine—especially with a few Shields and Wilds landing in just the right places—the results can be thrilling, even explosive. With a max win potential of 10,000x and highly polished visuals, Shield of Athena is not just another Rich Wilde sequel; it’s one of the most refined entries yet. 

Whether you’re a fan of mythology, adventure, or just enjoy chasing big multipliers in feature-packed gameplay, Shield of Athena is a rewarding destination. It’s a game that doesn’t overcomplicate but instead delivers crisp, well-executed slot action with mythological flair. In short, it’s a slot worthy of a hero’s return.