Wisdom of Athena 1000 (Pragmatic Play) Slot Review

Wisdom of Athena: Slot Overview

Released on September 30, 2024, Wisdom of Athena 1000 is part of Pragmatic Play’s highly anticipated 1000 series, which adds exciting new elements to some of the provider’s popular slots. This game, inspired by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, stands out with its 6×6 grid and scatter pays mechanic, offering players an immersive gaming experience within the realm of Ancient Greek mythology.

The game boasts an RTP of 96.00%, with high volatility, making it a slot designed for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay. With a maximum win of 10,000x your stake and the inclusion of multipliers up to x1000, Wisdom of Athena 1000 promises substantial payouts for those lucky enough to trigger its bonus features. This slot is rich with cascading symbols, a tumbling reel mechanic, and a unique row-unlocking feature that adds layers of excitement with each spin.

Design and Graphics

Pragmatic Play has once again delivered stunning visuals with Wisdom of Athena 1000. The game is set in a mythical ancient world, featuring a background of a grand temple surrounded by golden columns and Greek statues, evoking a powerful yet serene atmosphere. The grid itself is positioned in the middle of this mystical setting, with Athena, the wise goddess, standing to the right of the reels. She narrates the game with empowering phrases, adding a personal touch to the gameplay.

The symbols on the reels include a range of objects associated with Greek mythology. These include lower-paying symbols like scrolls, vases, and helmets, while the high-paying symbols feature shields and ancient artifacts. The design of the symbols is detailed and vibrant, adding to the game’s immersive aesthetic. Each spin is accompanied by smooth animations, especially during the bonus rounds, where the visuals become even more dynamic.

Gameplay Mechanics

The Wisdom of Athena 1000 slot operates on a 6×6 grid with a scatter pays system. Instead of traditional paylines, winning combinations are formed by landing 8 or more identical symbols anywhere on the grid. This setup gives players plenty of opportunities to land multiple wins in a single spin, particularly with the tumble feature in play.

Tumble Feature

After any winning combination, the tumble feature is triggered. This mechanic removes the winning symbols from the grid, causing new symbols to tumble down from above, potentially creating more wins. The process repeats until no new winning combinations are formed. With each tumble, new possibilities arise, making the base game more engaging than a typical slot.

The row-unlocking mechanic is a unique addition that complements the tumble feature. Above the main grid, there is an extra row of locked symbols. As consecutive tumbles occur, these locked positions begin to unlock. The more tumbles you get, the more rows you unlock, potentially revealing valuable symbols and boosting your chances of hitting a big win.

The unlocking process works in a sequential manner:

• 1 row unlocks after 1 tumble,
• 2 after 4 tumbles,
• 3 after 10, and so on, until you’ve unlocked all positions with 46 consecutive tumbles.

Sound and Music

The sound design in Wisdom of Athena 1000 perfectly complements the game’s epic theme. The background music is composed of orchestral elements, invoking a sense of grandeur and mysticism fitting for a slot based on Greek mythology. The soundtrack shifts in intensity depending on the game’s pace, becoming more dramatic during big wins and free spins rounds.

Athena’s voice adds another layer of immersion, as she occasionally provides commentary during gameplay, offering encouragement or praise when landing big wins. These audio elements contribute to a truly engaging experience, with the music and sounds enhancing the thrill of every spin.

Bonus Features

The real excitement in Wisdom of Athena 1000 comes from its bonus features, including multipliers and free spins, which significantly elevate the gameplay experience.

Multiplier Symbols

One of the standout features is the multiplier symbols, which can appear during both the base game and the free spins round. These multipliers range from x2 to x1000, and when a tumble sequence ends, any multiplier symbols in view are combined and applied to the total win. This feature adds the potential for massive payouts, especially when the larger multipliers land on the grid.

Free Spins

The free spins feature is triggered by landing 4 or more scatter symbols, represented by Athena’s shield, anywhere on the grid. Players can win 10 free spins, with additional scatter symbols awarding extra free spins and payouts. For example:

• 4 scatters grant 10 free spins and a payout of 2x your stake,
• 5 scatters award 15 free spins and a payout of 15x your stake,
• 6 scatters provide 20 free spins and a payout of 100x your stake.

During the free spins round, the top row remains locked initially, but progress made in unlocking rows carries over between spins. This persistence increases your chances of landing high-value symbols and multipliers, as unlocking more rows can lead to bigger wins. Additionally, each multiplier symbol that lands in the free spins round is added to a global multiplier, which stays in effect for the duration of the feature. This can lead to monumental wins, particularly if larger multipliers such as x500 or x1000 come into play.

Buy Free Spins Option

For players eager to skip straight to the action, Wisdom of Athena 1000 offers a Buy Free Spins option. For 100x your stake, you can purchase a guaranteed entry into the free spins round, landing 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols. This is a great feature for players who prefer not to wait for the bonus round to trigger naturally.

Betting Options and Payouts

Wisdom of Athena 1000 offers a wide range of betting options, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers. The minimum bet starts at €0.20 per spin, while the maximum bet can go up to €125, catering to players with different bankrolls. This flexibility allows both newcomers and experienced players to enjoy the game at their own pace.

The RTP is set at 96.00%, which is within the industry standard for high-volatility slots. The hit frequency of 1 in 3.78 spins means that players can expect a win fairly regularly, though the size of the win can vary significantly due to the slot’s high volatility. The maximum win potential is 10,000x your stake, and while the max win frequency is relatively rare (approximately 1 in 3,885,004 spins), the combination of multipliers and free spins increases the chances of landing significant payouts.

Conclusion

Wisdom of Athena 1000 by Pragmatic Play is a visually stunning and engaging slot that builds on its predecessor with enhanced features and a more polished experience. The scatter pays mechanic, combined with the tumble feature and row-unlocking system, makes the base game exciting and dynamic, while the multiplier symbols and free spins round offer the potential for truly massive wins.

The slot’s high volatility ensures that players will need patience, but the rewards can be substantial, particularly with the chance of landing x1000 multipliers. Pragmatic Play has created a slot that not only looks great but also offers plenty of depth and excitement for those willing to embrace its high-risk, high-reward nature.

For fans of mythology-themed slots or those looking for a new high-volatility game with big win potential, Wisdom of Athena 1000 is a fantastic choice that combines engaging gameplay with the promise of huge payouts.