Overview
The slot game, Gladiator Jackpot, is based on the storyline of the renowned Ridley Scott movie, Gladiator. However, despite obtaining the trademark, the game developers were unable to secure the rights to Russell Crowe’s likeness. As a result, the protagonist’s character is absent from the game.
Furthermore, an unusual aspect of this slot game is the usage of “coliseum” instead of “colosseum” throughout the game, which is a medieval spelling that has been out of use for over six centuries.
There exist numerous slots that have a closer resemblance to the movie’s ambiance than Gladiator Jackpot. Hence, if you are looking for a game that captures the essence of the movie, it is advisable to play one of those instead.
Graphics and Sound of Gladiator Jackpot
Although the movie studio granted approval, the end result of the slot machine is subpar. Modifying the screen size from its original scale leads to unsightly pixelation.
Moreover, the character photos lack inspiration, and the animations are simplistic, involving only the substitution of a new picture and zooming in and out.
In addition, the absence of background music is a significant oversight, given the impact that the original Hans Zimmer soundtrack had. Even a faded imitation of the score would have been preferable to the generic win and spin sounds chosen by the creators.
Overall, both slot machine and Gladiator fans are likely to find the design of this game to be extremely disappointing.
Gameplay
The main game consists of a simple five-reel slot with three rows, featuring 25 adjustable paylines. However, there is no option for a gamble feature. Furthermore, despite having two bonus games, they fail to add much excitement or momentum to the overall gameplay experience. It appears that the developers put in minimal effort towards enhancing the game’s entertainment value.
Gladiator Jackpot – Bonuses and Free Spins
When spinning the reels, the Wild symbol can replace any other symbol except for the Scatter symbol.
If three or more Wild symbols land on a single spin, the Gladiator Jackpot Bonus is activated, granting the player a spin on special reels. The reels consist of a 3×3 grid, with each spot displaying one of three Helmet symbols in Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Each metal corresponds to a different multiplier, and the player is awarded the total value of all nine Helmets. If all nine Helmets display Gold, the player will win the progressive jackpot, but this is not applicable if the bonus was triggered during a free spin.
The Coliseum Bonus is triggered when three or more Scatter symbols appear on the reels. This bonus round consists of free spins and a picking game. During the picking game, the number of free spins, the multiplier for those spins, and reels featuring additional Scatter and Wild symbols are randomized.
Bets and RTP
The game’s return to player stands at a meager 94.09%, falling short of our average benchmark of 96%. This two-percentage-point gap is too significant for any slot game to compensate for. Our verdict is therefore unequivocal, and we cannot recommend it.
During our testing, we found that the minimum bet per spin on the site was $/£/€0.01, while the maximum bet per spin was $/£/€25.00.
Additionally, the game’s volatility is medium, making it unsuitable for our preferred slot machine strategies. Even if the return to player were satisfactory, the game would still be an ill-suited choice.
Summary
Upon recovering from the initial shock of discovering a licensed slot machine game that lacks Russell Crowe, Hans Zimmer, or tigers, one may become further astonished by the overall lack of effort put into the design of the game.
The user interface is visually unappealing, the soundtrack fails to create an immersive experience, and the return to player percentage is exceptionally low.
Regrettably, there are no redeeming qualities to this lackluster and unoriginal slot machine. It receives a negative rating with two thumbs down.
