Gates of Glory

Gates of Glory Review

How many copycats has the legendary Gates of Olympus from Pragmatic Play spawned over the years? It seems like dozens, if not hundreds, of slot developers have tried recreating the magic of its now-iconic mechanic. Yet, despite all these attempts, Gates of Olympus and its beefed-up sequel Gates of Olympus 1000 still reign supreme in the genre, leaving little room for competitors to make their mark.

But that doesn’t mean developers are giving up on grabbing a piece of the pie. The competition never stops, and this time, it's iSoftBet, now working under the wing of IGT, stepping up to the challenge with Gates of Glory - a title that, judging by the name and gameplay, could easily be mistaken as a sibling of the Gates of Olympus family. The similarities are undeniable, yet Gates of Glory still brings some tricks of its own to the table. Let’s take a look.

While iSoftBet’s Gates of Glory doesn’t stray far from the formula established by Pragmatic Play, it does swap the Greek pantheon for the mighty Norse one. Instead of Zeus being the star, it’s Odin now. Yet, beneath this change in the setting, the core mechanics remain familiar. The Gates of Glory slot machine sticks to a 6x5 grid and uses the same Scatter Pays system. Wins come from landing at least eight matching symbols anywhere on the grid, regardless of their position, and then the tumble mechanic comes into play, keeping the action going as winning symbols disappear, making room for new ones to fall into place.

Gates of Glory Slot - Base Game

When it comes to the numbers behind Gates of Glory, it offers three different RTP settings, namely 92%, 94%, and 96%. As always, it's best to aim for the higher payback version if possible, so be sure to look through the rules before making a deposit.

The game is powered by high volatility, meaning wins might be less frequent, but they can be pretty significant if they do land. Speaking of potential, the exact max win remains officially unknown, but there’s no doubt Gates of Glory can pay you big.

Bets range from as low as €0.20 to €20 per spin, but with the active Odin Bet, the maximum stake goes up to €25. Plus, turning the bonus bet on gives a slight boost to the return percentage. When playing with the default 96% value, it grows a little to 96.02%.

Gates of Glory Features

Players familiar with the Gates of Olympus formula should have a good idea of what to expect in Gates of Glory. The central element of the gameplay is, of course, the multiplier mechanic, available both in the base game and free spins. However, there are still a few surprises to be found.

Eye of Odin

The most desired out of all symbols is the Eye of Odin, which brings random multipliers to the reels to boost any winning combination you achieve. Whenever it lands, the symbol reveals a random value between 2x and 50x, which is then applied to the total win of the spin. In case more than one Eye of Odin has landed, the values are combined.

Free Spins

The Free Spins feature is triggered when 4 or more Scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels. Depending on the number of Scatters, players receive a different number of initial spins, as follows:

• 4 Scatters award 8 Free Spins.
• 5 Scatters award 10 Free Spins.
• 6 Scatters award 12 Free Spins.

The Odin Meter can randomly reduce the number of Scatters needed to trigger the bonus, making it easier to access the Free Spins round. For example, if the Odin Meter provides 1 boost, the game treats it as an additional Scatter, thus only requiring 3 Scatters to activate the feature. It can replicate up to 3 Scatter symbols.

During Free Spins, the Eye of Odin symbol acts in the same way as in the base game, multiplying wins achieved on the current spin. However, if the Eye of Odin lands but no win is present, it will remove the lowest-paying symbol from the reels for subsequent spins.

Gates of Glory Slot - Free Spins

The feature can be retriggered by landing additional Scatter symbols during the bonus round. Landing 3 Scatters awards +2 additional spins, while 4 Scatters provide +4 extra spins. Odin Meter boosts are also active during free games.

Finally, the bonus game is protected by the Odin Guarantee. If the total win achieved in the Free Spins is less than 10x the base bet, the feature comes into play and awards +4 extra spins for additional winning opportunities.

Odin Bet

Players can take advantage of the Odin Bet feature to increase their chances of triggering the Free Spins feature. When activated, the Odin Bet adds 25% to the cost of each spin, while in exchange boosts the odds of accessing the bonus round.

Pros And Cons Of Gates of Glory Slot

Our Verdict

When we look at Gates of Glory as a standalone game, it’s undeniably a decent choice. The gameplay is smooth, the Norse mythology theme is executed well, and the powerful features keep things engaging throughout the session. There's definitely no shortage of excitement, and the potential for massive rewards makes each spin extremely thrilling.

Yet, it’s hard to ignore that the Gates of Glory online slot closely follows the footsteps of the legendary Gates of Olympus. While it adds a few twists, it doesn’t stray far from the path set by the Pragmatic Play’s creation. Sure, the theme and characters are different, but the core gameplay and mechanics stick so closely to Pragmatic Play's hit that it seems more like a reskin than a fresh experience. It feels like we’re playing a game that’s desperately trying to stand out, yet walks in the shadow of the Greek slot giant.

To conclude, if you’re a fan of the given formula with Scatter Pays, tumbles, multipliers, and a mythology theme, then iSoftBet’s Gates of Glory is worth a spin. It might not reinvent the wheel, but it delivers a solid experience nonetheless. It’s a worthy addition to the genre overall, but perhaps unlikely to surpass the pioneer.