The Spartan King online slot from PlayPearls first saw the light in 2018. Midway through the year, the developer offered the game to some of the biggest online casinos. It didn't take long for many of them to accept it as a game for their players to enjoy. With the title of Spartan King, it is clear to understand what its theme is. But we'll move on to that in due course. Spartan King has a five-reel and three-row setup that you can experience. And this is quite the norm for online video slot releases, too. Across that interface, PlayPearls has chosen to add a set of 20 paylines to bet on. And these lines are not customisable either, meaning you will always be wagering on so many.
PlayPearls is not a developer that stands out as many others do. Games Global casino sites, for example, are some of the best in the world. But despite this being the case, something is compelling about a new provider. And PlayPearls wants to exceed the expectations of its clients. From the offset, Spartan King seems like it will achieve this aim. Yet it comes with an RTP rate of 90.01%, a slight disappointment. The highest reward from the game stands at 15x your bet, too. Let's find out more about this online slot release.
Slot Theme
It doesn't take a genius to figure out the theme that PlayPearls has based this game on. Spartan King has an ancient Greek setup, and this is another theme that appears in many online slots. Does PlayPearls make it stand out amongst its contemporaries, though? Well, if we're being 100% honest, it doesn't make a huge impact. While the exterior design is decent enough, it's not one that goes the extra mile. The graphics and animations are fine, but nothing ground-breaking. PlayPearls could have done so much with this theme but has avoided doing so.
The reels sit atop a background that features a Greek temple. This isn't something that is clear and concise, though. It is a little hazy as a background. To the right of the reels is a blazing fire pot and to the left is a man wearing Greek attire. In the top corners of the screen are a few gold coins. The design is fine on the whole. Although when compared with other Greek-themed slots, it doesn't stir emotions.
Symbols and Soundtrack
So, what about the symbols appearing on the five reels? Well, they also utilise the base theme well enough. The initial additions come in the shape of standard playing card symbols. They run from 10 and increase up to J, Q, K and A. There is also the addition of the Greek warrior. This has the design of something that would appear on a Greek urn. Then comes a symbol of what looks like the god Poseidon. Another is visible in the shape of the gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology. And the final symbol, serving as the highest paying, is that of Zeus. He can payout up to 15x your in-play stake.
You can also enjoy the appearance of the game’s wild symbol. It is the symbol of Zeus head-on that works as this addition. Wilds will substitute for all basic symbols already mentioned. As such, they can be very helpful when forming wins.
One of the finer points to touch on about this game is its soundtrack. In the background, you can hear an almost heavenly choir singing. And this remains in effect throughout your gaming session (unless you mute the game!). It does serve the theme very well, we can say. The sounds of the reels spinning and the symbols halting are quite basic. Yet, all in all, the soundtrack from PlayPearls is nice enough in Spartan King.
Bonus Features
It would be incorrect to say that this slot is brimming over with special features. In actuality, it only has one, which comes in the shape of a free spins round. These operate in the same way as offers at free spins casino sites. It takes three, four or five of the Free Spins symbols showing up to activate these. At this point, you will receive 8, 15 or 30 free spins to play through the respective symbols in view. Free spins play out at the same bet level and lines as in the base game.
Summary of Spartan King
It would be nice to say that this slot is an impressive release. And in some areas, it makes a nice impression. It doesn't stand out enough to put it above most other Greek-themed games, though. The free spins round is nice enough, but it requires extra perks for greater success. And the same is true of the graphics. They're nice enough, but nothing so stunning. A nice attempt by PlayPearls, for sure. But there is definite room for improvement.
Fact-checked by Julia Attard
Senior Author & Online Casino Expert