Spartacus Call to Arms from WMS: Slot Review - strength and honour on the battlefield

A few years ago, software developer WMS released a game based on the life of legendary Roman soldier Spartacus called Gladiator of Rome. The game was a huge success for the company so it was no surprise that they decided to make a sequel called Spartacus Call to Arms. This time around, the game features a more traditional reel layout but with a similar Roman theme. Get ready to dust off your galea and accompany Spartacus as he rallies the troops before battle.

This game has 5 reels with 50 paylines and it includes Special Reels, Multipliers, and Free Spins.

Special Features

The first feature to highlight is the two special reels that are placed on opposite sides of the main reels. The function of these reels is to collect symbols after every spin. The symbols change on every spin but the Bonus symbol will never appear on these reels. If the symbols contribute to a winning payline then your win will be subjected to a multiplier equal to the number of corresponding symbols found on the special reels. For example, if you match 2 or more symbols and they are part of a winning combination then your win will be subject to a multiplier as high as 250X! The multiplier values are as follows:

• 2 matching symbols: 2X multiplier
• 3 matching symbols: 3X multiplier
• 4 matching symbols: 5X multiplier
• 5 matching symbols: 10X multiplier
• 6 matching symbols: 25X multiplier
• 7 matching symbols: 50X multiplier
• 8 matching symbols: 250X multiplier

The Wild symbol is represented by the game logo and it substitutes for all other symbols to help form winning combinations except for the Bonus symbol. If you manage to land a Wild symbol on the special reels then it will transfer immediately to a random position on the main reels.

The Bonus symbol is denoted by the face of a fearsome-looking lion. Landing 3 of these symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 will trigger the Free Spins feature. In this feature, you will be awarded 10 Free Spins as well as a cash bonus of 2X your initial wager. The number of Wild symbols will also increase to further boost your chances of landing a big payout. If you manage to land more Bonus symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 while in this feature then you will be given an additional set of 10 Free Spins. Just like in the main game, you will be awarded multipliers on your wins from the special reels but this time around they are worth double. So if you manage to land 8 matching symbols from the special reels then you will be treated to an eye-popping 500X multiplier!

Theme, Graphics and Sound

The presentation of the game is second to none as it features some amazing graphics and a highly polished look. The backdrop of the game is a wooden surface that is chained between two columns which are in fact the special reels. Symbols consist of a variety of gladiator equipment such as daggers, helmets, shields, and coins as well as a male and female gladiator. The animations are a real treat as symbols dart up and down the reels in frantic fashion while symbols on the special reels light up with a bright orange flame effect.

The music is high-octane and very atmospheric and would not appear out of place in a Gladiator style movie. It ties in nicely with the theme of the game.

Win lines, Payouts and Jackpots

The game has 50 paylines, a decent RTP of 96.05%, and a maximum payout of 1,000X your initial bet.

Below is a summary taken from the PayOut Table from the game. The amount won for each combination depends on the value of the bet when you spin the reels.

Bet Range: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, 2.25, 2.50, 3.75, 5.00, 6.25, 7.50, 10.00, 12.50, 15.00, 17.50, 20.00, 22.50..50.00

Based on an original bet of 0.25:

• Male Gladiator Symbol: 0.25 for 3X, 0.40 for 4X, 0.80 for 5X
• Female Gladiator Symbol: 0.20 for 3X, 0.35 for 4X, 0.75 for 5X
• Gold Helmet Symbol: 0.10 for 3X, 0.20 for 4X, 0.30 for 5X
• Silver Helmet Symbol: 0.08 for 3X, 0.15 for 4X, 0.25 for 5X
• Bronze Helmet Symbol: 0.08 for 3X, 0.15 for 4X, 0.20 for 5X
• Shield Symbol: 0.04 for 3X, 0.07 for 4X, 0.10 for 5X
• Dagger Symbol: 0.04 for 3X, 0.07 for 4X, 0.10 for 5X
• Coins Symbol: 0.04 for 3X, 0.07 for 4X, 0.10 for 5X

Our Verdict on Spartacus Call to Arms

Spartacus Call To Arms is made by WMS and is a more than worthy sequel to the hugely successful Gladiator of Rome game. The Free Spins feature is the main attraction of this game and the rewards can be huge if the special reels are kind enough to you. It is also satisfying that you can retrigger even more Free Spins. I found this slot to be of High variance so expect to invest some time in it before you finally land a decent enough payout. However, it is definitely worth the wait considering you can win up to a massive 1,000X your original bet in the Free Spins feature!

Lead your men to glory in Spartacus Call To Arms!