Slot machines adaptations of big licenses are indubitably a new trend. You just have to see the important number of games inspired by comics, like Hellboy among others, or to browse for a while in the lobby of Party Casino.

The developer Playtech seems decided to ride on this trend. That is why it has signed an agreement with Marvel in 2009 and regularly releases slot machines harbouring the colours of the best-known superheroes of the galaxy. On top of this, it has also obtained the rights to a number of other famous works of art like Rocky, The Pink Panther and the 5 award motion picture Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott.

This video slot, inspired by this huge film success, is also entitled Gladiator. It is not to be confused with the slot machines of the same name released by Betsoft, B3W Group and Microgaming. This last one is not available in flash at the moment, but you can still try the game Gladiators Gold by the same developer.

The biggest difference between all these titles is that only the game designed by Playtech offers the famous characters from the motion picture, except for the one played by Russell Crowe which was not covered by the deal between Playtech and Universal Pictures.

Clips from the film for a total immersion

Gladiator is impressive by both its graphics and its soundtrack. Through some symbols using animated sequences from the Ridley Scott movie, the players are transported to the universe of this cult movie which describes the struggle of gladiators for survival and glory. Games are interspersed with breath-taking film sequences which mix 3D animations and clips from the film. Thanks to all these elements borrowed from Ridley Scott\'s masterpiece, this adaptation can only be a success. So be ready for an especially addictive atmosphere.

A general presentation of the game

A slot machine with 5 reels and 25 payment lines, Gladiator offers a Wild and a Scatter. On top of this, it allows you to play double or quits in one of its feature, as well as two bonus games called respectively gladiator and coliseum. The latter offers you the possibility to win free spins.

A huge range of bets

During this game, you can bet from 1 to 10 coins per line. On top of this, you can choose the currency. The following values can be selected: 0,01, 0,10, 0,25, 0,50, 1, 2 and 5 $/£/€. You can thus enjoy a very wide range of bets since the minimum bet is of only 0,01$/£/€ and stops at no less than 1.250 $/£/€ per spin. A thousand two hundred and fifty! I felt I had to write it down in words to make you feel how surreal this amount seems.

A low/average variance

The jackpot of the game reaches 5.000 coins. It is obtained with 3 Commodus symbols, the character played by Joaquin Phoenix. The second most important payment reaches 1.000 coins. You can win it if you get 5 Lucilla items, played by Connie Nielsen. The gains offered by this game are rather interesting, without being truly impressive. The slot offers 39 different winning combinations and a pay-out rate for players which is between 92 and 95%. Its variance is low/average.

A helmet as a Wild

The Wild symbol depicts a helmet. It allows you to complete winning combinations by replacing other items, except for the Scatter. This Wild only exists on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th reels. If it appears at the same time on these three reels, it triggers the gladiator bonus game.

The coliseum as a Scatter

The Scatter symbol depicts the coliseum. It makes you win money if it appears 2, 3, 4 or 5 times on screen, anywhere on the reels. You then win 1, 4, 20 or 100 coins, multiplied by the total amount of your bet. With at least 3 Scatters on your screen, you can trigger, on top of that, the coliseum bonus game.

The gladiator bonus game

If you manage to get a Wild symbol on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th reels, you can trigger the gladiator bonus game. In this game, 9 helmets appear one after the other on your screen. Depending on what they are made of (bronze, silver or gold), it makes you win 2, 5 or 10 times the value of your bet. It is a rather simplistic game as it demands no choice on your part. Fortunately, to discover your final payment bit by bit is quite exciting. On top of this, this feature ends on a clip from the movie which brings you back to the atmosphere of this slot.

The coliseum bonus game

When you manage to get at least 3 Scatters anywhere on your screen, you trigger the coliseum bonus game. A table with 4 lines and 5 columns appears. You need to select a square on each line: the first one tells you how many free spins you have won (between 7 and 14), the second the value of the multiplier (x2 or x3), the third one to the symbol which will provisionally act as a Scatter and the fourth one the item which acts as a Wild for the time of your free spins.

When you choose a square, you can also win the right to select another one either on the same line or even on any line you want. You can also hit a collect square, which puts an end to this phase of the bonus game. You can then no longer obtain what the following squares were about to offer you.

Once you have selected all the squares you could, the free spins are automatically triggered. During these spins, if you get 3 Scatters or more on your screen, you win 3 extra free spins.

This great game is one of the key element of the awesomeness of this slot.It can, on top of this, allow you to get some very profitable spins; especially if you manage to change a symbol into an extra Scatter, this option making a real difference as far as the amount you win is concerned.

The double or quits feature

This rather classical feature can be triggered after any win. When you start it, you discover a playing card face-down. You must then guess its colour (red or black). If you guess it right, you double your payment. On the other hand, if you are wrong, you loose the amount you were about to win.

With its famous licensing, its catchy design and its diverse and fun features, the Gladiator slot machine is a great achievement. On top of this, its impressive maximum bet of 1.250 $/£/€ per spin can only please the high rollers who are disappointed by the relatively small amounts you can bet on most of the other slots.