More Game Themes
I have to admit that I did learn a lot of what I know about Roman history from both films and the books featuring Asterix the Gaul, which I admit is not using the most reliable sources of information. However, I've added to my knowledge by playing a number of Roman themed slots and Rival Gaming's Chariots of Fire is another such slot to add to that play list.
When I read the title of the slot, I did wonder if this was another film tie in with the 1981 Colin Welland classic film about the 1924 Paris Olympics which boasted the universally recognized theme from Vangelis, used at every race the world ever pretty much since. But instead, what you have is a slot based very generally on Romans and Roman characters.
I was a little surprised that a chariot race wasn't part of the central theme of the slot and that it was a more generic approach to the genre, but we can forgive that if the slot offers us an outstanding game. So let's take a closer look now and see whether these Chariots of Fire really are ablaze with possibilities, or just something of a damp squib.
Overview
Where can I play the Chariots of Fire slot?
You can play the Chariots of Fire slot across all mobile platforms right now at two outstanding casinos right now, each of which offers new customers a superb bonus offer.
The first of these is the popular Slots Capital Casino which offers players a chance of a superb 277% Welcome Bonus when they sign up. All you need to do is make a deposit of $20 or more and you will receive a fantastic 277% bonus on that first deposit, using the code SLOTS277. The maximum bonus you can redeem is $2,777, so this is a bonus which really does give your bankroll a boost.
Secondly, you can also claim a fantastic bonus and play Chariots of Fire at the Desert Nights Casino too. Simply for signing up with the casino you will receive a free no deposit bonus of $10 and then you are eligible for a superb 100% welcome bonus on your first two deposits at the casino (maximum bonus of $1,000 and $1,500 payable on each deposit). Then when you have made the first two deposits, you will get an extra $50 no deposit bonus as a thank you.
Presentation
The Chariots of Fire slot is set against the backdrop of a Roman temple, with pillars either side of the five reels, which are housed in the main body of the temple. Pillars define where each of the five reels are and the soundtrack is a somewhat stirring and darkly atmospheric piece which hints at the powerful nature of the Roman Empire at its peak.
The final touch for the main look of the slot is that there is a fire above the middle reel (which links in with the Expanding Wild symbol) and this is animated very nicely indeed. Overall, I'd say that the presentation is adequate, with the sound relatively good, although some of the sounds accompanying pay line wins are a little odd and out of place.
You can use the buttons on the bottom of the console to alter the size of the coins you wager with which range from 0.01 up to 0.25 per coin and you can also use the Select Lines button to select between 1 and 25 pay lines to play per spin. There is a Bet Max button and an Auto Play feature available, as well as the usual spinner at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
What's on the reels?
When it comes to what is on the reels, there are two main types of symbols. The first of these are the playing card symbols (10 through to Ace) which are the lower value symbols in the game. These offer wins of between 3 coins and 120 coins depending on the type and number of the playing card symbols landed.
Higher value symbols in the game are items and characters linked to the Roman civilization. There are a shield, a centurions helmet, a crossbow, a horse (Crazed Roman Emperor Claudius famously made his horse a senator), a Roman lady and a rather pious looking Caesar clad in a golden olive leaf wreath. These symbols offer wins of between 10 coins and 800 coins.
There are two other symbols on the reels alongside these main high and low value symbols and each of these relates to the two key features of the Slot. The Wild and the Scatter symbols and we'll take a look at both of these in more detail below.
Wild Features
The Wild Symbol in the game is the Roman banner which is decorated with a bird and the letters SPQR. This symbol only appears on the first, third and fifth reels during the base game and when you land it, you will discover that this is an Expanding Wild, which will expand to cover the entire reel.
By using this feature in the base game and free spins it is possible to trigger multiple winning pay lines, which is a good way of increasing the value of smaller wins. In addition, you can land multiple Expanding Wilds across the reels, which can lead to some of the biggest possible wins in the base game being landed.
Free Spins Features
The other symbol on the reels to pay close attention to is the Scatter symbol which is the Roman Centurion. When you land three, four or five of these symbols across the reels you will receive a payout of 1x your total stake, 3x your total stake or 25x your total stake depending on how many scatters landed.
In addition, you will trigger the Free Spins game which is 8 free spins complete with a 2x multiplier and during these free spins, the third reel is entirely Wild for the duration. Furthermore, you can re-trigger free spins by landing three or more scatters on the reels during the free spins round.
There is one final thing to look out for in Free Spins and that is the Roman Victory symbol, which is the same Roman Centurion character as the scatter, only this one has a strange golden glow emanating from it. This is the Roman Victory symbol and if you land three or more of these on the reels, then you trigger the additional bonus feature.
Other Bonus Features
That bonus feature is the Roman Victory Bonus that sees you receive 2 free spins with a 2x multiplier, however for the duration of these extra spins, the first and third reels on the wheel are completely Wild for both spins. This can obviously result in some huge payouts, so while this bonus is only rarely triggered and fleeting, it is certainly one to try and activate whenever you can.
Best Feature of the Chariots of Fire slot
The best feature of the Chariots of Fire slot is definitely the free spins bonus round and the Roman Victory Bonus that you can trigger from it. The base game is fun, but not hugely rewarding as many of the lower value wins do not even cover your bet, especially if you are playing with all 25 pay lines in play.
During Free Spins the value is far greater and you can land some great value wins with the Wild frozen in place on the middle reel, however those two Roman Victory Bonus spins are where some of the much bigger paydays can be found and trying to land that bonus also adds to the excitement of the free spins game.
What does Chariots of Fire slot lack?
The biggest issue facing the Chariots of Fire slot in my view is that it is a game that doesn't offer great play value. This is a medium to higher variance slot so when you are rewarded with a win, you'd like it to be a decent amount, at least your stake back as a return, but the majority of wins using three and even four symbols are very low, many not even as much as your stake.
That means those crucial bigger wins when they come are so valuable and if you hit the slot when it is playing tight, it can really race through your bankroll in double-quick time if you are not careful.
The final thing to note is that the one thing the Chariots of Fire slot does lack, is Chariots! Strangely there isn't a single one mentioned in the game on the symbols or reels or in the bonus features!
Conclusion
Chariots of Fire is something of an enigma, it lacks Chariots for one thing and it is a simple slot to play. However, it doesn't have great play value and the size of the bigger wins on the slot are not so great as to make it worthwhile to battle through the tiny wins to land a bigger one at some point in the future.
Musically, I think the slot hits the mark but the base game seems so punitive with those small wins and it is only when you hit free spins and the Roman Victory bonus round that you start to feel like you are earning something back. It does give you a sense of achievement when you do land a win, but sometimes it costs a lot of time and money to get there.
Ratings
Good luck!
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