February 21, 2019 put an end to the long-awaited release of Champions of Rome, and games developer Yggdrasil Gaming did expertly manipulate the ancient Rome theme in this slot game. Champions of Rome is an ultra-modern reproduction of the gutsy fighting scenes associated with the heroic gladiators, who wowed ancient Romans with their trained sword fighting skills while competing—with animals or among themselves—for fighting championships.

Yggdrasil’s other fighting-themed include Vikings series, Super Heroes (October 2016), Lucha Maniacs (April 2018), and Hanzo’s Dojo (August 2018). Gladiator Road to Rome from Playtech, Spartacus Gladiator of Rome from WMS, and Gladiator of Rome from 1×2 Gaming are among the rival games. Champions of Rome players match three, four, or five sword fighting-related symbols.

Champions of Rome Game Characteristics
With 20 fixed pay lines and a 5X3 grid, Champions of Rome has ten ordinary and six special symbols. The six high-paying ordinary symbols: a Roman trooper wearing an open face golden helmet; a Murmillo gladiator in a multi-holed bronze helmet; a Secutor gladiator in a two-hole (for eyes) iron helmet; predator (lion) mask; bird mask; and animal (bull) mask.

The four low-paying ordinary symbols are golden, silver, bronze, and brass coins, each embossed with a gladiator armed with a shield and sword. Champions of Rome’s six special symbols: a beast (buffalo-like) mask; a consolation prize-giving king dressed in red and white; a deathmatch mode shield (a lion and sword); a training mode feature (partly wooden shield and sword); a “Free Spins” symbol (gladiator in a pointy-horned mask); and a golden “Wild”/substitute.

Buying free spins, a maximum of X4 multiplier in the deathmatch mode, and gladiator-based Wilds are highlighted in the starting page. Champions of Rome’s coin values: $0.005, $0.01, $0.02, $0.03, $0.04, $0.05, $0.07, $0.10, $0.15, $0.20, $0.25, $0.30, $0.50, $0.70, $1.00, $1.50, $2.00, $2.50, $3.00, $3.50, $4.00, $4.50, and $5.00.

Champions of Rome’s total bets: $0.10 (minimum), $0.20, $0.40, $0.60, $0.80, $1.00, $1.40, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00, $6.00, $10.00, $14.00, $20.00, $30.00, $40.00, $50.00, $60.00, $70.00, $80.00, $90.00, and $100.00 (maximum).

Champions of Rome’s payouts for three, four, and five combinations, respectively: Roman troopers offer X40, X120, and X1200; Murmillo gladiators pay X40, X110, and X1100; Secutor gladiators have X40, X100, and X1000; predator masks give X10, X 50, and X120; bird masks offer X10, X40, and X110; and bulls have X10, X300, and X100.

The golden coin, silver coin, bronze coin, and brass coin all pay X4, X10, and X30. During the deathmatch mode, “7” free spins, “6” free spins, and “5” free spins offer X2 multiplier, X3 multiplier, and X4 multiplier, respectively. Matching three, four, and five “Free Spins” offers 20 coins, 300 coins, and 12000 coins, respectively, plus the said number of free spins.

The beast mask, which may show anywhere except on reels 1 and 5, offers free spins whenever it is a thrown spear strikes it. If Champions of Rome players “Buy Bonus” with 1000 credits, the trooper, Murmillo, and Secutor gladiators throw spears towards the grid in all rounds, thereby triggering wilds. The randomly-triggered consolation prizes, following a losing streak, can be: a minimum of 450 coins during the deathmatch mode; and between 40 and 200 coins, equivalent to five free spins for the training mode. The non-progressive jackpot is X3000 the staked amount.

Champions of Rome’s software is good. Graphically, the sword fighting aura is remarkably recreated, including the crowded arena, muscled and tattooed fighters, and signaling king. The ambience sound creates tension, and the swords clashing sound effect adds historic relevance.

Luck in Champions of Rome
A game of chance, Champions of Rome’s RTP rate is 96.4% and its house edge is 3.6%.