Gems Of The Gods

Lots of casual games have been based on various gem-matching themes, and we have seen a number of slots to use the same type of motif. The Gems of the Gods slot, available at Push Gaming casinos, puts players in a position where they can enjoy similar gameplay as this with an Olympian theme. You'll see the buildings of the Greek gods in the background while you play along with solid overall graphics for the symbols and smooth animation for the general gameplay. The feature-driven style of play for this title gives it a bit more action than what you'd normally see in other games that employ a gem-based concept.

Format and Layout

This title is not like most other video slots. Instead of using a payline-based system, you get wins by lining up at least three of the same type of gem vertically or horizontally (but not diagonally) on the game board. This game board is made up of five vertical columns and five horizontal rows, and the traditional reel system isn't really used.

To make the betting pretty simple, you can choose between 12 different wager sizes per spin. Those start at $0.20 per turn and go up to the $100 level. Since all of the payouts are based on a multiple of how much you've bet on that particular spin, the prizes will scale up or down fairly based on how much you're wagering.

The Cascade Feature

On the right-hand side of the game board, you'll see a meter with multipliers that list out x2, x4, x6 and x8. These are the multipliers for the cascade feature, and they will become highlighted when they are activated as described here.

After you hit at least one winning combination on a spin, the winning symbols will disappear to allow existing symbols to fall down into place. With the exception of the gold medallions that we'll look at below, no new symbols will fall down onto the game board. On the first cascade, the multiplier jumps to 2x for any new wins. If there are new wins, it progresses to 4x for any new wins after that. This continues until there are no new wins.

Lightning Feature

If you get the lightning symbol anywhere after a spin, then it triggers the Lightning Feature. The way this works is that one of the gems on the screen is randomly chosen, and all instances of it are switched over to another gem, which is also randomly chosen. This gives you many more opportunities for winning combinations, but it also makes it easier to clear out as many spaces as possible on the game board, which is important for trying to access the free spins.

Free Spins Bonus Round

If one of the gold medallions at the top of the game reaches one of its corresponding positions at the bottom of the game board thanks to the disappearing symbols for winning combinations, then you get five free spins. It will also stay wild for the entire feature. The game grows to give you a chance for six-of-a-kind combinations.

Important Payouts

You can earn 25x for five of the red gem or 50x for six in the free spins. Along these lines, you can pick up 15x for five or 30x for six of the purple octagon. The purple pentagon gets you 12.5x or 25x for five of a kind or six of a kind, respectively. The dark blue hexagon is worth 10x or 20x for the same, and you can also earn 7.5x or 15x for five or six of the light blue diamond. Finally, the green triangle has a base value of 5x for five of a kind, and that doubles to 10x if you get six of a kind.

In Summary

The combination of features is what really makes this game stand out. As a result, Push Gaming's Gems of the Gods slot has a bit of a different feel to it than other titles that use a gem-based motif. It offers a reasonable volatility, a reasonable hit-rate and some features that can drive up a serious number of payouts in a given spin.

While this title is not without its disadvantages, it seems like the kind of game that will appeal to a fairly large audience. Overall, we like the general appeal and the features, and we think it's decent enough for the style of game it is.