Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena: Overview

Rich Wilde has become a standout hit series for Swedish studio Play’n GO. In the fifth entry, the adventurer dives into the lost mysteries of Atlantis in Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena. Legend has it Athena wielded a unique shield known as the Aegis, and she would occasionally loan it to those she favoured.

The best-known recipient is arguably Perseus, who used the shield to avoid meeting Medusa’s lethal stare head-on. That triumph may explain why the snake-haired Gorgon appears on the shield. As for what other abilities it holds, that remains unclear. Maybe by tagging along with Rich, we’ll uncover the answers.

In Shield of Athena, you’re not only partnered with the sharp-eyed explorer. This time his daughter Cat Wilde also joins the expedition, looking like a blend of Jennifer Anniston and Lara Croft. Honestly, she comes across a bit old to be Rich’s (who seems to have aged remarkably well) daughter, but that’s creative freedom for you.

Following the cascading grid approach of Tome of Madness, Rich is back in a more classic format with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 10 fixed paylines. In that respect, it’s about as close as we’ve come to a true Book of Dead follow-up. The reels are framed by Greek-style pillars, with torrents of water pouring into the backdrop. The atmosphere is dark and dramatic, rivalled only by Rich’s intensely serious stare. Choose a wager from 10 p/c to $/€100 and start the underwater hunt.

The mechanics are straightforward: land three matching symbols from left to right on a payline to win. The symbol set is as polished as the environment, divided into 5 low pays and 4 high pays. Low pays are the familiar 10-A royals, though here they’re sculpted like stone and finished with vibrant colour accents. The premium symbols are more tempting, featuring a Golden Owl, a Pendant of Courage, the Ring of Wisdom, the Helm of Athena, and the Shield of Athena.

Payouts can be huge, with 5 regular Shields on a payline delivering a hefty 500 times the stake – and that doubles once it becomes a Wild Shield. Rich is the standard wild, paying 1,000 times the stake for five on a line. Wilds substitute for any paying symbol to help complete additional wins.

Anyone who enjoys simple gameplay paired with serious volatility will get it in Shield of Athena. Play’n GO has set volatility at 10/10, essentially maxed out, which pairs powerfully with the rest of the design. The default RTP sits at 96.25% with no concerns there. However, RTP can be reduced, so it’s wise to check the paytable to confirm the setting.

Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena: Features

This part focuses on respins and free spins, which are strong individually and even better when combined. First up is the Medusa Respin feature, which can trigger on any spin when the Shield of Athena wild lands on the reels. Once activated, one respins is granted, and the standard Shield of Athena symbol changes into a wild.

While the respin plays out, all Shield of Athena symbols, along with any winning symbols, stay locked in place. If additional Shields or winning symbols land, they lock too and another respin follows. Respins keep going until no new Shield of Athena symbols or winning symbols appear, after which the total wins are paid. One more detail: any Rich Wilde wilds or Cat Wilde scatters are converted into Wild Shields.

Next, the Medusa Respin also features within the second bonus – the Medusa’s Gaze Free Spins. Unlike the mythic Medusa who turned warriors to stone, this version is far more appealing. It triggers when 3, 4, or 5 Cat Wilde scatters land to award 10, 12, or 15 Medusa’s Gaze Free Spins. During this round, the Medusa Respin is permanently active for the entire feature. It can also retrigger without limit, with 3, 4, 5, scatters granting another 10, 12, or 15 free spins.

Rich Wilde and the Shield of Athena: Verdict

Riche Wilde and the Shield of Athena is an impressively produced slot. It may not reinvent the wheel, but what it offers is executed with real care, with all parts fitting together smoothly – from the crisp visuals to the paytable and the excellent features. There are only two features to shake up the base game, yet they can escalate wildly, particularly the Medusa Respins when they build up piles of Wild Shields.

After the grid-based approach of the previous chapter, Shield of Athena feels like a move back toward its Book of Dead-inspired foundation. The play is uncomplicated, sticks to a traditional layout, and still offers plenty of potential, with maximum wins of up to 10,000 times the stake available.

It’s fair to say Shield of Athena ranks among Rich Wilde’s strongest adventures so far. It’s clean and simple, the features are well balanced, and there are no obvious weaknesses. The math model can punish players who aren’t ready for it, but others will appreciate exactly that. In the end, the gameplay aligns perfectly with the math, and the premium symbols help deliver a highly entertaining experience. For now, Shield of Athena stands as a solid sequel to Book of Dead. Whether it becomes a lasting classic remains to be seen.