Greek mythology is full of fascinating stories that are a part of our cultural legacy. We all grew up reading the tales of power and revenge featuring the mighty Gods from Olympus, and we are frequently reminded of the colorful personalities of members of the pantheon through pop culture references. Over the decades, Greek Gods were featured in comic books, novels, full-length films, video games… That’s why it comes as no surprise this theme is frequently found in online casinos as well.
Don’t forget, these stories are thousands of years old, but their appeal is not fading. Let’s discuss why Greek Gods are feeling so much at home on casino slot machine online platforms in Canada and the rest of the Western world.
Cultural Relevance of Greek Mythology
There is a clear line of heritage from ancient Greece to modern Western democracies. Our scientific principles, our political systems, our artistic and literary pursuits – all of that comes directly from the Greeks. While the culture that created these lasting contributions to civilisation as we know it may not exist anymore, its image is still reverberating through our collective consciousness. The Gods are a part of it all, as we can’t really separate history from the myth and we associate Greek mythology with the ancient city-states and the later empire where they were worshipped. You don’t need to be super educated to know who is who among the main Greek Gods, so any mention of them instantly reminds you of everything you learned about this magical time in the distant past. In other words, we are inclined to react to these imaginary characters whenever we encounter their modern embodiments.
Immortal Gods Are Great Protagonists… or Villains
What better character could you want in the centre of your story than an immortal? Game designers have discovered that Greek Gods are perfect protagonists who can wield magical powers and create powerful artifacts at will while pursuing their agendas and trying to outwit their equally powerful rivals. Stories about Gods and their interactions with mortals are compelling, in large part because it is so easy to identify with Poseidon or Aphrodite. It’s just as convenient that some Gods are quite scary, for example the ruler of the underworld Hades and his favourite puppy Cerberus. With characters like this, any game has instant credibility and a potential to draw in curious players who want to learn more about the myth and play out the possible scenarios. Of course, those characters don’t have to be 100% faithful replicas of mythological beings, and can be tweaked in any way that fits the game.
God Powers Are Easy To Integrate Into Gameplay
A typical slot game comes with lots of special features that give the player different types of advantages. It’s very easy to connect these in-game events with divine powers and make them an integral part of the backstory. Since Greek Gods are well-known and have distinct personalities and domains over which they preside, it’s very simple to derive creative features based on them. Zeus will always be related to lightning, Apollo with the Sun, and Artemis with nature and animals. At the same time, deviating slightly from the canon is unlikely to make anyone too upset, since Gods and their defining traits are made up anyway. This setting gives designers a lot of freedom, but it also offers some instant solutions that are almost certain to work.
Mystical Atmosphere Supports An Adventure
The main purpose of the story and visual theme in online gaming is to set up the mood and get the player into a mindset that lets him forget about the real world. Being transported to Mount Olympus and brushing shoulders with mythical creatures and Gods is a fantastic kicker that makes all the gaming action much more enjoyable. When those elements are present, the game isn’t just about hitting the winning combination any more – it becomes a mystical quest that challenges your patience, intelligence, cunning, and dedication. That’s why online games based on Greek mythology are so readily replayable and many players come back to them over and over, as the familiar atmosphere helps them to relax and enter this world full of amazing things.
Greek Mythology Offers a Blueprint for a Great Narrative
There is a reason why stories about Greek Gods survived all those centuries – they are totally captivating and loaded with suspense and surprises. In many ways, Gods act similarly to humans and get involved in petty squabbles, jealous episodes, bitter betrayals, surprise comebacks and a bunch of other stuff that is really interesting to follow. While online games can use only tiny bits of the existing material, that’s enough to set the stage for great drama and excitement. Skillful storytellers can take some of the narrative threads from Greek mythology and expand them in any way that fits their intentions. The trick is to keep the player in the centre of the story and let him discover the secrets of this magical world by completing in-game actions that advance the plot.
