Dead or Alive 2 Slot Review

Back in May of 2009, when NetEnt unleashed Dead or Alive on the slot-verse, few assumed that it would reach the status that it did. The title may seem somewhat rudimentary by today’s standards, but over a decade ago, it was all the rage with its Ennio Morricone -inspired soundtrack and massive win potential. Ten years later, NetEnt figured it was time for a sequel and dropped Dead or Alive 2, a new offering that shares traits with the original. It maintains its spirit while strengthening the established brand.

Theme & Design

If you’ve played the original, then you will feel at home when opening this addition to what is hopefully a series. While the backdrop of the first game was the edge of an American frontier town, with sandstone rock formations on the horizon, in the sequel, the settlement itself is part of the background. You still get flashes of lightning in the sky, and the same lantern sways in the foreground on account of the wind. The backdrops change, depending on which feature is active. The one described is the one you’ll see most, as it’s the base-game one.

The reel grid does not have a formal frame, a wooden arch that’s part of the scenery acts like one. It is also transparent, so you can see into the distance if you look behind the reel symbols. It is a simple yet unique way to add a sense of depth. Painterly illustrations make up the visual presentation with win animations that feature beveled letters.

The game panel is on the bottom of the screen, with displays and buttons nailed on a plank. On the right side, you have your balance and bet adjusters. In the middle are the spin and auto-spin buttons, and on your left, you’ll find the info button. Below this plank, in the lower left, you can mute the game or open the settings.

Specs & Gameplay

Dead or Alive 2, the same as the original game, plays out on a five-reel, three-row grid. It also has only nine paylines and features the same RTP of 96.8%. Again, it is a high variance title that’s suitable for low-rollers, accepting bets ranging from $0.09 to $18. Wins happen when you land three or more matching symbols on a pay line, left to right. The max exposure is x111,111.

Though updated, the pay symbols remain the same as in the original, and they pay the same for five of a kind. On the low-end, you have your royals 10 to A. On the high-end, from the top-paying one downwards, you have a sheriff’s badge, a revolver, a hat, a pair of cowboy boots, and a whiskey bottle. For five of a kind, they will pay from x2.77 to x111.11 your wager.

The five characters are the Wilds, and they substitute all symbols except for the Scatter, which is an image of two colts and a steer skull. If you land five Scatters, you will get a prize worth x2,500 your bet.

Bonus Features

What’s different from the first version is that this sequel boasts three free spin rounds. If you hit three or more Scatters, you get to pick one of three different bonus rounds. Ranked in terms of variance, these are Old Saloon, High Noon Saloon, and Train Heist. You get twelve free spins to start in each one.

In the Old Saloon mode, all wins get multiplied x2, and if one or more Sticky Wilds appear, you get five more free spins. The High Noon Saloon mode is more complicated. At the start, you’ll get no win multipliers, but any Wild you hit becomes Sticky. If you land two or three Wilds on the same reel, they get transformed into x2 and x3 Multiplier Wilds. These multipliers only apply when they are a segment of a winning combo. When in this mode, if you land one or more Sticky Wilds, you’ll also get five free spins extra. The Train Heist Free Spins does not feature sticky Wilds. However, whenever you hit a Wild, the win multiplier grows by x1 up to x16, and you get an extra free spin. If you reach the x16 multiplier, then you get five additional free spins.

In October of 2020, NetEnt announced that it is releasing the bonus buy version of the game in specific jurisdictions. It allows you to buy three Scatters on the reels for a cost of x66 your bet.

GOSU Verdict

There probably has never been such a long-awaited sequel in the online casino industry. The old title is still competitive and is giving this new addition a run for its money. That said, while it maintains its popularity, the first game cannot compete, audio-visually or feature-wise. Naturally, given the time between both releases, this is a vastly superior game, and with a max exposure of over x100,000, it’s one of the best non-progressive slots around.

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