Design and Audio
NetEnt is among those game providers who excited the demand for slots inspired by Wild West themes. In Dead or Alive, the Old West looms over every game aspect. But in this slot, the setting is darker and more ominous, with a huge mass of black clouds gradually moving in your direction. Peals of thunder emanate from the smoky sky, whereas reels are set inside a wooden frame designed in the typical Wild West style.
A whipping splash is heard each time you click on a button. Apart from this, the slot doesn't delve much into the background score, which we feel could have elevated the game's mood even further.
Features
Dead or Alive was a sensation whose tremors of success are still felt today in online casinos. Having just two bonus features might not seem enough today, but back then, these two features were more than anything punters could ask for. Even so, both these features are imbibed with sufficient merits capable of charting big wins in your name.
Free Spins
Look out for the pistol and bullet icon, which represents the game's scatter symbol. Once you get 3+ scatters on a spin, 12 free spins are dispensed in your favor. All wins are enriched with a 2x multiplier during the free spins feature. Only one retrigger is allowed, but you can carry forward sticky wild symbols from the initial free spins feature to the retrigger.
Sticky Wild
The WANTED poster denotes Dead or Alive's wild symbol. Wilds substitutes all the game symbols except scatters. When a sticky wild symbol occurs on the reels during free spins, it stays fixed in its position. Also, landing one or more sticky wilds during free spins awards 5 additional free spins.
Payouts
For wins to occur, it is necessary to land 3 or more matching symbols on a spin. All winning symbols must arrange themselves in consecutive order from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel. Helping you win payouts in the slot are A to 10 card royals offering up to 11.11x the stake for five of a kind. Then we greet the thematic symbols, which are more generous in terms of payouts. Among these, we find glasses of whiskey, boots, hats, gun belts, and sheriff badges offering 22.22x to 111.11x the bet for lining up five identical symbols on a payline.
Wilds and scatters are also not without their rewards. Where wilds provide up to 166.66x, scatters offer the most profitable payout of 277.77x the stake for five matched ones. If your ambition is for an even bigger win, Dead or Alive can fulfill that demand by offering the maximum win of 13,888x the bet.
Theme
NetEnt's Dead or Alive sets the stage for a bloody action between outlaws and sheriffs. The setting is a deserted rural town deliberately sketched to set a foreboding atmosphere. There is nothing much to look forward to in this game except the approaching storm, not just clouds but also a storm of violence streaked with gunpowder.
Volatility
Dead or Alive is one of those slots that has set the standard for high-volatility games. The game's high variance suggests wins are not easy to come by, but once you get lucky, there won't be any stopping you from claiming a big chunk of money.
Winnings
About the Game Provider
NetEnt is rightfully credited as one of the stalwarts in the igaming industry. A major factor behind the enormous success of online casinos and games is this game provider, which began its breakthrough journey in 1996. Since then, the slot has outshone several of its competitors through sheer perseverance, technological innovations, expansive business model, and skillful craftsmanship.
Slots like Gonzo's Quest and Dead or Alive have already established NetEnt in the best books of operators. Now, the company is opening its gates to crypto casinos, where gaming possibilities are taking new turns. A glance into the game provider's long success trajectory confirms at least one thing: the company is going to remain a dominant force in the years to come.
Final Considerations
Dead or Alive has already reached its peak of success, and it doesn't seem like it will be coming down any soon. But is the slot still worth playing in 2024? The answer is a big yes! First, with an impressive RTP of 96.82%, the game delivers an excellent math model, which shames many latest releases. Then comes the maximum win of 13,888x with high variance, adding icing on the cake. And lastly, it is always fun playing a nostalgic casino game that has won so much love and admiration from players in the past years.
