In recent years, online casinos have witnessed an influx of various themed slots that attempt to capture players’ attention. Among them is NetEnt’s „Dead or Alive,” a slot machine game steeped in Wild West lore, promising untold thrills and lucrative rewards for brave gamers willing to take on the challenge.
Theme and Design
Upon entering the world of Dead or Alive, players are immediately immersed in an atmosphere reminiscent of 1880s’ lawlessness. The design is heavily influenced by the classic Western movies dead or alive of Hollywood’s Golden Age. With its crisp, bold colors and authentic Wild West aesthetic, the game sets itself apart from more conventional slots. Each element has been meticulously crafted to transport gamers to a gritty, yet enthralling world.
One notable feature in Dead or Alive is the dynamic theme music that adapts according to players’ progress through the bonus features. This ingenious touch not only creates an engaging atmosphere but also heightens anticipation for what unfolds on screen.
Symbols and Payouts
Dead or Alive employs a standard 5×3 slot format, populated with a set of 9 paying symbols inspired by the world of outlaws and gunslingers:
- Low-paying symbols comprise the lettered „A,” „K,” „Q,” and „J” in different font styles.
- The game’s high-paying symbols feature various characters from Wild West lore: a revolver-wielding outlaw, a sheriff, a saloon girl, two bandits, and a gang leader.
The payouts for each symbol are as follows:
Symbol Low Paying J 10 K 15 Q 30 A 45
High-Paying Symbols
Symbol High Paying (2-5 of a kind) Sheriff 50/100/200/300/5000 coins Saloon Girl 60/120/250/400/6000 coins Bandit with Pistol 80/160/320/800/12000 coins Outlaw (Revolver) 100/220/440/1100/17000 coins
Wilds and Scatters
Dead or Alive incorporates several dynamic features designed to significantly impact gameplay:
- The wild symbol, represented by the bandit’s logo, functions as a standard substitute for any of the other symbols except scatters.
- Three types of scatter symbols are present: High Roller Scatter (Gold), Wild West Scatter (White and Blue), and Bonus Scatter (Red). Scatters play multiple roles:
- The Red Scatter triggers Dead or Alive Free Spins feature when three appear anywhere on screen, while the White/Blue Scattered trigger two sets of free spins, one with low-volatility wins.
- High Roller is used to gamble winnings.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
Dead or Alive’s core entertainment package revolves around its rich bonus features:
- High Volatility Mode: When activated, this mode reduces volatility but increases the size of potential payouts. It can be enabled by clicking on the „Space Invaders”-style high-volatility icon when three White/Blue Scatters appear.
- Low Volatility Mode: As mentioned earlier, entering this state through High Roller Scatter makes wins more consistent yet smaller.
Dead or Alive Free Spins Feature
Three features are tied to scatters: the standard Red (Bonus), and two modes activated by two different scatter combinations: White/Blue High-Volatility and Low-Volatility.
The Dead or Alive feature can be unlocked in three ways:
- Free Spins through Red Scattered When three bonus icons land, they activate an award of up to twenty rounds free spins plus a multiplier that may go as high as tenfold.
- White/Blue High-Volatility Mode
Getting three White or Blue (Scatters) rewards a maximum of 25 no-cost turns with two levels of potential gains.
- If just White and/or Blue Scattered landed without triggering the Wild West, then players get up to twenty rounds.
- White/Blue Low Volatility Mode If only either white or blue scatter triggered three times during spins (no wild west bonus), the maximum rewarded rounds would be thirty.