Spin that Reel – Dead or Alive II slot review

When Netent launched Dead or Alive back in 2009 they would never have guessed that this slot would become one of the most played slots of all time. The highly volatile Western-themed slot got a growing crowd of fans and the slot remains popular to this day.

But now there is a new competitor on the block. Fortunately for Netent, this slot is also their creation. Dead or Alive 2 that was launched on April 24, 2019. This sequel comes with five reels, three symbols per reel and nine pay lines. The minimum bet is only 9 cents per spin and the maximum bet is 9 euro. The reason for the maximum bet to be ‘only’ 9 euros is because of the huge volatility on this slot game. The maximum win is a whopping 111,111.11 your stake. Some casinos even set the max bet size lower than 9 euros.

dead or alive 2 base game win

Like the original, Dead or Alive II takes place in a remote American western town from the nineteenth century. The graphics have a lot of detail and this gives the game a high-quality look. And the same goes for the music and sound effects that have been well made and add up to the high-quality standard of this game.

On the reels we find the yellow sheriff star, a gun, a cowboy hat, cowboy boots and a bottle of whiskey that we all know from Dead or Alive I, and of course the well-known A, K, Q, J and 10. Dead or Alive II also has five different bandits that act as wilds – each role has a different one that can land anywhere on its reel. We have Apache the Kid, Della Rose, Jesse James, Belle Star and Billy the Kid.

Last but not least there is the scatter symbol: two crossed pistols with a buffalo skull above it. If you spin three or more scatters, you win free spins in one of the bonus games. That’s right, Dead or Alive II comes with more than one bonus game.

scatter symbols dead or alive 2

Free Spin features Dead or Alive 2

Dead or Alive II is all about the 3 free spins features – you can access them by getting 3 scatters or more anywhere on the reels. If you get 5 scatters on the same spin, your reward will be a cool 2,500 times your stake. The bonus game has 12 free spins and a choice of 3 bonus features where you decide how volatile you want to go.

dead or alive 2 train heist bonus game

Train Heist Free Spins feature – this is the lowest variance option and sees a wild counter above the reel set. Every wild symbol that lands anywhere on the reels adds to the wild counter and increases the multiplier by 1 – you will also get 1 more free spin. The multiplier can reach a maximum of 16x if you’re lucky. If you reach the maximum, you will get an extra 5 free spins on top. More wild symbols will result in additional free spins and the multiplier increasing further until your luck runs out.

dead or alive 2 old saloon bonus game

Old Saloon Free Spins feature – this medium variance option is the same as in the original Dead or Alive slot. All wins are subject to a 2x multiplier and a wild landing on all 5 reels/outlaws at once will give you 5 additional free spins. All wilds are sticky which means they remain throughout the whole feature once they land.

dead or alive 2 high noon saloon bonus game

High Noon Saloon Free Spins feature – this is the highest variance choice and uses NetEnt’s MAX concept. The sticky wilds come with 2x and 3x multipliers. If you get 1 or more wilds on the same free spin, they are multiplied by each other’s value. You will win 5 extra free spins if you get 1 or more sticky wilds on each of the reels. Every free spin can provide you with payouts of up to 40,500 times your total stake – the maximum you can win in this feature is capped at 111,111.11 times your total stake! We wonder if this will ever happen.

dead or alive 2 bonus game

Our verdict

Dead or Alive 2 is for sure one of the best releases in 2019 and yes, we know it is only may when we write this down. We also think it has a good chance to win some awards for the best game and it will get a new crowd of fans for sure.

The High Noon Saloon Free Spins feature is where you want to go if you want to win big and we are sure most Dead or Alive I players will choose this bonus feature over the other two. Needless to say, Dead or Alive II is as volatile as slots come, an no doubt this slot will become a cult favorite like its predecessor. So get your boots on, get them guns out and let’s raid that old dusty town!

Specifications Dead or Alive 2

  • Developer: Netent
  • Reels: 5
  • Win lines: 9
  • Bid: € 0.09 to € 9
  • Jackpot: Yes, over 100.000 times your stake
  • Volatility: high
  • Bonus Feature: Yes, train heist, old saloon and high noon saloon with sticky wilds
  • RTP: 96.8%

Read other reviews such as Final Countdown and Temple Tumble.