Dead or Alive Review
There's no doubting it, Dead or Alive is a true classic amongst online slot enthusiasts, this epic 5-reel, 9 payline Wild West-themed slot developed by NetEnt became a cult classic from the moment it was released way back in 2009.
Punters have always flocked to play this game for one reason, it's winning potential, whilst winning 12,000x your initial stake isn't anything huge in this day and age (especially compared to the game's successor Dead or Alive 2). That said, this game still has a hell of a lot to offer in terms of maximum wins, even years on from its release.
Of course. having sticky wilds and a lucrative free spins bonus feature that can see players win up to 29 free spins with all wins doubled has always helped considerably when it comes to drawing players in.
Design
NetEnt was truly ahead of its time in 2009 when they designed Dead or Alive. This slot perfectly encapsulates the menacing Wild West. The reels are set upon what looks to be a set of fenceposts you might see outside any traditional wooden building in the American frontier.
Behind the reels are vast, dusty plains with a handful of interactive elements on show. An old lantern swings as the wind picks up, an old windmill spins on occasion and a flash of lightning and thunder occasionally hits.
In terms of symbols, low paying ones are your standard royal deck, 10, J, Q, K & A whilst high paying symbols are a glass of whiskey, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, a gun on a holster and a Sherriff's badge. The game's wild symbol is a wanted poster and the scatter symbol is two crossed guns and a pile of bullets.
Apart from some ambient noise in the background, this slot is pretty disappointing in that department, that said we have to remember that this game was released over a decade ago, so we can't be too harsh at all.
Gameplay
This 5-reel, 9 payline slot is as simple as they come. Players can change their coin value and bet level on the left-hand side of the action bar at the bottom of the screen. In the centre, players can set a maximum of 1000 autoplay spins, spin the reels and play the max bet.
Win Potential
As mentioned earlier in the review, the reason Dead or Alive was so popular with online slot fans is because of its win potential. This medium volatility slot has an above-average return to play of 96.82% and has a maximum win potential of 12,000x the player's initial stake, which was quite frankly huge when this slot was released back in 2009.
Throw in the game's free spin bonus round that has sticky wilds and sees ALL wins doubled, then we have to put this slot towards the top end of the pile. If you're after a classic no-thrills online slot then we'd highly recommend Dead or Alive.
Our Verdict
This game doesn't mess about one bit, it might be a tiny bit light in the way of bonus features, but what can we expect from a slot that's more than a decade old? Dead or Alive 2 looks, sounds and plays fantastically and has great winning potential, this slot will fill your coffers with coins rather than leaving you skint (Eastwood)!
A keen sports bettor, Sam took his first foray into the world of online slots when Bonanza Megaways caught his eye, he’s never looked back since! He joined the team in 2019 and has developed an encyclopedic knowledge of online slots, he isn’t afraid to voice his honest opinion when reviewing new games, even if it does ruffle a few feathers.
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