Dead or Alive 2

Years have gone by without NetEnt even hinting at a sequel. We can certainly understand why they took so long.

If you’re making a sequel for a cult classic, you want to do it right. So, does this NetEnt release live up to its predecessor?

Dead or Alive 2 Slot

The slot is played on five reels, with each reel being three symbols high. This is paired with only nine fixed paylines. In this regard, it’s exactly the same as the original. As much as we wanted more winlines, we’re glad they didn’t go that route. It would have changed the game’s feel too much.

To get a win, you have to collect three or more identical icons in consecutive position, starting with the leftmost reel. The winning combination must follow one of nine active paylines, or else the cash prize will not be awarded.

Where this release won us over were the special features! Rather than drastically changing Dead or Alive 2 and risk alienating their fans, NetEnt went another route. The original’s sticky Wilds and free spins combo is still in the slot! But now, there are two other free spins bonuses to enhance your experience. Oh, and did we mention you can pick which special feature will be played?

Theme & Symbols

With the upgraded graphics and gorgeous animations, the cowboy theme looks better than ever before! On top of that, the developer added a few minor interactions to truly make the game shine. While you’re spinning the reels, you can pass the time by shooting bottles or the lantern. It didn’t have to be there, but it is, and it feels awesome!

The background image is a nice throw-back to the original as well. It looks different enough to count as its own thing. And yet, all the key elements are still there. The distant mountains are now much closer, and a single barn has become the whole village. The sky is much brighter and colorful, but stormy clouds still lurk on the sidelines. They couldn’t do it better if they tried.

Symbol design also references the original. Both the playing card royals and the cowboy-themed icons depict the same thing as before. Except now, they have the benefit of much more powerful hardware and talented artists to help them stand out!

How to Play Dead or Alive 2 Slot

The game is played on a 5×3 board with 9 fixed paylines. One of the few downsides of the original was the small amount of paylines. We hoped that the sequel might fix this, but NetEnt decided a faithful recreation was more important. We can’t hold that against the developer. Especially since we now have three different special features to balance out the low winline count, compared to just one.

This NetEnt release improves on its ancestor by letting online gamblers pick their poison. If you just want the same old Dead or Alive with upgraded graphics, you could pick the old special feature. Alternatively, you can also try your luck at the other two free spins bonuses that the developer added in the sequel! The presence of this choice means this sequel can appeal to both crowds at once.

The upside of having only 9 fixed paylines is that your minimum stake is only €0.09. However, your maximum wager isn’t €18 like in the original. Instead, it’s seemingly been downgraded to only €9. However, we will defend NetEnt for this change. Since you have to consider the new jackpot isn’t 3000x, but 111,111x!

Dead or Alive 2 Slot Bonus Features

We love the ability to choose our favorite special feature. Most games don’t allow you to do this, which is a huge missed opportunity. Let’s hope the success of this NetEnt release gives the developer a clue for the future!

• Free Spins

All three bonuses are a variation of free spins. Collect three or more Scatters to win twelve free spins. Available special features include the following:

• Old Saloon

This is the free spins bonus that was present in Dead or Alive 2’s predecessor. All wins are doubled thanks to the 2x multiplier. Furthermore, all Wilds become sticky for the duration of the extra turns. If you have at least one sticky Wild in each reel, you win five more free spins.

• High Noon Saloon

When two or three Wilds land on the same reel, they transform into Double or Triple Multiplier Wilds, respectively. If these Wilds become part of a winning combination, the cash prize will double or triple. Like in Old Saloon, one sticky Wild in each reel earns you five extra free spins.

• Train Heist

Each time a Wild appears, it increases your multiplier by one. A meter will keep track of how high your multiplier is currently. If you reach a 16x multiplier, you win five additional free spins.

Payouts

This slot has a high volatility, and a stunning maximum prize worth 111,111x! The RTP for Dead or Alive 2 is 96.82%, exactly the same as the original game.