Dead or Alive 2 Pokie Review

 

NetEnt released the original Dead or Alive online pokie all the way back in 2009. Over the years, it’s become one of their most popular titles thanks to innovative gameplay and generous payouts.

Now, 13 years later, the designers have turned out a sequel. It’s called Dead or Alive 2, appropriately enough, and it has all the Wild West energy of its predecessor.

Finding the Game

If you’ve got a hankering to play Dead or Alive 2, you’ll need to locate an online casino with NetEnt games. For Australian gamblers, I suggest giving Spin Samurai a look. They’ve been around since 2020, and they offer more than 3,500 games (plus a 98% overall payout).

RTP

A game’s RTP (or “return to player”) provides the long-term average payout for an individual pokie. Of course, you’ll need hundreds or even thousands of spins to reach this percentage, as anything less will be subject to short-term variance.

The RTP for Dead or Alive 2 is 96.82%, which may be the highest percentage I’ve come across. Most online pokies are around 96%, while those in land-based casinos are much lower.

Volatility Level

The official NetEnt site lists Dead or Alive 2 as a high volatility game. This means regular wins won’t occur as often, but there’s a better chance of jackpots landing close together.

Wild Symbols

These symbols, which take the form of a variety of Old West cutthroats, substitute for all symbols other than the scatter. Based on the game’s paytable, these substitutions pay the highest win combination on a bet line.

Virtual reels for Dead or Alive 2 pokie

Scatter Symbols

This symbol is comprised of an animal skull and a pair of six-shooters. It only appears in the main game, but it offers a payout when two or more scatters land in any position.

Free Spin Options

When three scatter symbols land on the reels, the game activates the Free Spin round. When this occurs, the player may choose from three different games. These include the following:

  • Old Saloon Free Spins – This option carries a medium level of volatility. Any win during this phase carries a 2x multiplier. The player can re-trigger this round by landing one or more sticky wilds on each of the reels (for an additional five spins).
  • Train Heist Free Spins – Of these three options, this one has the lowest level of volatility. A wild counter appears above the reels, and getting. Each time a wild icon lands on the reels, your multiplier increases by one (up to 16x). At the same time, the player also receives another spin.
  • High Noon Free Spins – This option has the highest volatility of the three. During this phase, there are sticky wilds with multiplier of 2x and 3x. If one or more sticky wilds land on each reel, then the player gets an extra five spins.

Final Thoughts

The artwork and music are excellent, so I would recommend Dead or Alive 2 to any gambler who also happens to be interested in the American Old West. The game’s RTP is also one of the best that I’ve ever seen on a pokie, so that’s another reason to give it a try.

While the rest of the game won’t blow your mind, I did enjoy the ability to choose from three free spin options. Add that to the advantages discussed in the previous paragraph, and you’ve got an above-average pokie that gives the original version some serious competition.