The world of online slots is a vast and thrilling expanse, filled with an array of games that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. Among these, one game stands out for its sheer audacity and brazen disregard for conventional norms: "Wanted Dead or Alive" Wanted Dead Or A Wild available at wanteddeadora-wild.com (also known as "Wanted Dead Or A Wild Slot"), a five-reel slot machine designed by Playtech, the renowned software development company behind some of the world’s most popular online casino games. In this exhaustive review, we delve into every aspect of "Wanted Dead or Alive," exploring its theme, design, features, payouts, volatility, and much more.
Theme and Design
The game is set in a Wild West landscape, evoking images of rugged outlaws and saloon brawls. Upon launching the game, players are transported to a dusty, sun-scorched street scene where bandits, gunslingers, and ladies await. The reels themselves appear as wooden crates and metal containers stacked against the wall of a dilapidated building, with coins scattered around them. Each symbol has been painstakingly designed to blend seamlessly into this Wild West setting.
Symbols
Symbols in "Wanted Dead or Alive" are carefully selected to match its lawless theme:
- The lowest-paying symbols include playing cards (A-K-Q-J) depicted as poker chips.
- Higher-value symbols consist of a sheriff’s badge, a saloon girl, a cowboy, and an outlaw, each contributing significantly more than the cards.
Payouts
Pays in "Wanted Dead or Alive" follow the standard slot machine payout structure:
- Paylines are fixed at 20 lines per spin.
- Symbols pay from left to right on adjacent reels only.
- Wilds can substitute for all symbols except scatters and bonus icons.
Wilds
The game features a single wild symbol, the Sheriff’s Badge. It can appear anywhere on the reels and replace any standard symbol (except scatters) in winning combinations. The sheriff is an influential figure; when appearing on reel 1 or 3 with at least one Wild West girl (saloon lady), it triggers a bonus feature.
Scatters
The Scatter icon, represented by a "Wanted" poster, does not contribute to any payline wins but awards free spins and scatters their respective rewards:
- Three or more scatter symbols trigger the Free Spins Bonus.
- In addition to awarding extra rounds of play, they grant cash prizes on top.
Bonuses and Features
Free Spins
Triggered by 3+ Scatters, "Wanted Dead Or A Wild Slot" offers a free spins bonus round. The number of spins is directly related to the total number of scatter symbols that landed during the initial triggering spin:
- Three scatters = 10 Free Spins
- Four scatters = 20 Free Spins
- Five or more scatters grant 50 Free Spins, with each subsequent occurrence increasing the award by 10 free spins
In the bonus round, an expanding Wild (Sheriff) will appear in all positions on reels 1-3 to increase wins.
RTP and Volatility
"Wanted Dead Or A Wild Slot" is categorized as a medium volatility game. This means it should offer regular payouts but may not award massive jackpots frequently. The Return to Player percentage, though variable among casinos (due to some offering different versions), generally ranges between 95% and 96%.
Betting Range
To accommodate players with varying budgets, "Wanted Dead or Alive" features a comprehensive betting range:
- Minimum bet: $0.01 per line
- Maximum bet: $100 per spin