Wild West Gold

Wild West Gold Slot: Overview

Pragmatic Play Pragmatic Play has chosen to whisk players away on a journey to the wild frontier, echoing classic gaming experiences. Fans of sticky multiplying wilds during bonus spins will find a familiar thrill in this adventure. NetEnt's 2019 hit title Dead or Alive 2 Does that detract from the experience? Opinions may vary, leaving some players yearning for a bit more substance. While this anticipation is excellent for a story, it's less desirable when real money is on the line.

Let's start by exploring how the theme is executed. What stands out initially is a soundtrack filled with upbeat piano tunes, light chatter, and occasional gunfire, painting a lively saloon scene set in a traditional Wild West town, complete with cowboys and outlaws. The atmosphere is more lively and upbeat than the moody DoA2, offering a fresh take. Wagers start at an accessible 20 p/c and can go up to $/€100 per spin , in line with Pragmatic Play standards. Rated 5/5 for high volatility, the slot's mathematical model proudly showcases an RTP of 96.51% , though this might be less at your chosen casino due to Pragmatic's adjustable RTP standards.

The game presents a straightforward set of rules with minimal complexity. Its main feature is rewarding players with payouts when three or more matching symbols line up left to right across 40 paylines on a 5 reel by 4 row grid.

There are ten regular symbols divided into low, medium, and high-value groups. The low payouts use traditional western font 10-A cards, while medium symbols include a holstered gun and a gold bag. Characters representing high values include a femme fatale with a blade, a female outlaw, and a bearded villain, with a stern sheriff offering the highest reward of 20 times your stake for five in a row. Special wild symbols, however, steal the spotlight, frequently appearing on reels 2, 3, and 4 with multipliers of x2, x3, or x5, which are combined when more than one contributes to a win, amplifying your rewards.

Wild West Gold Slot: Features

Though limited, the free spin round in Wild West Gold enhances engagement and captures excitement, where the blazing sun scatter symbol plays a pivotal role. When three scatter symbols appear on reels 1, 3, and 5, players are rewarded with eight free spins.

Throughout free spins, wild symbols continue to show up on reels 2, 3, and 4, becoming sticky for the round's duration. While the scatter itself isn’t featured in the bonus stage, any symbol, including wilds, may bear a sheriff's badge. If 2, 3, 4, or 5 badges land, they award additional spins (4, 8, 12, or 20 respectively).

An additional safeguard exists during the bonus round: if your free spins end with winnings less than ten times your stake, the game boosts your payout to guarantee a minimum of ten times the stake.

Wild West Gold Slot: Verdict

From the start, Wild West Gold can feel monotonous, and its primary game often yields many low or no-value spins. However, when scatters finally land, the gameplay intensifies rapidly. Before that moment, patience is necessary, and many players may opt for autoplay, attending to other tasks as they wait for the exciting ring that signals free spins.

While the concept of sticky multiplying wilds has proven effective over the years, the rest of the game lacks momentum. It requires more endurance than even Dead or Alive 2. The high volatility is real, often leading to prolonged spins that can diminish your funds like tumbleweeds before reaching the much-anticipated bonus features.

It’s challenging to shake the feeling that Wild West Gold is a less sophisticated homage to Dead or Alive 2. While borrowing elements like thematic and feature design from its inspiration, its potential pales in comparison. While capable of achieving wins up to 6,750 times your stake , it's as if Wild West Gold stands as an aged sidearm to a modern sniper rifle when compared to DoA2's vast payouts.

The crux of the comparison lies in two highly volatile Western-themed games with similar mechanics, yet drastically different potentials. So, why opt for this iteration over its initial muse? The lively ambiance created by its saloon-inspired soundtrack is enjoyable but not notably persuasive. On its own, Wild West Gold offers an acceptable experience, but it seems to fade when held against the game it tries to mimic – think of it like a 'Dead or Alive 2-Lite'.

Enjoy games by Pragmatic Play? Why not explore their inaugural Megaways release Great Rhino Megaways , featuring 6 reels and offering up to 200,704 ways to claim victories up to 20,000 times your stake.