I Am Dead Reviews
Matching smart (if simple) puzzle thinking and intricate exploration, I Am Dead's Shelmerston is well worth visiting.
MRIs and chandleries and lobster pots and seaside museums - what a game
A charmingly offbeat exploration and object finding game which is at least as much about its characters and their stories as it is the mechanics of your search.
A delightful puzzle adventure full of charm, personality, and satisfying ghostly X-ray vision mechanics
I Am Dead's personal tales and charming setting make it a touching exploration of life after death.
If you are looking for a charming little puzzler and hidden object game then you cannot go wrong with I Am Dead. The story experience can be swept through in a few hours, and they will pass quite quickly, but it's an unforgettable journey.
I Am Dead has a very interesting story to tell, a colorful and varied environment in which to tell it, and a very cool way of going about the telling. The use of ghostly powers to explore, but never directly interact with the world, yet still solve puzzles was quite fun and unique. The more I unraveled of the mystery, the more intrigued I was and the more I wanted to know about each of the people presented to me, their lives, their connections, and the island they lived on.
I Am Dead does a fantastic job of forcing us to look at our lives, and reminds us that those who are gone are still alive in the memories we hold dear. The puzzles are fun, and the island of Shelmerston is beautiful.
Likewise, as you listen to the stories of the locals (all voice-acted very well, to various levels of eccentricity) and gradually uncover the history of Shelmerston, you realise how much everyone who lives there really loves the place. The love is deep in their very bones, and it makes you love it too. For the six to eight hours it took me to reach the end credits, it even fooled me into thinking I liked my own hometown, which is not true. I hate where I’m from. That’s okay though, because I choose to be from Shelmerston now.
From ts heartful story that is only made better by a charming set of characters, to the soothing atmosphere of the gorgeous island-town Shelmerston, I am Dead constructs a serendipitous but accurate portrayal of the usually sorrowful emotions around death.
Despite the dark undertones, one might assume a game with the title of I Am Dead has, I certainly felt anything but. The narrative pulls you in immediately. The heartwarming stories you’ll discover are just as great. I didn’t want it to end. Even though I didn’t rush through it, I wish I had spent more time taking in the gorgeous scenery and story. Lately, it seems as though the world is on fire, so why not take some time to pick this up and let Morris and Sparky’s delightful adventure take you for a ride?
Morris may be dead, but there's no denying that Annapurna Interactive's knack for publishing charming video games with unique gameplay is alive and kicking. Beyond its unique flavour of puzzle, there's a vibrant world full of characters who can't wait to share their stories. If you have the patience to do so, it's well worth hearing them out.
As well as the main quest of finding each ghost, each location contains numerous mini spirits called Grenkins, which have you moving certain objects into particular positions in order to find them. It's a neat way of adding collectibles that has you using the core mechanic in a different way. There's also Mr. Whitstable's riddles, which add a little challenge to each level. He'll give you a set of clues, and they each pertain to a specific thing in that stage, and could be anywhere. Sometimes the clues are too obtuse, but with thorough exploration and a little lateral thinking, the riddles add some substance to a rather breezy game. Wonderful art and relaxing music make the cherry on top of a unique and heartfelt cake.
Overall, I Am Dead is still the solid title it was when it was first released on the PC and Nintendo Switch. While it’s short and the gameplay loop does get repetitive, the overall narrative, aesthetics, and audio turn Shelmerston into a beautiful location. Whether it was the traditions of the island, the history of its residents, or simply the beautiful locations, Shelmerston was easily the highlight of my experience. While I Am Dead ultimately explores the afterlife, including memories of those who have passed, I could not help but place greater interest in the overall setting and its residents, both dead or alive.
I Am Dead avoids the pitfalls of modern video game storytelling to deliver a touching narrative experience with simplistic, but approachable puzzle elements.
Entering minds as Morris showed me that though so many characters were dead, people still allowed them to live on because of what they left behind. I put down I Am Dead with a new lease on life, a unique sensation for a video game to deliver. It's a puzzle game with a lot of heart. The characters are engaging, the world is delightful, the message is strong, and it's a fantastic way to escape into a game for a few hours. Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg created an unforgettable experience that Nintendo Switch owners should definitely pick up. I Am Dead taught me that death isn't the end, but in fact, just the next step in all of our journeys.
Ricky Haggett's I Am Dead offers a nice walk on a fictional island through the eyes of the recently deceased Morris Lupton, hoping to find a new Keeper to prevent a volcan's eruption. With it's dog Sparky and a clever mecanic of zooming into almost every item, house or people you can see, I Am Dead is a short but relaxing puzzle-adventure. We simply hoped the extra challenge was more rewarding.
Review in French | Read full review
I Am Dead is a deceptively charming and emotionally potent experience. It's hard not to be won over by its good spirit and intricate, lovingly crafted world. Despite its simple gameplay and heavy dose of eccentricity, it's a tender reflection on ordinary lives, death and the power of memory. A game that will linger in the memory.
A very interesting game indeed, I Am Dead isn't top-tier indie magic but it's a hide-and-seek sandbox that will reward you the deeper you go. It's refreshingly content-rich, what with the Grenkins to find and riddles to solve for committed players. An appealing sense of place and strong visuals are only spoiled by some misplaced attempts at quirkiness and some minor control issues. Overall, though, I Am Dead makes us long for the sweet embrace of the reaper. Wait, no. It's just a rather enjoyable game. That's it. Not that other thing. Good god.
Traveling is going to a distant place in search of new experiences, but it is much more than that. Through a handful of sensory stimuli like sounds, I Am Dead is an experience that reminds us that many absences are still abysses of pain in our memory, because they left us unable to give them a proper goodbye. It also claims through its mechanics the layers of personality, from habits and lifestyle to what is beyond people. But above all, it has a special vocation for conviviality and love.
Review in Spanish | Read full review