I Am Dead Reviews
Matching smart (if simple) puzzle thinking and intricate exploration, I Am Dead's Shelmerston is well worth visiting.
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.
I Am Dead avoids the pitfalls of modern video game storytelling to deliver a touching narrative experience with simplistic, but approachable puzzle elements.
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 is a relaxing and emotional puzzle adventure that allows you to take a back seat experience and learn about the characters of the game through strong storytelling and learn through attention to detail. Although the game can feel a little underwhelming when it comes to rewarding you for collecting all of the Grenkins and got a bit glitchy towards the end, the real reward from playing I Am Dead rewards you with good storytelling and a life lesson about life, death, and knowing where you come from.
However, if you’re interested in a strong narrative, fun art, and completing simple puzzles, I Am Dead is the most fun you’ll have this year.
I Am Dead is a wonderful and vibrant experience that gives players a different look into the afterlife, with its delightful world hosting some truly heartfelt tales. Exploring the island of Shelmerston and using your x-ray ability to closely examine every object around you never stops being satisfying, whilst learning more about the ghosts you are seeking remains touching throughout. It is guilty of being a bit simple in places and you won’t come across any real challenge during your journey, but it doesn’t make the experience any less compelling. I Am Dead is simply a special game and one that should definitely be experienced if you like to play something that feels a bit different.
I loved my time with I Am Dead so much I wish there was a little bit more of it. Hanging with Morris and Sparky is a chill, relaxing time, even if there's an undercurrent of the sad afterlife coursing through the world. It might be that juxtaposition between the reality of death mixed with the playfulness of the world that makes I Am Dead so memorable and fun.
It's not often that a game has been able to address the celebration of life, though death, quite like I Am Dead.
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?
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.
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.
A delightful puzzle adventure full of charm, personality, and satisfying ghostly X-ray vision mechanics
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.
I would love to visit the charming island of Shelmerston. Clearly a lot of thought was put into this game and it is enjoyable to discover that. Unfortunately, I Am Dead’s repetitive gameplay, awkward controls, and short story that left me feeling discontent made me overall a bit disappointed.
I Am Dead explores the afterlife with an adventure filled with puzzles and exploration, which quickly falls into repetition with a lack of imagination, despite being a game with its heart in the right place.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
MRIs and chandleries and lobster pots and seaside museums - what a game