Martha is Dead Reviews
There's a much better game here if it focused on the photography mechanics, trauma exploration and ghost stories. Instead, it’s a game bogged down in many different directions. I don't think this game, much like developer LKA's last game, Town of Light, handles mental health in the best way, but there's a somewhat interesting story here. It's just so boring to get through.
Martha Is Dead is a great walking simulator with a surprising story and an elaborate technical section. It doesn't stand out for its puzzles, but it succeeds thanks to its small details. This, together with its duration, makes this title a more than remarkable game to have a good afternoon.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Martha Is Dead is a title that fans of horror and the slow exploration (and creeping dread) that usually accompanies it – will appreciate. The theme of the game is challenging, but it’s also treated with respect and care, despite some early scenes suggesting otherwise. The core mystery is intriguing enough, and an impactful finale closes this 5-6 hours journey on a memorable note. A few technical hiccups hold it back, but if Italian developer LKA can iron out some of the shortcomings, Martha Is Dead is assuredly a game that will take you on a journey that won’t leave your thoughts any time soon.
Martha Is Dead is an excellent psychological-horror game with its unique take on the horror and mystery genre. The game offers stunning visuals, great sound design, and a tense atmosphere paired with layered storytelling. Although there are a few bugs and a few tedious gameplay segments, it still holds a great experience for horror fans.
Martha Is Dead is an intriguing experience that won’t be for everyone, but still managed to hook me in with its engrossing storytelling. Whilst I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find the game unsettling, I NEEDED to see how the plot played out and just how dark it could really go. It can be shocking at times, but you know what you’re signing up for before playing. It doesn’t always hit the mark, especially when it comes to some of the frustrating interactive moments, whilst there were a handful of scenes where it did feel like it went too far for the sake of it. Still, it’s one of the most memorable and unique narratives I encountered in a game for a while, so I won’t be forgetting Martha is Dead anytime soon.
The craziness continues to ratchet up as you reach the finale, and Giulia proves an evermore unreliable narrator. While the narrative here is undoubtedly the strongest element of Martha is Dead, the gameplay loop lets it down enormously, meaning you'll likely be desperate to know how it ends while simultaneously longing for the credits to roll. There are far worse horror experiences out there, but this is one that would be much better off on a streaming platform instead of as a game.
Martha Is Dead was more disturbing and shocking than I thought it would be, delivering a brilliant story with gorgeous (if rather gruesome) visuals and a hypnotic soundtrack. The photography mechanics were implemented well, allowing you to capture every moment – it’s just a shame the photos didn’t manifest as actual pictures on the console. Despite the commotion pre-release, the game is fully uncensored if you wish it to be, you just can’t participate in the horrific cutscenes via interactive QTEs, which doesn’t affect the game in any way. If you like slow-paced psychological horror games with an interesting story that’ll have you hooked until the credits roll, check out Martha Is Dead today.
Martha is Dead’s compelling narrative is let down by some dull gameplay that just can’t support it in any meaningful way. It does deal with themes of loss in a uniquely told story that had me guessing what was happening every step of the way, but the sheer amount of monotony annoyed me more than I could stand. If what you are looking for is a proper horror experience, this will not be for you. With that being said, if you want a compelling narrative, then, as long as you can get past some tedious lack of proper gameplay, I can recommend picking this game up.
Once the initial shock factor dies down, Martha Is Dead is little more than a walking simulator with a Fatal Frame-esque photography gimmick. It has too many ideas and threads going for it, whereas a focused main plot would have made it much more engaging. A few technical issues marred the immersion, and some of the worst English dubbing since Resident Evil. As long as you aren’t expecting Italian P.T., horror fans may still enjoy this psychological shocker.
Martha is Dead isn’t a horror game in the sense that ghosts will try to jump scare you around every corner, but the atmosphere LKA have created certainly made me think that might happen, and after realising that Giulia isn’t as a reliable narrator that you think, the game twists and turns in a way I simply didn’t expect. The visuals are stunning and are a great showcase for the new generation of consoles, and when they are paired with an authentic soundtrack, it really felt as if I was in Italy in the 40s. There are moments in this beautifully dark video game that forced me to change the direction of my playthrough and I am already excited to go back and explore the additional routes, especially once those bugs have been flattened out.
At the core of Martha is Dead there is an acceptable and sometimes enjoyable psychological tale but nothing else in this package is worth writing home about.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Shock connoisseurs may enjoy Martha Is Dead's body horror and gore, but there is a lot of muck to wade through in the game's short playtime.
Martha is Dead is unique. A rare pearl in the gaming landscape, dealing with tough issues and immerses us in a raw and real World War II Tuscany, painting a horror story that is truer than ever. It is not for everyone, and if you are overly emotional it is definitely not for you, but if you love authorial and story-driven games, it's absolutely recommended.
Review in Italian | Read full review