Martha is Dead Reviews
Intriguing and often disturbing, Martha is Dead makes for a worthwhile narrative experience, barring some issues.
Martha is Dead is a halfway game. A title that you can enjoy if you are a lover of the genre, but that you play it knowing that something is missing, knowing that it could have been something more. If you are looking to be afraid you may find more tension than something scary.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As long as you can withstand its often extremely disturbing content, Martha is Dead is a absorbing and atmospheric adventure with a brilliantly realised setting and a beautifully haunting soundtrack. We can’t stress enough that it won’t suit all tastes, however.
Overall, while I felt Martha is Dead was a decent experience, I don’t think it’s for everyone. There are a lot of disturbing themes and images in this one that would certainly turn off some players. While the team did a great job crafting this world and the sound design is top notch, some of the gameplay elements need a bit more polish. That being said, this is still a unique experience that fans of these types of games would likely really enjoy.
Martha is Dead is not going to be for everyone and if the disclaimers attached to the game leave you uncertain, we’d advise exercising caution before diving in. For the most part, there’s a really powerful, engaging story at play here, with subjects handled mostly sensitively, and quality direction that’ll inspire the industry for years to come.
Despite the technical issues and gameplay annoyances, I adore Martha is Dead which is a testament to its soul.
There is a lot to enjoy and like about Martha is Dead. From the way LKA skilfully draws inspiration from horror classics like Fatal Frame and Silent Hill, through to how the studio delivers an exceptional thriller narrative; it makes the game a drama unlike any other. The title hooks on the pretence of being a horror, then pulls one in on the idea that it has a sea of lore and story. It is truly wonderful in this regard. While there are one or two things it can do better, its spot-on narrative delivery, and wonderful twists and turns as the end draws near; are memorable, to say the least. Mixing these story beats with an uneasiness hardly ever felt in video games, makes the game both unique and a must-play title, and raises the bar for all thrillers to come.
Martha is Dead is a game that takes a lot of risks. The story told as well as the plot surrounding Martha's death is extremely well written. I was eager to know the end of the story. The realism as well as the many objectives to be carried out will push you to search every corner in search of clues. It should be noted that the game is extremely graphic and the violence is shown without filter (in the uncensored version) in addition to forcing you to participate. The violent scenes serve to show us the state of mind of our character. The game is very disturbing as well as uncomfortable, but its what makes it stand out.
Review in French | Read full review
Martha is Dead is truly horrific, perhaps in the fact, it is juxtaposed with being so beautiful. This game will make you feel many things and it does it extremely well. Days after finishing the game I continue to think about it. Several of the mini-games are frustrating and could use some tweaking, some worked. Overall, Martha is Dead is totally worth it for gamers looking for a deep, dark, and psychological thriller to explore.
While I enjoyed a fraction of my time exploring Martha is Dead's gorgeous Tuscan farmlands, the thing I'm most thankful for is how mercifully short the game is. The closing credits shocked me back into coherence like a bolt out of the blue to cap off what is-and I'm being generous-an interestingly imperfect experience.
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 lives or dies by its core narrative and ability to immerse the player in it. I like the way it mixes the personal with the historical. I appreciate the care with which the developers have constructed the game world and I even like most of the photography-focused challenges.
Martha is Dead is a horror game that had everything to hold the player's attention. Although the story is really strong, there is a very slow pace, which ends up causing exhaustion before even halfway through the game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In the end Martha is Dead feels like an arthouse movie, when you have to decipher the game yourself, while having all kind of emotions. Whether you'll like it or not is very hard to tell.
Review in Russian | Read full review
A good premise and gripping start is undermined by a second half of bugs, bad writing, and grossly overused clich's of mental ill-health.
LKA made the best recreation of an Italian setting I’ve ever seen in a game and I wanted nothing more than to enjoy it. However, LKA’s love of Italy is the only warmth I felt in Martha is Dead. The rest left me feeling as cold as Giulia’s dead sister.
Martha is Dead is best appreciated from a distance, because while its narrative premise and setting are certainly impresses, the game itself is slow as molasses and frustratingly clunk.
Martha is Dead isn’t for the faint-hearted, though sadly that’s not for the right reasons. There are too many moving parts in this game that weigh the already poorly-paced story down. If this was a spooky investigative adventure that required you to take photos to unlock the brooding mystery hidden within, I’d be all for it, because that’s one part that actually works. But alas it’s instead left as an over-exerted mess that is more focused on a couple of key shock-value moments than anything substantial. This game needs a swift autopsy to dissect out the crimes before a merciful cremation.
If you enjoy a solid mystery that dips its toe into the horror realm, and you have a strong stomach and/or a morbid sense of humor, this is something that is worth your time, even if the ending doesn’t live up to the narrative build-up.
Martha Is Dead is a very good psychological horror game that scares you with its own dark and heartbreaking story.
Review in Persian | Read full review