Video Game Review - Martha Is Dead Review

Ellie reviews Martha Is Dead on Xbox Series X|S...

Martha Is Dead is a psychological thriller that isn't afraid to shock its players. Featuring content such as; torture, self-harm, child abuse, and the horrors of war, Martha Is Dead isn't going to be a game to everyone's tastes. 

So, what's it all about? 

Set in Italy during World War 2, Martha Is Dead sets you into the shoes of its protagonist - Giulia. Giulia lives with her parents and twin sister - Martha - in a large and quiet farmhouse within the Italian countryside. Under the constant threat of the Nazi Warmachine, Guilia is soon to realise that the horror is not just outside - but inside too.

The game begins with Giulia retrieving her cameras that's been set up along the local lake. Excited to see what she's captured, things take a drastic turn as she spots a body floating on the lake's calm surface. Rushing down into the water, Giulia realises too late that the body is none other than her twin sister, Martha. As she mourns on the shore, her parents rush to the scene and mistake Martha for Giulia. Deciding not to correct her Mothers mistake, Giulia then lives out the narrative under the guise of Matha, whilst also attempting to find out what happened at the lake. But of course, investigating one thread then opens up a whole new level of "issues", and Giulia is soon dealing with a lot of horrific events.

Gameplay is a mixture between an action-adventure and a walking simulator. For the majority, you'll be guiding Giulia as she attempts to uncover the uncomfortable mystery within the walls of her home and the local woods. Photography also plays a large part, and you'll often be viewing the world through the camera lens. Not only this but each photo also needs to be developed, which sees you within a darkroom, experimenting with types of exposure and treatments. It's an interesting mechanic that not only allows you to take photographs of what you want, at certain points, it even reveals smaller plot details. While it's not a critical gameplay mechanic, it does offer more immersion into this world - and creating an immersive experience is something that Martha Is Dead does so well. 

Overall the atmosphere of the game is very creepy. As there aren't any jump-scares, the game leans heavily on its cast and locations instead. Every scene is pretty tense, and even a stroll through the woods is enough to get your heart rate up. The developer uses light and dark incredibly well, and as such, every location is foreboding and feels distinctly alien. 

The scenes that take place in the woods are particularly freaky. Even with zero jump scares, I often felt as if "something" was out there in the darkness. The small torch that you're given also enhances this feeling of unease. The game's soundtrack and voice acting are also spot-on for immersing you in the experience. Each character is fully localised in Italian. Not only does this allow each dialogue line to sound convincing, nothing is lost within its translation. Each actor also delivers their lines with a sense of grandeur. The soundtrack is also filled with sounds that feel natural to the period. It's a haunting feel that isn't afraid to mix it up when your emotions demand it. 

Visuals are also similarly well done. The scenes within all feel straight out of 1940s Italy, with the farmhouse having a distinctly rustic feel to it. There's a lot to see with the scenery packed full of small details. To further immerse you in Giulia's world - there's even a daily newspaper that gives news of the wider surroundings. The horror aspects are also pretty graphic. Whilst I won't go into detail, these scenes are not to everyone's tastes, and can feel a little too real. However, the developer does allow you to skip these if you do start to feel uncomfortable. 

Martha Is Dead is a game that's not going to appeal to everyone. If you're a fan of deep, atmospheric horrors, with plenty of narratives then this title is for you. For the most, Martha Is Dead will shock and amaze, to then make your stomach churn the next. It's certainly an experience worth playing through and is one that I'm glad I experienced 

Rating 10/10 

Martha Is Dead is available now and can be purchased via the Microsoft Store by clicking here.

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