Martha is Dead guides you through the pain & trauma of Guila in this photorealistic psychological horror.
We have all studied the infamous World War II. At whatever age you are, we have done this at some point in our lives. You might have been fascinated by all the events that happened during that time and their importance. You may have also learned about the figures and what parts they played in one of the most devastating times in history. The story behind the war is so intriguing that you want to get involved as much as possible. Whether it comes to adaptations of documentaries, films, and video games, and if they are fact or fiction, it still has you interested.
Speaking of games, we have played many games that took place in World War II, and you would love every minute of the experience you get from them, and the latest game, Martha is Dead, is no different. In this psychological thriller, you may encounter some experiences that can be pretty unsettling. As you are going through the story, there will be instances where you’ll struggle to understand and differentiate between unfounded beliefs and reality. In 1944, approaching the end of World War II, there was a war between Allies and Germany in Italy; a body was discovered and identified as Martha.
Martha is Dead’s story takes you through some very uncomfortable scenes, and this game is not for the faint-hearted. Your character is Guila, who is a troubled woman. She has a mental illness, and you have to uncover secrets from her past. Although the playthrough is relatively short, this is arguably the most disturbing video game I have ever played. Having to endure a series of shocks, horror, jump scares, and moments left me feeling uneasy, and it can leave any gamer with some trauma, especially if they’re not thick-skinned.
Martha is Dead’s gameplay is centred on interacting with objects and completing objectives to progress. Because this game contains an extremely high level of graphic nature, you have the option to play on censor mode. Still, in my opinion, that would remove the game’s purpose of making you experience the traumas of a mentally ill person. Therefore, your best bet is to play uncensored. You also have choices and decision-making that can significantly affect the game outcomes. There are exciting parts, such as where you are in some trance and going through what seems to be a dark forest, and you will have to finish sentences correctly to escape.
Having said all of that, the game’s mechanics is not very exciting. It feels cumbersome and tedious, and is the game’s biggest downside. The character moves like she’s carrying a large bag of rocks. It isn’t much better on a current-gen console. However, the silver lining is that there are many quicker ways of transportation, for example, a bicycle, to help support you temporarily through the very slow gameplay by navigating to other parts of the game, which is a good idea in some instances.
Martha Is Dead’s visuals are one of the best I’ve seen in current-gen gaming. It is excellent to witness photorealism in gaming, and it represents how significantly advanced technology is in the modern era. Almost every part of the game, including most objects, seems to have implemented natural, lifelike imagery. Before this game’s release, I had heard about how the graphics are unbelievably realistic and attractive. I had to see this for myself. Not only are the rumours true, but the graphics have left me in disbelief. It makes you wonder how long they had taken to develop this.
The colours are stunning. It’s awe-inspiring how the developer managed to introduce vibrant colours. You’d think that the developer had perfected the game’s designs if you were to compare them to actual photos of the early 1940s. Sometimes I would stop playing to enjoy the views of the environment to see how beautiful Italy had looked at that time. Also, how extensive the map is and how they made every aspect of it look gorgeous, and with the inclusion of 4K resolution and a current-gen console, it looks much better.
The developer has embraced and emphasized photorealism, which only makes you excited for what’s to come in the future of gaming. Sadly, the character models do need improvement. They do not match the other areas of the visuals, not even close. That’s not to say they look bad, but with all the work done on different locations, you’d think they’d at least taken nearly as much time for the characters.
Martha is Dead’s core audio is on the characters speaking in fluent Italian, which presents an authentic and pure aura that gives you the feeling you are living in Italy. If you are unfamiliar with the language, the subtitles are there to help. The voice actors have delivered their roles exceptionally. Especially Katie McGovern, who portrayed the lead character. She displayed several emotions that truly made you understand her character’s trauma and pain. If you are a fan of classical music, and even if you are not, you would love and appreciate the song choices used in the game.
Martha is Dead is probably the most disturbing game I have ever played. What I have witnessed is unheard of. This game deserves massive praise for bringing awareness to mental illness and trauma, and the effects they can inflict on a human mind. The story contained enough horror, shock, and twists to leave me with much to think about and create theories. The visuals are unique and should be an example for future games. Unfortunately, the gameplay needs work, and lots of it, which is why I feel that Martha is Dead would have made for a better movie or TV series than a game because the story is the game’s truest spark.
Martha is Dead is out now and available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows. Please be advised that the game displays self-harm, and some players may find the scenes disturbing. Also, please follow our website for the latest gaming news and reviews.
