Martha Is Dead | Xbox Review

Martha Is Dead has intrigued me ever since it was announced. A game that combines horror, a murder mystery, and mental health issues? That’s practically screaming my name. LKA Games has infused this title with so much more than what the surface shows, though. Some of the content is extremely disturbing, making this an experience that some will need to avoid.

Why Did You Say That Name?!

The story follows Giulia after she discovers her identical twin sister Martha’s body floating in the lake near their home. Their parents can’t tell the twins apart, and assume Giulia is the one who has died. Giulia assumes Martha’s identity, but this comes at a heavy cost, both mentally and physically. Giulia is determined to solve Martha’s murder, but what will it cost her? She believes the mythological White Lady is somehow involved and sets about to gather evidence to prove her point.

Set in 1944 Italy during World War II, this is an emotionally tough game to play through. The horror elements mostly draw from the atrocities of war and body horror, with occasional jump scares. You’ll see mutilated bodies, bombings, and receive telegrams and radio alerts related to what is occurring.

Proceed With Caution

When you first boot up the game, you’ll be greeted with numerous trigger warnings and advice not to play the game if any of these could negatively affect you. There are more triggers than what is listed by the developer, so I highly recommend looking online for additional information beforehand. Playing on Xbox, some of the body horror segments are interactive, which I appreciated because it added weight to the story. These are stomach-churning moments, though, and there is an option to skip these segments if it’s too much for you.

I was captivated by the story and became invested in discovering what really happened to Martha and what would befall Giulia. I regularly found myself sitting on the edge of my seat, anxious about what the next narrative beat would bring with it. Most of the gameplay revolves around walking the grounds of the family home and interacting with certain objects in the environment, but the addition of photography added an additional interesting layer to Martha Is Dead. Giulia is a photographer, and she takes photos along the journey to help unravel the mystery. You can become as invested as you wish in this mechanic. Certain photos need to be taken to progress the story, but you can capture images of additional items and places to uncover more information. Developing the photographs is a relaxing routine, and I appreciated the level of detail that went into it.

The Nitty Gritty Details

This is an absolutely stunning game. It feels incredibly realistic, and the more horrific moments are brought to an even more disturbing level. The more tranquil set pieces also benefit from this, and bring forth a sense of much-needed calmness. The sound design is wonderful, with eerie voices spooking you in the forest as you walk and small movements making the appropriate sounds. The rustle of newspaper pages, the crackle of the radio, the noises of farm animals… they’re all wonderfully detailed. The default Italian voice-acting is wonderful, but the English dub wavers in quality.

I did encounter some glitches, ranging from minor (a telephone floating in the air after I used it) to major (inexplicably falling through the floor into the sky and forcing me to reload my last save). They didn’t hamper my experience too much, but they are noticeable. The ambiguity of the story could also turn some players off. I enjoyed this aspect, but could see where there could be frustration.

The Last Rites

Martha Is Dead is a heavy game that is emotionally taxing and features disturbing themes and body horror. I love this kind of narrative, but please be cautious of the trigger warnings and take breaks if you need to. The graphics and sound design are exquisite, and the story is captivating. The photography mechanic is also a delight. A few technical glitches marred my 6 hour runtime, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the game for me. If you think you can handle the story and the interactive segments, I encourage you to immerse yourself in this sad, twisted experience.

 

This review is based on an Xbox copy of Martha Is Dead provided by PressEngine for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store.