Martha is Dead

 PlayStation 5
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 37
  3. Negative: 9 out of 37

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  1. onemorelevel_1
    Mar 5, 2022
    8
    Martha Is Dead got some critique before launch on PS4 and PS5 -consoles, because it got a note from the developers that the game going to be cencored on PlayStation platforms. Not sure what and how much is going to be cencored I still wanted to play this game and see myself. I love psychologial horror titles with puzzles and Martha Is Dead promises to just give me that.

    HORROR SET IN    Martha Is Dead got some critique before launch on PS4 and PS5 -consoles, because it got a note from the developers that the game going to be cencored on PlayStation platforms. Not sure what and how much is going to be cencored I still wanted to play this game and see myself. I love psychologial horror titles with puzzles and Martha Is Dead promises to just give me that.

    HORROR SET IN 1944 ITALY
    Martha Is Dead is set in 1944 wartime Italy. The story tells about twin sisters Martha and Giulia. Martha is found murdered and her sister tries to find out who the killer is. Finding the truth is twisted with mysterious folklore, horrors of war and Giulia’s psyche to survive it all.

    The story was great and how it was told was the best part of Martha is Dead. It got fair amount of twist and turns, keeping the player on their toes all the time.

    The gameplay was first-person puzzle-adventure. Martha Is Dead is not difficult game, but it got lost sometimes with difficulties to understand where to go. The game got map that usually told where to go next, but few times I wasn’t sure where to go. The puzzles weren’t difficult, except the secret message that player had to send using Morse code might be hard to do correctly.

    The game also had and old camera that player had to use to take correct photos and then develope them in the dark room. The development was simplyfied from the original photo development to make it easier and faster. Players can also take free photos and develope them. I found this to be nice little touch.

    Graphically the game looks amazing and it ran rather smoothly. One issue I got was the game crashing and I had to reset the game. It happened at least 10 times throughout the whole gameplay. It was annoying, but thankfully the last checkpoint was always recent.

    Martha Is Dead is fully voice acted, the standard setting in voice language is in Italian, which I used. It gave the most authentic gameplay and overall feeling of Italy and the characters.

    What comes to the cencorship, I do understand it, because the game is gore at times. It balances nicely with horror elements, not leaning too much on the graphic side, but also with psychological horror.

    PAROLE FINALI
    Martha Is Dead is good psychological horror game. It doesn’t lean on jump-scares or anything cheap, but authentic horror and how war can traumatize a person. Only negative thing was the crashes the game suffered and few other little bugs.    … Expand
  2. Jacquie7
    Apr 14, 2022
    9
    Magnifico, historia, soundtrack, ambientación. De los pocos juegos que me han atrapado desde un inicio.
  3. Dake_wo_miteru
    Jun 6, 2022
    10
    I would call it a very weird and even a bad game. It left me disappointed and frustrated. But aftera month or so I can call it a brilliant piece of art about mental illness, just like Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice. It looks very good, it has interesting characters and story. Half of the time I really enjoyed it. But... There were weird and illogical plot twists. There were plot lines thatI would call it a very weird and even a bad game. It left me disappointed and frustrated. But aftera month or so I can call it a brilliant piece of art about mental illness, just like Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice. It looks very good, it has interesting characters and story. Half of the time I really enjoyed it. But... There were weird and illogical plot twists. There were plot lines that meant nothing for it's story. Game had some disgusting violent scenes, but when some real violence happened and I would except you see it, it was off screen... There was a mini-game that was absolutely boring, meaningless and long. It was the worst part for me. And the ending... Khm... It was visually absolutely stunning, but it left me fully frustrated. As I said, it was sometimes a good experience, but as a whole - disappointing. But I keep thinking about it. And as my disappointment is loosing it's sharpness, I begin to understand all those "bad" decisions. They make total sense and are done to illustrate mental illness. Next part of my review will be full of spoilers as I want to explain some elements of the game and why they aren't bad as I thought at first. SPOILERS

    SPOILERS

    SPOILERS

    First of all, violence. There are disgusting scenes, but most of them are happening in protagonist's mind only. And real violence that I would except to see is hidden. That's how our brain works, it tries to hide really painful and traumatic experience from us. Especially when person is I'll, he (she) can fully wipe it. Then, dollhouse mini-game. It was just awful. Boring, very long, without any sense. But. I realize now it was the only way for protagonist to "understand" what happened, to put it in order. She doesn't know what really happened, just like us. She is in the same position as we as players. Dollhouse, magical plot lines are made to show how her brain works, how hard is to put on order pretty simple things she saw by herself. How it's hard to catch up with reality. And the ending that gives literally zero answers and makes us to decide what happened is brilliant. It left me frustrated. Just like heroine was. She doesn't know what happened and she has to choose any option and to believe on it just to make her world more safe, structured. Once again, it's a weird and a bad game. But it gave me the feelings that protagonist was feeling, and it deserves some respect. I really want to thank devteam for that.    … Expand
  4. misslety
    Feb 26, 2022
    10
    An excellent game. I've been missing a REAL horror game. The amount of detail is out of this world. Congrats to the developers, better than the most big developers we see. We should give an aplause for them!
  5. Arturos
    Mar 25, 2022
    0
    Playstation censored everything and anything, whether in games classified as mature like this horror games, certain part of the game are censored as if we are too fragile to see the shocking scenes of games! Ahaha better to play them on pc or xbox where the real adult games are uncensored
  6. Adelo
    Apr 9, 2022
    0
    The first 1 hour = 3 bad glitches, The game is so boring, definitely not worth a 30$, or even 10$ , Even tho my expectations before playing the game wasn't a lot, but the result is a piece of s*** boring game. now I can't complete the game because I'm a stuck in a glitch
  7. Inquisidor44
    Mar 3, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Version con censurita
    Sony reconoce Que
    Sus usuarios son
    Unos bebes que solo juegan fortnite
    Este estudio ligado a microsoft
    Demuestra que la ps5
    Tiene impotencia Jaja     … Expand
  8. GretchenGrinch4
    Aug 14, 2022
    5
    seems as though they've fixed the launch issue bugs. nothing too special, some trippy scenes here and there, a few bloody scenes more for shock value than content. the stories pretty meh. it's the avg psych horror walking sim.
  9. heringer
    Mar 2, 2022
    5
    We have a great game and problem here, the game are a excellente history, are envolvent, intrigant and creep. Each little time that we spend on the game more we want to know what happend with Martha.
    The tension stay high some times, even in the morning so prepare for some scares.
    But... on ps5 the game just dosen't work, all the time screen freeze, if you are running and change the    We have a great game and problem here, the game are a excellente history, are envolvent, intrigant and creep. Each little time that we spend on the game more we want to know what happend with Martha.
    The tension stay high some times, even in the morning so prepare for some scares.
    But... on ps5 the game just dosen't work, all the time screen freeze, if you are running and change the scenario freeze, if interact with something very quickly, freeze too, all the time somehing wrong happens.
    The game are great I really wanted give something like 7 but on ps5 is impossible, if you'll play in another console, justo go and enjoy.    … Expand
  10. TGWhitta
    Feb 28, 2022
    4
    As much as I'd like to give this game a higher score (because I love the idea), I really can't. The game simply doesn't function on PS5. Graphically it's middling at best yet somehow manages to have major frame dropping issues. The game will also often freeze, forcing you to quit app and try again. When you are actually able to play you'll be greeted by a litany of technical issues suchAs much as I'd like to give this game a higher score (because I love the idea), I really can't. The game simply doesn't function on PS5. Graphically it's middling at best yet somehow manages to have major frame dropping issues. The game will also often freeze, forcing you to quit app and try again. When you are actually able to play you'll be greeted by a litany of technical issues such as: traveling out of bounds, dropping out of world, slowdown in the menus (how?), and much more. Perhaps it runs better on PC or XBox, but as it stands now it's an "avoid at all costs" on PS5 until it's patched,

    I wasn't able to make it past the 2 hour mark due to the above technical issues, but when I was allowed to experience gameplay it was little more than a walking simulator with an overly complicated - albeit novel and interesting - camera mechanic. I do appreciate what kind of story Martha is Dead is trying to tell however; I just wish I could actually experience it. There are few games that dive into such macabre, adult themes (Visage comes to mind); it's a shame that it's crippled beyond repair. Swing and a miss folks. Hey, at least I got to see a human being's face de-gloved.

    One final point in regards to the game's gore: I read a lot about the controversy of having so many disturbing images "just for the sake of it", and I wholeheartedly disagree. The scenes in question HAVE been seen before in other games, so I'm not sure why it's such an issue here. On top of that you can choose to play the entire game censored. So if it offends you why would you play the uncensored version and complain about it? I do find it funny however that with all the games graphic violence you are still not allowed to hear your character say Hitler's name. Quite silly.

    It's a shame Playstation games can't be refunded after you play them. $40 I'll never get back.    … Expand
  11. lilybet21
    Mar 3, 2022
    8
    This is a game that's as beautiful as it is horrific, not for the faint of heart but if you are a lover of the italian Horror tradition this is one for you. The story has clear roots in Giallo and psychological horrors, as well as drawing on real accounts from people in early 20th century asylums - and does not shy away from the psychological destruction that war, neglect, abuse and otherThis is a game that's as beautiful as it is horrific, not for the faint of heart but if you are a lover of the italian Horror tradition this is one for you. The story has clear roots in Giallo and psychological horrors, as well as drawing on real accounts from people in early 20th century asylums - and does not shy away from the psychological destruction that war, neglect, abuse and other trauma can have on people. Issues with performance on PS5 are a pain, but this is a wonderfully artistic and haunting game.… Expand
  12. Baxter2477
    Mar 31, 2022
    0
    10 Freezes in 5h.
    Last Freez while Autosave, broke the Game.
    Now i can't finish it because in the main menu it try to load the broken savegame and freezes.
    Good Job - not!
    Zero Points for Gamebreaking Bug
  13. Badgerryan27
    Oct 16, 2022
    7
    Good game. I really did love the setting of this game along with it being set in a open area where you can freely roam the house, farm and woods. The story was very fascinating especially when it got towards the end. I did have some bug problems though.
  14. Joe2539
    Jan 3, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
  15. Harley329
    Mar 28, 2023
    10
    Very cool style of horror game. Love the atmosphere and the story. Kept me wanting to play more

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 30, 2024
    60
    A lack of trust in the narrator leads to a slightly unsatisfying finale. But the journey, which is exceptionally graphically hilarious, is the destination in this case. Apart from the interactive passages, I felt more like I was in a slow-building film. Furthermore, built on "go and fetch" types of tasks. Apart from playing with the camera and certain passages, the player is mostly a passive observer of the story. [Issue#318]
  2. PSX Brasil
    May 7, 2022
    70
    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.
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  3. PLAY
    Apr 1, 2022
    80
    Its bleak nature means it’s not for everyone. Those who do play, however, will find a unique depiction of subject matters not often explored in games. [Issue#13, p.87]
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