Horror games are a staple genre in the grand scheme of video gaming history. The high that you get as your veins are being pumped full of adrenaline as you run away from a monstrous entity and your heart pounding like a jackhammer as you try to hide in the small crawlspace or dresser away from its murderous intent.
Not all horror games are like that, and there are some that take it several levels further and try to horrify you to your deepest cores rather than get your heart pumping. And Martha Is Dead by Wired Productions is no exception to this dark, gritty, and graphic horror experience!
Martha Is Dead takes place in Italy, closing in on the climactic ending of one of the bloodiest global conflicts the world has ever seen, World War II. You play as Giulia, who go from being told an old wives’ tale about the Pale Lady to fall asleep to as a child to a fully-grown woman with a passion for photography.
The game begins with Giulia taking pictures by the lake and hoping to catch the ever-elusive spirit just for fun when she discovers the drowned corpse of her sister, Martha, floating in the lake. Dragging her out of the water, Giulia’s parents mistake her for Martha instead and has to take up the identity of Martha by pretending to be her and taking up her mannerisms and routine.
Throughout the game, you accomplish missions and progress through the game with a vintage dual-reflex camera and have to take pictures of important points in the game to discover more and more about the truth behind Martha’s death. Often times using different pieces of equipment and lenses to get that picture-perfect photograph.
The setting of Martha Is Dead is undoubtedly Italian, and the soundtrack is masterfully-composed by Aseptic Void to create an atmosphere that is both eerie and warm at the same time. The environment is a faithful recreation of the Italian countryside of Tuscany set with the horrors of war in the backdrop.
Martha Is Dead is a horror experience that has a number of mature and graphic themes. And if you are up for an adventure that will make you sleep with one eye open, then go on over to their website and pick up a copy for PC, Xbox, or PlayStation!
Credits
Name: Martha Is Dead
Company: Wired Productions
Client: LKA
Sally Face is another disturbing favorite of ours. Check out our feature article on Portable Moose’s hit indie release here!