Sony’s decision to censor this content was met with controversy, but I understand it, although it personally isn’t what I’d choose to censor.
Ho-yes, we have the loudest metaphors possible for a game that, by all means, deserves more nuance than it does a loudspeaker.
In short, it is a video game, a fact that Martha is Dead puts in harsh juxtaposition next to varying mini-games of horrific content, including a now-infamous scene that involves the player cutting off the face of a deceased woman before wearing it in first-person. After several nightmare sequences, the game will proudly proclaim “Hooray! You developed your first photo! Not only that, but you also unlocked a skin for your old-timey camera! Good for you!”. Martha is Dead goes all out on teaching the player about game mechanics, like sending telegraphs, and an impressively in-depth photo mode which includes developing the film. There is a lot more to it than what has been mentioned, but what’s important to note is that none of it really matters. Giulia tries to figure out who is responsible, all while World War 2 rages on in the background. There’s a lot to unpack, but in short, you play as Giulia, twin sister to the titular Martha who, shockingly, has been killed under mysterious circumstances.
Moving the scope from an individual to a group, the story beats remain the same while the scale increases. I prefaced this review of Martha Is Dead because it highlights how far we’ve come, or rather, how far we’ve stepped back. The character study of Renée is insightful, and the ending is a bitter pill to swallow, but all of it rings true of a society that either took advantage, or wasn’t aware of the problems people still face, to this very day. It enables the opportunity to show the plight these people went through while the concept of mental health was an afterthought. The game doesn’t compromise, yet it’s not forcing you to watch either. It was a game that put stigmatic views of women’s health and their position in the world under a microscope, as well as mental health and the treatment of people suffering from such issues.įor me, it resonates. Placed there under the pretense that she is a danger to herself and the people around her, the game chronicles her attempts to come to terms with this. The Town of Light was a 2016 release from Italian studio LKA.it that told the story of Renée, a 16-year-old who is placed into an Italian asylum in 1938. Let me preface this review with a history lesson about The Town of Light, and before you ask, no, I’m not talking about Blackpool Illuminations. Reviews // 8th Mar 2022 - 1 year ago // By Samiee "Gutterpunk" Tee Martha is Dead Review
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