Welcome to our review of Death Mark, do you have what it takes to survive the destiny of the mark?
You have been Marked…
A strange rumor is spreading through the shadows of Tokyo’s H City: a mysterious disfigurement, like a grotesque birthmark, has been appearing on the bodies of certain individuals. Anyone who receives the Mark will rapidly die of unknown, horrifying causes.
Deprived of your memories, you arrive at a mansion rumored to protect the bearers of the Mark. As the doors swing open, the countdown to death has already begun…
Death Mark is a very serious visual novel, released just the right time of year and it offers a very eerie experience for those unfamiliar with the genre. This is a text based game and boy, are you in for a (trick or) Treat!
Appearing without warning, the Mark is a sign of impending doom. Stripped of your memories, you must fight against time to escape your fate! You forgot your name. You are in front of a big mansion. You enter. Spooked by a few things, you suddenly realize it is a doll. That shrieking sounds just now? Its’ joints were making that sound.
Suddenly, she speaks to you. The doll is your main guide through the initial part of the game. I am currently several hours into this slow paced game and have loved every second of it so far. Suddenly a knock on the door. Seems we got some guests? A young boy and a young girl enter the mansion. After introductions, you all bear the mark and the horrible truth? Unless you find a way out, you will die by dawn.
This is when the actual story begins! You will set off with one of your new found companions on a quest to figure out how to escape the mark. You are presented with a lot of choices and soon you learn there also lethal decisions. Answer the wrong way and the results… dare I say are not the best. I am sure you can figure it out what happens, you do not need me to say it out loud.
The entire game is based upon the eerie atmosphere and an amazing story to back it up. It is my first real venture in this darker visual novel genre and I must say, I am incredibly impressed by it. I was disappointed at first by the lack of voice acting, but it soon dawned on me that I could easily play this game when my wife is asleep without bothering her.
Once you get into the actual action, the action is also very well delivered. You can move around, you can investigate, you get to talk to others and so much more. I especially loved the soul power aspect of the game, where you need to really decide quickly on what the right answer is, that power is not unlimited and you need it to keep advancing.
The artwork on this game is amazing. It fully captivates the eerie dark atmosphere and I could not find a single bad thing to say about it. The lack of animation might bother some, but I honestly thought this was the main attraction. To be able to fully get you hooked on a game by nothing but text. A true masterpiece in its genre.
In conclusion, Death Mark may start off a little slow and insists on persistence to keep finding the way out of a pinch but once it does catch your attention, prepare to face some sleepless nights as this game is top-notch!
