Despite the game’s relatively short length, The Callisto Protocol ends up being a reasonably absorbing experience. It’s a shame that the game doesn’t do anything fresh in terms of its premise or mechanics, and it’s a little disappointing that you can’t explore more of the facility, but the quality of the atmosphere and the bloodthirsty inmates more than make up for the lack of originality.
The Callisto Protocol is an enjoyable and tense sci-fi horror adventure game and a decent attempt at recreating the dread of Dead Space.
Long story short, developed by Striking Distance Studios and published by KRAFTON, Inc., The Callisto Protocol is a horror survival game set in an expansive sci-fi world. The title was released on 2nd December 2022 and is available on Xbox Series X, S and One, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Windows.
In the game, players take on the role of a prisoner and require skillful maneuvering to escape from a space prison colony overrun with deadly monsters. The game combines elements of horror, adventure, puzzle-solving, and combat sequences in a tense and atmospheric environment.
Here we will try to provide an expert review of The Callisto Protocol and give our honest and unbiased opinion about the title from a gamer’s perspective. We will include an overview of the game, an evaluation of its graphics, sound, gameplay, and storyline, and finally, our expert verdict in conclusion.
Gameplay overview
The Callisto Protocol is a solid horror game that provides the player with a good balance of puzzles and action. The gameplay is pretty much identical to that of Dead Space, as the player is required to hack and slash their way through the prison and fight their way to freedom. The story is a little predictable, but it still manages to keep the player engaged throughout.
Players are tasked with navigating a host of environments, including a wide variety of tunnels, rooms, and other mysterious places. Each level is filled with numerous obstacles, such as traps, environmental hazards, and security cameras.
Combat is mostly limited to melee attacks using the stun baton, a handheld weapon that can be charged to deliver a powerful electrical shock, as weapons and ammo are pretty scarce in the initial phase. However, as the game progresses, the player receives access to a wide variety of firearms.
The action can be initiated by pressing a button on the controller during stealth sections. When fighting enemy creatures, players can either engage in melee combat or use the gun to target them from a distance.
The best part about the game is that it does not get repetitive as the player advances because the game comes with ‘beta paths’ that open new possibilities and thus extend the game.
The developer also announced new challenges and obstacles and a fresh ‘Game+’ mode to overcome. Overall, The Callisto Protocol is a nice addition to the Dead Space franchise and offers a good experience for fans of the series.
Graphics and Sound Design
The game is presented with an interesting mix of 3D and 2D environments, which together create an awesome experience for the player. The game starts off with a pretty basic but effective intro sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the game.
The environments are beautifully crafted and extremely well-detailed, and every location has its own unique look and feel. The environments are filled with different types of zombies and mutant creatures that can attack the player at any time. Some of these enemies can be pretty tough, but the player has access to a variety of weapons, including knives, guns, bats, and grenades.
The visuals are one of the highlights of The Callisto Protocol. The environments are dark and gloomy, and the characters are rendered beautifully. The lighting is very well done, and the game is filled with many interesting details, such as the blood splattered on walls and ceilings when enemies are killed. The character models are also nicely animated and have great facial expressions.
The sound stage is also pretty impressive, as it creates a creepy ambiance that further adds to the atmosphere of the game. It is worth noting that the voice acting can sometimes be a bit dodgy, but the soundtrack is very well produced and enhances the overall gaming experience.
Storyline
The story of the game is pretty straightforward and mainly revolves around a group of prisoners and their fight to survive in a space prison colony where the inmates are infected with a highly infectious and mutating virus and are now taking revenge on the guards and other prisoners.
The player takes on the role of Jacob, a prisoner who wakes up in the middle of a riot and is tasked with hacking and slashing their way to safety, escaping the prison with his life intact.
The game has a decent plot that keeps the player hooked throughout, and the story builds nicely toward an intriguing ending. It is also told from the perspective of the main protagonist, which helps keep you engaged, making it easy to lose yourself in the game.
Final verdict: What We Liked About And What We Didn't
The Callisto Protocol is a must-try for anyone who is a fan of the Dead Space series. It is a polished and well-crafted game that captures the essence of the original series while offering something new and fresh.
While the game is fairly easy, it also has a couple of challenging parts. The player will definitely find themselves playing through the game multiple times to see if they can beat the game on a higher difficulty setting.
We loved the graphics and the sound design in the game. They really set the mood and complement the story very well. The characters look good and are portrayed well, and the sounds give you a good idea of what is going on around you.
The music is also pretty decent, and the voice acting is pretty much on point. We also enjoyed the fact that the game offers a decent amount of replay value. There are plenty of secrets to find, thus keeping things fresh and interesting for those who want to play it several times and explore every nook and cranny of the prison.
Now, talking about what could have been better – there are a couple of issues with the game. For starters, the controls can sometimes be difficult to handle. At times, it can be hard to aim your weapon properly, and you can easily miss the target, resulting in a huge loss of health points. Also, the gameplay can be repetitive after a while, especially when the player needs to repeat the same sequence over and over in order to get past certain sections.
In addition, the graphics are also a tad fuzzy in places, with the textures appearing low resolution and the character models looking slightly rough around the edges. But these are minor issues that don’t detract from the overall package, and fans of the Dead Space series will probably enjoy this spiritual successor.