The Callisto Protocol Review
MandaloreGaming・2 minutes read
The "Callisto Protocol" faces challenges as a spiritual successor to "Dead Space" with tweaks in combat and competition from other similar games, set in a future where humanity colonizes parts of the Solar System, featuring a protagonist who faces a terrorist attack on the Europa colony. The game boasts impressive graphics but sacrifices player control, lacks depth in enemy variety, and combat feels tedious overall, with a story lacking depth and lore, leading to a recommendation to play the original "Dead Space" instead.
Insights
- The "Callisto Protocol" faces challenges as a spiritual successor to "Dead Space", with team members from the original game involved, but struggles to differentiate itself from its predecessor, leading to comparisons that favor the original.
- The game's combat mechanics, while undergoing heavy tweaking, lack depth and player engagement, with a focus on graphical realism impacting gameplay negatively, resulting in slower and less responsive controls that sacrifice player agency.
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Recent questions
What is the storyline of "Callisto Protocol"?
The game follows protagonist Jacob Porter Lee, a UJC cargo ship pilot, who faces a terrorist attack on the Europa colony. After a crash landing on Callisto, he is rescued by Captain Ferris and Dani Nakamura, leading to his arrest by the warden. The story unfolds with revelations about experiments, a virus outbreak, and the origin of the virus from a massive alien creature beneath the surface. Jacob is driven to help Dani, and they discover the Illuminati tower with bizarre furniture and displays, meeting Warden Cole and the Evil Council who discuss the Callisto Protocol.
What are the gameplay mechanics in "Callisto Protocol"?
The combat mechanics involve simple melee attacks, dodging, and blocking to reduce damage taken. Upgrades for weapons like the stun baton and guns are available through scavenging and a 3D printer. The game features a GRP module for crowd control, similar to "Dead Space's" kinesis ability. Ranged weapons are used to shoot tentacles on enemies, which can mutate if not dealt with promptly. Quick time events are prevalent, contributing to a lack of player control and engagement.
How is the visual and audio quality in "Callisto Protocol"?
The game boasts impressive graphics with detailed environments, realistic character models, and high-quality animations. The art direction shines in the prison colony setting but falters in generic environments and enemy designs. Sound design excels in environmental and machinery sounds but falls short in weapon and enemy sounds, lacking distinctiveness. Audio logs in the game are competent but generic, lacking substance and humor.
What is the reception of "Callisto Protocol" compared to "Dead Space"?
"Callisto Protocol" faces challenges as a spiritual successor to "Dead Space", with core team members from the original game involved. The game taps into nostalgia but also advertises a different game, creating a unique situation. The story lacks depth and lore, struggling to find its identity and is compared to Dead Space, with a recommendation to play the original instead.
How does the setting of "Callisto Protocol" impact gameplay?
The setting of "Callisto Protocol" is in a future where humanity has colonized parts of the Solar System, overseen by the United Jupiter Company (UJC). The game's focus on graphical realism impacts gameplay, making it slower and less responsive, sacrificing player control. The prison aspect feels underused, with limited exploration and lack of important areas like the yard or mess hall. Jacob, the main character, is haunted by visions and experiences hallucinations due to a health bar implant.