The Callisto Protocol challenges your fight for survival and unravels the dark secrets of Jupiter’s dead moon.
As 2022 is coming to an end, you’d think that there wouldn’t be any more great games to look forward to until the following calendar year. You might have to think again. This is where The Callisto Protocol comes in. After almost two years or so of hype and coverage, it is now finally here for you to play.
It’s no surprise that sci-fi horrors are one of the fan favorites when it comes to media, especially video games. One reason could be that it displays the idea of what to expect in the future. The mere idea of humans having to use advanced technology is exciting to most people. Now, if you include horror into the mix, it might add some impractical aspects that make for a cherry on the cake.
Due to many similarities, it’s easy to make comparisons between this and Dead Space. Seeing as the latter was also created by Glen Schofield. And funnily, the remake will arrive next month.
The Callisto Protocol tells a story of 300 years in the future. Actor Josh Duhamel, who plays Jacob Lee, was thrown into Black Iron Prison. Your job is to lead him to escape. Whilst doing so, he aims to unravel the horrifying secrets of Jupiter’s dead moon. To intensify the situation, many of the inmates have been infected, which has resulted in the transformation of creatures. Because of this, Jacob must use a range of weapons and resources to fight his way to ensure survival.
A story that isn’t too long but isn’t too short either. Collectively, depending on the difficulty, it shouldn’t take you more than approximately 7 or 8 hours to complete. This is indeed a fair-sized duration for a game like this, and with the phenomenal plot it contains, it makes it worth the money. Speaking of this, if you aren’t aware, this isn’t your average retail price. This gives more incentive to purchase this.
The levels and maps are well-designed. Displaying an ideally grotesque environment that no one would ever wish to visit, even if you had offered to pay them. And, of course, it gives the intended terrifying atmosphere. For the icing on the cake, there’s the bloodshed that is left from dead soldiers, doctors, inmates, and the creatures that depict a hellacious domain.
There are indeed a lot of smaller areas, and some might view them as problematic because of the multiple enemies you will occasionally encounter. But it wouldn’t make sense to make them bigger, seeing as this is a prison in question, which usually has confined spaces and presents an uncomfortable setting in fictional situations. Instead, this should encourage players to play smarter, especially in fights.
This isn’t like many games where you are given almost unlimited collectibles in many places you visit. In The Callisto Protocol, you won’t get that much privilege, which would encourage you to use your resources accordingly to survive. But do not fret; you can unlock new gear, weapons, and abilities that will prove to be beneficial to you in your adventure.
Moreover, other characters are also trying to escape. Communicating with other inmates, you have that feeling you are not alone and not the only one trying to survive. This makes the experience more relaxing, but it still manages to maintain the magnitude of horror it holds. A cast filled with very likable characters that produce great flowing dialogues. That goes without saying for the fine portrayals of Elias Porter and Dani Nakamura, which will have you attached to their personalities.
Elias is your main ally in the early stages of the story, and the supporting character Dani has an intense loathing for the United Jupiter Company, and she’s more than determined to uncover their dark secrets. By the way, she is the principal figure in the first cutscene.
Due to the game’s nature, you should probably use your survival instincts to move more cautiously. However, to put things into perspective, no amount of preparation will help you when you are forced to endure enough jump scares to have you quivering in your boots. Imposing the plateau of fear for you to realise this.
From the get-go, you can acknowledge that The Callisto Protocol revolves around realism, despite its science fictional concept. You will go through the most natural movements and behaviors in movement that consist of facial expressions and emotions that mimic actual human beings. This is like a revelation on what more to expect in current-gen gaming.
The same goes for the visuals. It’s not just the environment that deserves acclaim. The creation and motion capture of the characters, enemies, weapons, items, etc., are outstanding and highlight the futuristic horror approach the developer was going for. As for the facial and bodily features, they were very well animated. You can see the sweat streaming down Jacob’s face.
There is a range of actions to execute to proceed, and it doesn’t feel very limited. Plus, the initially obscure dodging mechanic shouldn’t take long to get used to, especially when you are using the left analog stick. But after learning it, it becomes much easier to evade attacks.
However, it can get frustrating sometimes when you are tackling multiple enemies. But no problems when facing just one at a time. But to somewhat compensate for this, you use appliances like the GPT, also known as the Gravity Restraint Projector, to pacify inmates and manipulate objects. Try it for yourself; it’s incredible.
You get that oddly satisfying feeling from beheading them after their demise. Crazily, sometimes taking off their heads isn’t enough. They’re just as dangerous without it. So, you will have to make sure you’ve taken care of them. That means you can stomp on them execution-style just to make sure.
But you don’t always have to take them head-on. You can perform stealthy takedowns, and not only are they relishing it, but it is also a surefire way of preserving your resources for more difficult situations.
If a door is locked, there are multiple methods to fix that. A personal favorite is looking for the dead body of a soldier, doctor, etc., and removing their implanted CORE devices from the aforementioned area of the body to go through those doors.
A mechanically integrated device planted at the back of your character’s neck that behaves as your health bar. This is a great touch that further exemplifies the realistic approach the developer was going for. It’s also cool to see the light turn green after refreshing it with the health injector or the health gel.
The Callisto Protocol is another brilliant project delivered by the genius Glen Schofield. It is a thrilling and cohesive story that constantly wonders what happens next. Additionally, the variation of unique and original mechanics and many heart-attacking moments resulted in an enjoyable yet spine-chilling experience, and I would have no problem replaying this. Furthermore, it was great seeing a familiar figure like Mr. Duhamel deliver a believable performance.
The Callisto Protocol is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox ONE, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows. Also, follow our website for the latest gaming reviews.
