In what may be one of the quickest and most drastic turnarounds of a new IP in recent years, it’s interesting to see how The Callisto Protocol has suddenly evolved into something far different. The Callisto Protocol had high hopes of bottling the magic that Glen Schofield conjured over a decade and a half ago with Dead Space, but having failed to do so it is making lemonade with the game’s setting and lore and refurbishing it as an isometric roguelike that is literally titled [REDACTED].
The Callisto Protocol arguably didn’t disappoint when it came to atmosphere, and yet its hyper-realistic graphics and approach to enemies aren’t rare in the science-fiction horror genre. Gameplay was where The Callisto Protocol stumbled most, though, because its Kinesis-like GRP mechanics and over-the-shoulder camera angle would beckon comparisons to Dead Space and its melee combat, while authentic in and of itself, locks players into dysfunctional Rock ’Em Sock ’Em sequences that only ever function well when players are toe-to-toe with a single enemy. Thankfully, [REDACTED] seems to be rectifying all of these points of contention.
[REDACTED] is the Perfect Biophage Mutation Evolution for The Callisto Protocol
Taking the best features from The Callisto Protocol—its cold Black Iron Prison penitentiary and the biophages inhabiting it—and repurposing them rather than scrapping them is fantastic, and it’s unquestionably more unique to see them in [REDACTED]’s zany roguelike genre.
Enough of The Callisto Protocol’s original DNA is embedded in [REDACTED] to ensure it is an adaptation of that world, but its biggest change is how Striking Distance Studios has done a complete 180 on The Callisto Protocol’s grisly melodrama and punctuates [REDACTED] with colorful bombast instead. Players will still have access to The Callisto Protocol’s iconic stun baton, for instance, but clobbering biophages isn’t leashed anymore and dishes out broad, hard-hitting attacks.
There are already a lot of neat, inventive roguelike treats [REDACTED] has teased, such as being able to “risk it all in one last hardcore do-or-die run back through the prison” for “new powerful permanent gear” instead of simply taking the escape pod and fleeing the prison, as well as players coming across “rival” characters as potential bosses and even contending with their own corpse from a previous run who wields the loadout players had when they perished. This all boasts a level of creativity and authorship for The Callisto Protocol’s franchise that the original game lacked in every way and therefore [REDACTED] may be a favorable overcorrection, especially with roguelikes being as popular as they are now.
[REDACTED] Inks The Callisto Protocol in a Whole New Light
Easily the most distinct change [REDACTED] brings to The Callisto Protocol’s IP is its visual style, and like Hi-Fi RUSH, Hades, or No Rest for the Wicked its art is how it’ll be distinguished apart from any other game like it. Forgoing The Callisto Protocol’s hyper-realistic visuals entirely, [REDACTED]’s art direction is described as having a “vivid graphic novel style” and bears an “irreverent,” “arcade-punk” tone that is not dissimilar to that of Insomniac’s Sunset Overdrive.
It’s not as if panel-laden comic book styles of coloring and art are new to games at all, and The Callisto Protocol’s graphics are surely impressive on their own, but hyper-realism is almost always going to be more generic than if a game can identify itself with a strong visual style. It’s what helped Marvel Rivals gain so much attention when it was first revealed as an unapologetic Overwatch clone and it could be what earns players’ attention toward [REDACTED] when The Callisto Protocol’s spiritual successor spin-off is released on Halloween.
[REDACTED] launches on October 31 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Callisto Protocol
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 67 /100 Critics Rec: 41%
- Released
- December 2, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Striking Distance Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
WHERE TO PLAY
In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player will take on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on Jupiter's moon, Callisto. When inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob must battle his way to safety to escape Black Iron Prison, while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets buried beneath the surface of Callisto. Using a unique blend of shooting and close-quarters combat, Jacob will need to adapt his tactics to combat the rapidly evolving creatures while scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and abilities to outrun the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter's Dead Moon.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
