Announced at the Game Awards 2020, the Callisto protocol made sure everyone was in agreement on the day of its release. Developed by Striking Distance Studios and directed by co-creator of the Dead Space license, Glen Schofield, the Callisto Protocol promises us a good dose of chills, horrors and fears.
As soon as the game was announced, Glen Schofield confirmed that his primary goal is to create the scariest game on the new PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. Obviously, the game is heavily inspired by Dead Space and plans to follow its path in its own way. The teams at Striking Distance Studios want to focus on new lighting techniques and 3D audio systems to give players a terrifying experience.
During Gamescom 2022, we couldn’t get our hands on The Callisto Protocol. On the other hand, we were entitled to a presentation with the developers and we got a first glimpse of the gameplay. Here’s our first take on this title that’s likely to pack a punch in the survival horror world.
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The Callisto Protocol: Anxiety and Anxiety
Welcome to the year 2320, on Jupiter’s moon Callisto. You are a prisoner incarcerated in the Black Iron colonial prison. The good news is that you will be able to go outside soon. The bad news is that this happy event stems from an alien invasion that appears to have been designed by the prison warden. Unfortunately, you will not face very friendly aliens and your chances of survival are very slim.
According to the developers, several words can characterize the Callisto protocol. Atmosphere, tension, brutality, suffering or even humanity. If we take pleasure in putting all this in order, after the presentation we discovered, we can say that the game plunges us into a gloomy and harsh climate, constantly under tension, with an unforgiving environment, which will cause you suffering, and an end to all mankind.
© Striking Distance Studios
The demo we discovered highlighted new mutations that will make enemies more aggressive, more dangerous and more powerful. There are different stages of mutations for creatures. At the first level, the latter resemble humans. Then tentacles start to grow on your enemies and these are responsible for the mutations. It is absolutely necessary to kill the creatures and destroy the tentacles to avoid other mutations (even on the corpses of your victims).
The Callisto protocol allows you to deal with different and varied weapons. But the title also offers the possibility of melee combat with an dodge system that requires good timing. The arsenal also seems very complete, with the possibility to improve them and add additional components to make them more powerful thanks to a 3D printer of the future that will allow us to create the modules we need. .
© Striking Distance Studios
The atmosphere of the game is very dark, gloomy, we feel the danger and fear at every moment. The soul and legacy of Dead Space are there, whether in the gameplay, the staging or the enemies. The AI seems very developed and some creatures will hide in the dark to set traps for us. Some monsters have abilities that allow them to become invisible. For example, we have often seen creatures hiding in the dark, becoming invisible and waiting for the right moment to attack us by surprise. You’re not done being surprised and shocked yet.
Graphically, the title gives us a nice copy. There are many details. We are immersed in very dark environments, often underground, the kind of landscape that is not the easiest to bring out. We are far from the beautiful landscapes. But it is still very clean. There is an excellent play of light that allows certain creatures to hide and disappear completely in the dark. Colors and the interplay of light and shadow play a major role in the eerie atmosphere of The Callisto Protocol.
© Striking Distance Studios
There are many creatures in the levels. You hardly have any rest. Stress is present all the time. Fortunately, we can use our environment to destroy creatures and attack them by surprise. The game allows you to infiltrate a little, no need to run to the heap or suffer attacks from your enemies.
By the way, the creatures will not be the only threats, there will also be your environment. The level design seems very well done with some pretty cool sequences.
To stay in the dark, your character’s deaths are brutal. Very cheeky. Whether it’s when the latter is captured by a monster, or when it dies impaled against a wall or other object in its vicinity. Sensitive souls will have to go their own way.
Our first opinion on the Callisto protocol
© Striking Distance Studios
A very satisfactory first approach to the Callisto protocol. We are completely in a good survival horror that will test our nerves. The title suffered from a few drops in framerates, nothing bad, knowing there are still a few months of development left. The game will be released on December 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Several editions will be available for purchase with the basic version and the deluxe edition.
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