The Callisto Protocol — What Aussie Critics Are Saying
Striking Distance’s sci-fi chiller arrives with blockbuster visuals, gnarly sound design, and a melee-heavy combat system that has critics split—especially when the odds stack up.
The hype for The Callisto Protocol has been building for years. First pitched as a PUBG spin-off before spinning into its own universe, it’s led by Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield and the team at Striking Distance. Reviews are in—here’s the Australian consensus.
TL;DR: Critics broadly praise the visuals, art direction, and audio (plus its lavish cinematics). On the flip side, the melee-forward combat impresses one-on-one but struggles with groups, and the story lands as serviceable sci-fi rather than groundbreaking horror. Several writers also note it feels more thriller than outright terror.
- Jaw-dropping visuals & production
- Superb sound mix; tense atmosphere
- Satisfying 1v1 melee feel & weight
- Combat falters vs. multiple enemies
- Camera/readability hiccups under pressure
- Story beats feel familiar; more thriller than horror
Note: Review codes appeared to be limited, and the review embargo timing meant the game was playable in Australia for a chunk of time before major reviews went live.
Koalaty Critics — Australian Round-Up
AusGamers — 8.7/10 (Steve Farrelly)
“A genuinely jaw-dropping visual assault… the variety in art is staggering… the game serves up a terrifying feast for the eyes.”
Checkpoint Gaming — 7.5/10 (Luke Mitchell)
“Melee combat suffers when there are multiple enemies… left-to-right dodging becomes less ‘float like a butterfly’ and more ‘flail like an idiot.’”
Player2 — B (Paul James)
“Re-creates the brutality and tension of Dead Space, but once you’re actively fighting for your life, it leaves you frustrated.”
PowerUp Gaming — 5.5/10 (Leo Stevenson)
“Facing one enemy is fine but as soon as two or more come at you at once, the entire system falls apart… especially when you can’t see behind you.”
Press Start — 8/10 (James Berich)
“A tense experience constantly throwing things at you, but not quite the terror of the earliest Dead Space or RE7.”
(Average of the scores above; Player2 “B” approximated as 8/10.)
Playing at launch? Tell us your platform and how you’re finding the combat in the comments.
