The excitement around The Callisto Protocol has been building up over the last couple of years. Initially announced as a weird spin-off to the PUBG universe and then (thankfully) pulled away into its own project, it’s from Glen Schofield, one of the key figures behind Dead Space, and his new studio, Striking Distance. There’s a lot to live up to, especially for horror fans, so what are the critics saying as reviews have rolled in?
There’s one consistent in all the reviews: the combat could be better. With a focus on melee combat instead of the ranged combat of Dead Space, things sound like they start off well but fall apart when surrounded by too many enemies. A common example given in the five reviews we’ve got below. But the consistent positives are around the games visuals and sound design — even if most critics are writing that the game is more “thriller” than “horror,” partly at times to the loud soundtrack, everyone says the game sounds great doing that, especially with the highly produced cinematics. The story sounds like typical sci-fi stuff, and some writers noted that’s fine for them, while others were disappointed by the lack of innovation in the narrative of the game.
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The embargo on reviews for this one was a little weird too, where they dropped at midnight in America, which meant the game was playable in Australia for around the time it takes to finish it before anyone could post their reviews. And with only five reviews to share, review codes were oddly limited for a game like this.
Here’s what Australian critics are saying about the game.
KOALATY CRITICS – AUSTRALIAN CRITICS
AusGamers – 8.7/10 (Steve Farrelly)
“The Callisto Protocol is a genuinely jaw-dropping visual assault. It might have the most detailed interiors of any game I’ve ever played, and the variety in art that accompanies these is staggering. From the initial prison sequences through to deep underground spaces where you’ll be navigating an old, abandoned colony to the surface of Callisto itself, the game serves up a terrifying feast for the eyes.”
Read the review.
Checkpoint Gaming – 7.5/10 (Luke Mitchell)
“Melee combat suffers however when there are multiple enemies on screen at once. If a foe is directly behind you, they’ll take cheap pot-shots, rendering the left to right dodging to be less “floating like a butterfly” and more “flailing like an idiot”. They can also randomly grab you, forcing you to mash a button, which can be annoying.”
Read the review.
Player2 – B (Paul James)
“The Callisto Protocol reaches for what Dead Space once achieved, and falls dishearteningly short. It re-creates all of the brutality and tension that drained the blood from our faces whilst playing Dead Space, but once you then find yourself actively fighting for your life, leaves you quickly frustrated and let down.”
Read the review.
PowerUp Gaming – 5.5/10 (Leo Stevenson)
“Facing one enemy is fine but as soon as two or more enemies come at you at once, the entire system falls apart. It is impossoble to dodge all incoming attacks when they come from multiple sides and especially when the camera is positioned such that you can’t even see the enemies behind you.
Read the review.
Press Start – 8/10 (James Berich)
“I previously referred to Callisto Protocol as a thriller, which was a deliberate distinction that I made. If I had to decide how scary a game like The Callisto Protocol is, I’d liken it closer to games like Dead Space 3 or Resident Evil 4. It’s a tense experience constantly throwing things at you, but it never quite reaches the lofty heights of terror similar to games like the first two Dead Spaces or even something like Resident Evil 7.”
Read the review.
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