I’ll preface this evaluate of The Callisto Protocol by saying that, as a lot as I really like horror video games, I by no means actually acquired into the Lifeless House sequence. Previous to its launch, this sci-fi survival horror sport from developer Hanging Distance Studios and writer KRAFTON, Inc. was touted because the franchise’s non secular successor. Nonetheless, provided that I had no opinions about Lifeless House that I held expensive, I merely got here in with an open thoughts.
I used to be left feeling much more disenchanted. Partly, it’s due to The Callisto Protocol‘s oddly questionable fight mechanics and controls. Likewise, the marketing campaign presentation and development left quite a bit to be desired, to not point out some technical points when it was initially launched.
A lifeless moon
The Callisto Protocol places you within the footwear of Jacob Lee – a cargo pilot on the fallacious place on the fallacious time, Lee is captured and despatched to a jail on Callisto, considered one of Jupiter’s moons. It’s there that issues begin to go awry, as victims and guards begin turning into misshapen creatures intent on killing one another.
From a storyline standpoint, The Callisto Protocol is about as cryptic because it will get. You understand subsequent to nothing concerning the forged of characters or the setting, although you would glean some data from scattered audio logs. The place it shines, nevertheless, is when it comes to visuals and ambiance. From dingy hallways and blood-strewn chambers to scorched yards and snow-swept cliffs, you’ll be stored in your toes, marveling on the sights and sounds, and considering if one thing remains to be lurking on the market.
Equally, the UI could be very minimalistic, as there’s no HUD muddle to talk of. Your well being bar is represented by an influence in the back of your neck, alongside along with your GRP expenses (extra on this later). As for ammo rely, it’s merely proven once you draw your weapon. These design choices definitely add to the immersion ranges and cinematic really feel.
![The Callisto Protocol Review Pc 1](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-pc-1.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Screenshot by PC Invasion
Bloody homicide
The ambiance can be bolstered additional by The Callisto Protocol‘s gore, violence, and enemy design. Every thing is attempting to kill you, whether or not it’s a beefy beast who can smack you round or the tiniest facehugger that pops up. With however a number of weapons to help you, akin to your trusty Stun Baton, you’ll must be aware of your environment, too. That is the place the GRP — consider it as a Gravity Glove — is available in. You should use it to toss objects at foes to quickly incapacitate them, and even explosives to rapidly get the job performed. Likewise, for those who see traps within the surroundings, akin to whirling grinders or spikes, be happy to push your enemies to see them impaled or have little giblets flying round. I used to be even impressed when some mobs, regardless of getting decapitated, nonetheless continued to lumber mindlessly.
Naturally, your character may also be on the receiving finish of punishment. Fail some QTEs, and you would get your face and head ripped off. Transfer the fallacious method whereas being flushed down a pipe by a torrent of water, and your physique may get chopped in half. Dodge sideways subsequent to a lethal contraption and, effectively. . .
For now, I ought to point out that there have been some preliminary points. Early on, I did expertise fairly a little bit of stuttering, just like what had occurred to our Critiques Editor, Andrew Farrell. I used to be additionally informed that he had issues with photosensitivity and, as such, wasn’t in a position to proceed previous areas with flashing lights. Stuttering points did get mounted considerably a number of days later, which was once I hopped again on. Aside from these, I additionally seen that Picture Mode photos regarded blurred and garbled, however provided that AMD FSR 2.0 was enabled. In brief, even when the visuals and violence catch your eye, there have been nonetheless some nagging issues.
![The Callisto Protocol Review Pc 2](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-pc-2.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Screenshot by PC Invasion
Placing the “d’oh” in d’oh-dge
Chief among the many issues I skilled in The Callisto Protocol was the fight system. I genuinely couldn’t inform if it wished to be a survival horror title, an motion brawler, or an try at a brand new boxing sport (i.e., a futuristic model of Struggle Night time or Punch-Out!). Mainly, if a monster is aggroed, it’s going to try and swipe at your character, so that you’d dodge utilizing the “A” or “D” keys, akin to a quick-time occasion (QTE) minus the prompts. When you see a gap, that’s the time you comply with up with melee strikes, and you then do the dodging minigame as soon as extra.
That is all effectively and good. The issue is that there are sections once you’re up in opposition to three or extra enemies, usually with a Spitter (i.e., ranged mob) spewing blobs your method. Which means you may dodge an assault completely, however a projectile may nonetheless hit you. Alternatively, one other enemy’s melee swing animation would possibly join. And it’s not like you would run away to plan your strikes. Every fight sequence locks you robotically, so attempting to maneuver backward will solely do a blocking movement, sprinting gained’t happen as a result of your weapons are drawn, and you may’t do a 180-degree flip.
Lest I overlook, it’s additionally potential to unintentionally do your dodging or assault animations into traps, resulting in an surprising demise. For example, say there’s a spiked pillar that strikes throughout a room. The one technique to survive is through the use of the small niches when it passes, however these have enemies popping up. One good dodge to the facet brought on my character’s physique to be uncovered, adopted by an on the spot shredding.
![The Callisto Protocol Review Pc 3](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-pc-3.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Screenshot by PC Invasion
Shoot the tentacles
That is additional hampered by the quick-shot mechanic, which inspires you to attract your firearm to shoot an enemy when it’s surprised. Once more, this concept is nice on paper however executed poorly. Since a stun animation causes the enemy to flinch sideways, your purpose may also be off by a mile. That is remedied for those who get a top-tier improve for the weapon, otherwise you jerk your purpose instantly, which defeats the aim of a fast shot, to start with.
Furthermore, creatures are inclined to mutate, denoted by tentacles sprouting out of their torsos. Once more, you’d must blast these as they seem. It really works effectively sufficient, however there have been moments once you’re doing the entire dodging factor, and the opponent that’s behind your present goal is the one which’s mutating. As such, it boils right down to taking the shot (and possibly getting hit by the one you’re partaking), or finishing each dodges and risking having a mutated monster ready for you. All in all, having performed and loved a bunch of survival horror and Souls-like video games, there’s nothing worse than cumbersome controls once you’re attempting to battle hostiles.
No less than sure stealth sections had been considerably okay. Once you’re being tracked by a gun-toting robotic, you would typically transfer round an impediment to confuse it (which is hilarious). Moreover, there are blind enemies that you may sneak up on earlier than a fast backstab.
![The Callisto Protocol Review Pc 3b](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-pc-3b.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Picture through KRAFTON, Inc.
Going again
Different annoyances are tied to The Callisto Protocol‘s save system. Primarily, you set off an autosave once you attain checkpoints. There’s a handbook save, but it surely solely saves your final checkpoint, not your present location or something you probably did previous that part. Your solely recourse, due to this fact, is to search out the subsequent checkpoint, wherever which may be.
Right here’s the tough half. Whereas the marketing campaign is linear to a fault, some areas could have one other room or hall with some loot, whereas going the other way results in additional development (and a checkpoint/autosave set off). When you see the autosave icon and go the opposite technique to accumulate stuff/improve weapons, returning to the identical spot gained’t set off a brand new autosave (the one you had minutes prior is the one which’s set). When you die or if the sport crashes, you then’d must redo the identical actions or rewatch the identical cutscenes.
This was positively a trouble for me. There have been occasions once I wished to take a break or cowl a unique sport, solely to do not forget that reloading my Callisto marketing campaign meant retreading the identical path or battling the identical mobs. I nonetheless don’t perceive why such an archaic system is in place, and why handbook saves had been subsequent to ineffective.
![Cal Prtcl Rev 1](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cal-prtcl-rev-1.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Screenshot by PC Invasion
Futuristic futility
I recognize what the builders tried after they made The Callisto Protocol. As I’m not a Lifeless House superfan, all I can say is that this sport nails the visuals and the ambiance of what it tries to current. Because of its eerie places with a sci-fi theme, disturbing sound results, minimal HUD muddle, and brutal deaths, it lays naked the viciousness of your foes, the grittiness of the setting, and top-notch, near-cinematic immersion.
Sadly, that’s the place it ends. The fight controls are clunky at greatest, removed from what you’re used to on this style. It begs the query of why a separate dodge/block bind wasn’t carried out and it needed to be tied to lateral motion. Moreover, the save system is extra detrimental than useful. There are additionally a number of boss encounters that fully eschew what you’ve been doing the complete marketing campaign (i.e., specializing in melee). Compounded by linearity and barebones aims, it results in a way of futility and tediousness.
![Cal Prtcl Rev 2](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cal-prtcl-rev-2.jpg?w=750&resize=750%2C422)
Screenshot by PC Invasion