Callisto Protocol | Review Thread

[John Elden Ring]

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Game Information​

Game Title: The Callisto Protocol
Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Dec 2, 2022)
• PlayStation 5 (Dec 2, 2022)
• PlayStation 4 (Dec 2, 2022)
• Xbox One (Dec 2, 2022)
• PC (Dec 2, 2022)

Trailer:

• The Callisto Protocol - Cinematic Trailer Reveal

Developer: Striking Distance Studios
Publisher: Krafton

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic:

MetaCritic (PS5):

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Critic Reviews:​

Ars Technica - Alessandro Fillari - Unscored

This breakout horror game stumbles occasionally, but it still stands tall as a thrilling survival-horror experience.

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AusGamers - Steve Farrelly - 8.7 / 10

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.

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Checkpoint Gaming - Luke Mitchell - 7.5 / 10

An intense atmospheric adventure with an intriguing premise, The Callisto Protocol delivers a solid horror game that focuses largely on its satisfying combat. It doesn't have much variety and is lacking a bit of creativity, but it makes up for that with impressive visuals and disgusting, intimidating monsters. It might not meet the expectations of its obvious inspirations, but The Callisto Protocol lays a strong foundation of terrifying atmosphere and crunchy combat that makes it satisfying and spooky nonetheless.

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Dexerto - Andrew Highton - 5 / 5

A wonderfully exhausting exercise in futility is probably the best way of describing The Callisto Protocol as no matter the strength of my own resolve, I was constantly on edge and reveling in those fleeting moments where the game allowed me to breathe following yet another life-threatening fight.
The constant fear and dread incited by the phenomenal visual and sound design are only complemented by the compelling story. The Callisto Protocol is, hopefully, the start of an exciting new franchise, and is another sign that survival horror is anything but dead.

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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 3.5 / 5

Despite some cumbersome combat systems and performance issues, The Callisto Protocol successfully builds on Dead Space's legacy

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Everyeye.it - Giuseppe Carrabba - Italian - 7.8 / 10

Certainly a "good first" for Striking Distance Studios

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Game Informer - Wesley LeBlanc - 6 / 10

If you wanted anything more out of this second crack at making a new sci-fi IP in survival horror, or something markedly different that acknowledges just how far gaming has come since 2008, The Callisto Protocol is not your answer.

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Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 3.5 / 5

The Callisto Protocol is an excellent game while it lasts, but it's missing important features that would have propelled it to the next level.

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GamePro - Dennis Michel - German - 66 / 100

The Callisto Protocol is an atmospheric graphics blender that can only compete with Dead Space in a playful way.

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GameSpot - Jordan Ramée - 5 / 10

Though it starts off on a strong note, The Callisto Protocol's focus on action-heavy spectacles fails to adequately explore its horror and overcrowds its weak combat mechanics.

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GamesHub - Nicholas Kennedy - 3 / 5

There’s a solid game at the heart of Black Iron Prison, but every opportunity the game gets to subvert expectations or do something new is instead a moment of deferral to one of Callisto’s many inspirations. It’s nice to see Callisto try to be a new brew, synthesised from many parts, but an entirely new vision would have stuck around in the bloodstream a little longer.

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God is a Geek - Chris White - 8.5 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is violent and brutal, with stunning visuals, but it's intimacy causes a few problems that are hard to be overlooked.

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IGN - Tristan Ogilvie - 7 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is a satisfyingly gory spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, but it’s ultimately more of a striking modern mimic than a scary new mutation.

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INVEN - Suhyung Jung - Korean - 8.5 / 10

AAA-class SF horror game that appeared after a long time. The lingering story created among people who have turned into bizarre monsters is the attractive element of the game. The battle balance and level design are somewhat disappointing, but it is still a fun enough game.

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Inverse - Joseph Yaden - 6 / 10

The Callisto Protocol succeeds as a desolate and brutal survival horror experience in its opening hours. But the second half is hindered by massive difficulty spikes and clunky melee combat.

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Metro GameCentral - Nick Gillett - 6 / 10

Dead Space 4 in all but name, except with no puzzles and surprisingly little suspense. The Callisto Protocol has plenty of gritty action but that's not quite enough to sustain interest for its entire duration.

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MondoXbox - Giuseppe Genga - Italian - 8.5 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is a raw and brutal sci-fi survival horror with extremely physical, challenging, and visceral combat and a first-rate graphical compartment. Even if it feels inadequate from a narrative point of view and its linear structure smacks of somewhat dated game design, the overall result is still convincing and it manages to keep interest high until the end. Definitely recommended if you love survival horror and claustrophobic sci-fi settings.

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PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 79 / 100

Gory and moody, The Callisto Protocol doesn't mess with the survival horror formula, instead embracing all its beats and clichés to tell a grim sci-fi tale that drips with menace.

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PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Superb in setting, visuals, sound and other technical parts, The Callisto Protocol is impressive from start to finish and a brutal experience that is lacking these days. Although it is not perfect and some problems can be noticed, as well as the lack of content beyond the main campaign, there is a lot of quality showing that the game delivers what was promised.

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PlayStation Universe - Adam Byrne - 7.5 / 10

First out of the gate in what will be a bevy of survival titles in the coming months, The Callisto Protocol is a solid maiden effort from developer Striking Distance Studios and one that has laid the groundwork what is hopefully to come.

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Polygon - Michael McWhertor - Unscored

The Callisto Protocol could have borrowed a few more lessons from its spiritual inspiration, and further refined its mechanics to make a game that plays as good as it looks.

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PowerUp! - Leo Stevenson - 5.5 / 10

If you were hoping this would be the second coming of Dead Space, you’ll need to wait for next year’s remake.

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Press Start - James Mitchell - 8 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is a modest starting point for what I hope will flourish into another heavy-hitting horror franchise. It's gory and gratuitous, with an endlessly satisfying combat system. But the lack of enemy variety scares, and surprises, even if engaging, stop it from being the horror game masterpiece it's trying to be. Despite all of its shortcomings, it's an immensely enjoyable romp that's left me desperate for more.

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Push Square - Liam Croft - 7 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is a consistently good game that, when it's at its best, gives many of the survival horror greats a run for their money. However, there's no getting around the fact the game has very little to truly call its own.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Alice Bell - Unscored

The Callisto Protocol isn't that scary and has potentially annoying combat, but it would still be pretty fun if it didn't run like your three day old reheated takeaway.

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Screen Rant - Leo Faierman - 2.5 / 5

The Callisto Protocol brings high-def sci-fi horror to current-gen consoles, but it suffers from a lack of dynamic gameplay ideas outside of its gore.

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Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 8 / 10

The Callisto Protocol is a deeply immersive sci-fi horror experience that firmly grabs you at the start and doesn’t let go. While this immersion shows its cracks during the transition into new areas, it’s not enough to ruin the overall experience.

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TheGamer - Andrew King - 2.5 / 5

It's a shame that The Callisto Protocol is so uninteresting at its core. Though it looks gorgeous on the surface, a dozen hours of nothing special can have a clarifying effect.

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Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 80%

An unflinchingly violent and gruesome survival horror that ratchets up the tension from the get-go and doesn't let up, The Callisto Protocol is superlative stuff, and a must for anyone with even a passing fancy for Dead Space and its ilk.

 

[peter42O]

Lower than I was hoping/expecting but will still pick it up in the morning. Really hoping that I like and enjoy the game enough to complete it because I dropped Evil West the other day and seeing this game get around the same overall rating doesn't exactly inspire me with confidence.

 

[PlacidusaX]

Dddduuuuuuuddddd!

 

[Lord Mittens]

wooow

 

[Muddasar]

My most anticipated game this year and the reviews are average.

Had a feeling this would be the case when they decided to embargo the reviews on launch day.

 

[Bodycount611]

much lower than expected. lol

 

[Yobo]

"Poor man's Returnal"

 

[thelastword]

Callisto is taking a beating for combat and sameyness. The visuals are bonkers though, I will play it in due time.

 

[Shmunter]

Looks like a Sale contender

 

[mansoor1980]

is it true that steam deck cant run this?

 

[Shmunter]

is it true that steam deck cant run this?

Runs on Xbox one, should run on a calculator

 

[Jim Ryan]

I'm going to play this without using my thumbs, as usual.

 

[iAMJeffy]

"Poor man's Returnal"

Is that what they wrote in one of the reviews? Which one lol

 

[Old Gamer]

is it true that steam deck cant run this?

It should run this fine.

 

[Hezekiah]

Disappointing reviews - 7/10 at IGN is basically a 5/10 in the real world. Will get it next year at some point.

 

[Hezekiah]

Skill Up: I do not recommend.

Just one long corridor basically. Threadbare story, no puzzles, no exploration, combat doesn't work, isn't scary, just jump scares.

Spoiler

One boss, one miniboss recycled four times.

Runs terribly on PC. Lots of stuttering. 14 FPS on Steam Deck on low settings . Other reviewers are saying it runs really well on PS5.

Amazing graphics though!

 

[Darth Vader]

Damn this is unexpected.

 

[Deleted member 13]

Yea, they don't have DLSS for the Nvidia boards and it just kills framerate. It has a lot of stutter and framepacing issues. Given the comments here, I'll return it.

 

[Old Gamer]

 

[Dabaus]

Crap like halo infinite and pentiment getting 10s but real games getting mid scores. I think ill paly it and judge it for myself.