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[Draugoth]

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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.

 

[Valedix]

This comes up for an early review but you can't actually see the review once you click on it.

 

[Draugoth]

This comes up for an early review but you can't actually see the review once you click on it.

I tried putting it in the thread but i cant copy a quote or scores

 

[FalsettoVibe]

How much longer till reviews go up?

 

[feynoob]

Interesting at first half, but falls of at later half.

At most 85 metacritic.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

Selling this spot

Score prediction: 66

 

[tommib]

75

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

I'll guess 78.

 

[Del_X]

77

 

[bender]

74 is the ceiling.

 

[Calling 911 Melts Beams]

69 out of 420

 

[ParaSeoul]

don't see the hype

 

[adamsapple]

Looks like a 3/5 from Games Radar.

Edit:

Google cache has the full review, looks like they put it up early accidentally.

The Callisto Protocol review: "An impressive game derailed by unforgiving combat"

A fantastic looking game that builds a great sci-fi world only to trash it with an unenjoyable combat challenge.

webcache.googleusercontent.com

Pros​

• +
  Looks incredible
• +
  Great sci-fi world building

Cons​

• -
  Horrible combat

 

[Agent_4Seven]

Looks like a 3/5 from Games Radar.

Edit:

Google cache has the full review, looks like they put it up early accidentally.

The Callisto Protocol review: "An impressive game derailed by unforgiving combat"

A fantastic looking game that builds a great sci-fi world only to trash it with an unenjoyable combat challenge.

webcache.googleusercontent.com

Baby Ass Baby Mode not included at launch? That can explain everything.

 

[Draugoth]

Thread is updated

 

[Karak]

My Impressions so far-
Decidedly was less remarkable than I had expected. So far I would say a buy/wait for a sale right in the middle between the two. Probably would be a buy if forced to give a rating right now.

 

[adamsapple]

Woof this is reviewing worse than I expected ..

 

[Needlecrash]

My Impressions so far-
Decidedly was less remarkable than I had expected. So far I would say a buy/wait for a sale right in the middle between the two. Probably would be a buy if forced to give a rating right now.

OOF.

 

[adamsapple]

Looks like a rental, instead of a purchase, it is then.

 

[Desprado123]

Thank God i did not go for the hype. Too much hype has destroyed this game.

Will buy it when it available on discount.

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

75 meta critic

 

[mansoor1980]

so much for quad AAAA

 

[Punished Miku]

I voted 85 for my prediction.

Guess we know now why they were crunching. Probably still has some enjoyable content but I'm not biting at $70 with this much competition. Will keep an eye on it for the future.

 

[Halo2redvsblue]

Gamespot gave it a 5/10?!?

 

[adamsapple]

OC has dropped to 74

 

[BennyBlanco]

Marvel Xcom it is this weekend.

 

[GenericUser]

Well, maybe it's time to ragna-rock. No way I'm going to pay full price for this.
Shame, I'm a huge huge survival horror fan and the game looked very promising.

 

[Needlecrash]

Gamespot gave it a 5/10?

Guess I'm canceling my pre orders then.

 

[Punished Miku]

"On 2nd thought the economics behind Gamepass really do make a lot of sense. My bad."

 

[Valedix]

Yup knew the release date reviews would be a bad sign.

 

[Needlecrash]

I guess in this case, the release day review embargo wasn't a good sign.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

Cons

• -
  Horrible combat

Yeah, then this is not for me..

Hope Dead Space remake will be good.

 

[decisions]

Is it strange that I feel I have become so disenchanted with review scores that this makes me want to play the game even more? I know I'll probably regret it but after seeing Ragnarok get a 94 I'm not really sure what I'm even expecting an MC score to mean anymore. I think Ragnarok was a great game, but has obviously glaring issues such as excessive hand-holding, terrible pacing, and level design that overstays its welcome far before you can complete all of the game's content. If the game had less hand-holding, less puzzles, less scripted sequences where you do very non-God-of-War things, and less repetitive side content would it have gotten a lower MC score from these same outlets?

 

[remember_spinal]

the review score matches what i paid for it lol

Knew i should have trusted my gut and waited a few more hours

 

[LordCBH]

Saw it coming when I saw that thread on the review embargo date. But damn it still hurts…they said and showed so many right things. The trailers looked great, the gameplay looked great. But man….

 

[Karak]

OOF.

Its jank as fuck. I didn't want to say anything when the one low score review popped up recently with everyone thinking it was the reviewer. But its not...up to par.

 

[kikkis]

Predicted 77 on previous thread. At 74 its pretty good guess.

 

[balls of snow]

Rip in peaches.
But really, the established are bullying them because their the new boys. Steelrising got a 7 from gamepot, a spiders game is better than callisto protocol.

 

[DavidGzz]

Hmm, guess I need to actually read a review or two to see why the combat sucks.

 

[Needlecrash]

Its jank as fuck. I didn't want to say anything when the one low score review popped up recently with everyone thinking it was the reviewer. But its not...up to par.

Fucking hell. You're one of the reviewers I trust the most. Welp, canceling my PS5 pre order and putting that to Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII instead. I'm not gonna pay $70 for AAAA jank.

 

[ahtlas7]

Yup, middling scores for a ho-hum experience, it would seem. I’ll pick it up down the road in the discount bin.

 

[Terenty]

When game journos start shitting on smth it's actually a good sign, a good game most likely

 

[MiguelItUp]

Some of these points are pretty divisive in some areas. I look forward to checking it out and having my own opinion.

I forget how many people look at review scores like they're some kind of prophecy.

 

[J3nga]

Gamespot gave it a 5/10?!

Did you see his complaints? Someone give that guy a hug.

 

[Max_Po]

Flopped @ IGN with a 7

 

[semiconscious]

yes! yet another major release that i don't have to feel awful about not being able to afford! how long can this good luck streak continue?...

 

[rapid32.5]

How horrible is combat? can’t be worse than The Thing 2002 even then the game was ok but hard.

 

[acidagfc]

Champagne is being popped at EA right now.

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

I guess in this case, the release day review embargo wasn't a good sign.

^This is the case most of the time.

So much info was held back and that’s usually a major red flag.

IGN giving this a 7 is a very bad look because they over score games most of the time IMO.

A 5 from gamespot …. Going to save my $70 and wait for a discount.

 

[Danjin44]

I'm personally still planning to buy this day one because looking at most reviews they liking the atmosphere and horror but they hate the difficulty which was kind of same deal with original Evil Within but I enjoyed that game a lot.

So far these reviews give me no reason to skip this game.