First impressions: The Callisto Protocol

Today, I began my playthrough of the highly-anticipated sci-fi survival horror game The Callisto Protocol. With Dead Space co-creator Glen Schofield at its helm, the game set high expectations from gamers since its announcement. However, if you’ve followed news about the game as I have, you likely also read some of the current reviews out from other news sites.

So far, I only played for two hours. Regardless, I’m unbelievably shocked at how horribly they ripped the game apart. If you read any of my Dead Space reviews, you know I’m a tough critic. I walked out of my first couple hours of gameplay completely blown away.

Call it different taste, but I think The Callisto Protocol is easily the best game I played in 2022. In fact, I like it better than the entire Dead Space trilogy. Go ahead, break out the pitchforks. However, my first impression of the game is that it is by far one of the most fluid, visually impressive and detailed video games I ever played.

So, without further adieu, let’s dive into my experience with The Callisto Protocol so far.

Welcome to Black Iron

The game opens up with a news story following the aftermath of a terrorist attack orchestrated by Dani Nakamura and her group, The Outer Way. We cut to see protagonist Jacob Lee and his partner Max on a routine supply run from Europa to Callisto. As a horror game, things don’t stay routine for long as Nakamura and The Outer Way board Jacob’s ship, leading to a crash right into the dead moon itself.

From there, Captain Ferris arrests both Jacob and Dani, the only two survivors of the crash. After a painful admission process, Jacob awakens in his cell to find the whole of Black Iron Prison in chaos. It isn’t long from this point when we learn the game’s combat mechanics and meet our very first Biophage monster.

And it’s this point when The Callisto Protocol truly finds its groove. Unlike the shooter-heavy Dead Space games, this title distinguishes itself by centering the core of its combat around melee attacks. Instead of blasting away limbs with a plasma cutter, this title encourages you to dodge, duck and bash a monster’s brains out with a blunt object.

Now, I read some of the reviews that criticize these encounters for feeling, “sluggish,” and I completely disagree. Because the dodge controls involve holding left or right on the left stick, your best bet in combat is to always alternate between holding the stick in each direction while you attack. From my experience, the melee combat is extremely fluid with some fantastic dodging animations and even more satisfying hits.

Showing every gruesome detail

However, I think the most stunning element of The Callisto Protocol is its attention to detail. I would like to give a huge shoutout to Striking Distance Studios for taking the time to craft such a crazy world that somehow feels scarily realistic. Everything down to Jacob storing his pistol in the back of his pants feels like the developers left no stone unturned in the realism department.

The gore, especially, feels shockingly real. For instance, when your ship crashes at the beginning of the game, you turn Max’s head around to discover half of it completely burned away. Seeing each individual charred muscle and tendon holding his jaw together even had me gag, and I watch/play a lot of horror content.

I also love small touches like the blood of your enemies actually splattering on you when you kill them. Even the weapon upgrade system, which sees you use a 3D printer to purchase new upgrades, shows the laser print each new addition. From the game’s haunting atmosphere, fantastic lighting and visceral weighty combat, The Callisto Protocol sets its tone early on as an unapologetic blood-fest that shows no signs of slowing down.

The Callisto Protocol initial thoughts wrap-up

Overall, I almost have to ask myself if I even played the same game as other reviewers. Where others say that The Callisto Protocol is a choppy mess, I find a fluid horror thrill-ride that never slows down the pace. Dodging feels fantastic, smashing enemies feels fantastic, launching a Biophage enemy with your GRP into a fan feels fantastic. Need I go on?

Hopefully, my first impressions hold true throughout the duration of the rest of the game. However, I am beyond excited to keep playing and let you know what I think when it’s all said and done. Be sure to stay tuned for my full review, coming soon!

The Callisto Protocol is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.