The Callisto Protocol Review: Nothing More Than Empty Dead Space

Dead Space ended on a sour note, with a pungent aftertaste that lingered for nearly a full decade. The Callisto Protocol seemed designed to finally replace that unpleasant aroma with its own take on the genre, as it was unambiguously inspired by this series and some of the same creatives. Instead of being a thoughtful successor worthy of carrying the torch, The Callisto Protocol is a bewildering, misguided horror game that's hopelessly lost in space.

The Callisto Protocol is so similar to Dead Space that it's hard to see how it could fail so spectacularly, but nearly all of its many shortcomings are tucked under the surface. Combat is the most obvious example of this, as it looks interesting from afar but lacks most of the strategy and carefully crafted controls of its spiritual ancestor.

This is mainly a a melee-based game where guns don't play such a vital role, especially in the first half. Much like protagonist Jason Lee's stun staff, the close quarters combat is brutal and inaccurate. Dealing with those loathsome monsters plays out much like a boxing match where players have to duck, sneak, and strike accordingly.

While unique, it is extremely repetitive as the controls are too simple and don't allow for much variation. Almost every enemy swings once or twice and then is opened for a counter attack, which is an easily exploitable loop that hardly changes throughout the game. The heavy hit is too slow to be useful and the parry doesn't does not absorb all damage, meaning the default swing is the only useful choice. With the inability to target specific body parts and its handful of options, Callisto Protocol's physical combat is hollow and a far cry from the endlessly rewarding strategic dismemberment of Dead Space.