The Callisto Protocol Reviews

The Callisto Protocol is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4.5 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2022

The Callisto Protocol has occasional bouts of fun melee combat and fantastic graphics, but too much of the game is simply not fun to play to be worth it.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is a nice surprise that certainly honors the series it was inspired from. Close quarter combat adds a unique gameplay element that really nurtures the horror and survival side. Striking Distance Studios offers us a balanced experience with the right level of action and horror that replicates the 2nd Dead Space perfectly. At last, the game is wrapped in a visual presentation that can't shy away from any AAA games. Apart from small problems with a few misplace saves, the experience is excellent. I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

Review in French | Read full review

70 / 100
Dec 10, 2022

As a visual treat and atmospheric marvel, The Callisto Protocol has the presentation to be Dead Space's modern-day superior, but shoddy lore, gameplay quirks, and blandness mean it does not quite make the cut.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is a perfect example of a game that is well-polished yet suffers from several design faults that highlight its weaknesses. In this case, the melee and dodge system can be a thorn in the game's side, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this otherwise fantastic experience.

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5 / 10.0
Dec 10, 2022

A pretty but uninspired platformer. Even though one of its developers made Limbo and Inside, don't expect the same level of quality here.

Review in Russian | Read full review

3 / 5.0
Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol has potential, but its strange melee combat, average story, and average gunplay keep it from standing out in any way. It looks great and has fun moments, but the majority of my time with The Callisto Protocol wasn’t especially memorable.

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65 / 100
Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol simply isn't scary, doesn't play well and has nothing to hook you into its world. It's a poor excuse for a horror game and you're better off waiting for Dead Space Remake than spending $70 on this one.

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol, provided a survival experience worth waiting for and a good horror experience with a beautiful world, sounds and designs,marred by a few disadvantages such as the camera and some negatives in animation. If you are a fan of these types of games, the game will not disappoint you.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

3.5 / 10.0
Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol had some performance issues, but at its core just wasn’t a great game lacking exciting moments or well anything even remotely scary. I was never entertained while playing this game; finding it boring, cumbersome and honestly rather traumatic but not in a terrified sense which is a shame.

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75 / 100
Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol has failed to live up to all the promises made during its development and those expecting survival horror will be disappointed. However, despite its limitations and numerous implementation problems, it manages to be quite fun thanks to an interesting combat system and excellent art design.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Dec 9, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is a ride worth taking, but I’m flummoxed at some of the decisions made here. The melee combat is on autopilot, the weapon selection is limited, and there’s no New Game+ to return for another orbit. The brutal, gory, visceral kills that you perform on monsters is returned in equal measure to you, always bringing a smile and recoil to my face. Compromises had to be made to enjoy parts of this game, but when you can turn your brain off, it’s good fun. The Callisto Protocol doesn’t quite live up to expectations of its spiritual predecessor, but I can’t say I didn’t find it to be mostly satisfying, pustules and all.

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2022

In the end, The Callisto Protocol ramps up the atmospheric horror with plenty of visceral action, with the linear design helping to keep the focus on the main objective from start to finish. Although it can have trouble when it comes to empowering the player and losing its horror edge, the main issue remains the fact that we have all seen and done this before. Depending on your preference, that might just be exactly what you want, but the nightmare fades a little, especially with the Dead Space remake on the horizon.

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Saudi Gamer
Top Critic
4 / 10
Dec 8, 2022

Beauty can be skin deep as the game squanders its strong points as it progresses with baffling design choices that are annoying and frustrating far more than scary and challenging

Review in Arabic | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is a gorgeous and gory science fiction horror experience that lives up to its big brother Dead Space in many ways, but fails to do so in others. The high production value, stellar cast of characters, top notch audio and visual design, and an excellent mix of adrenaline pumping action and terrifying horror are all overshadowed by a frustratingly designed dodge mechanic.

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Ehhh
Dec 8, 2022

I wanted so much to bask in the intended horror that The Calisto Protocol promised in the months leading up to release, but that wasn’t the case when the time came to play it. While it’s surely not an awful game by any means, with flawed but in the end very crunchy feeling combat, it’s simply not in the same league as its inspiration when it comes to providing a scary or even tense experience. It’s still a very graphically impressive and positively disgusting game for sure, and for some that might be enough as it is.

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7 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2022

The Callisto Protocol is frustrating as a game because it's so easy to see how it could have been great. There's no single thing that drags down the game, but it's an endless stream of annoyances that are exacerbated by the constant reminders of better titles.  The Callisto Protocol can be fun, but it's constantly getting in the way of its own fun. It's possible that patches might smooth out some of the combat issues and improve the game a fair bit. At launch, though, it's more frustrating than fun. There's a lot of potential for a sequel that takes the lessons to heart, but for the moment, you're better off waiting for a sale.

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7 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2022

The Callisto Protocol has a lot of care to make it a more unique experience than just being another third-person shooter.

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8 / 10.0
Dec 7, 2022

The Callisto Protocol isn't going to go down as a survival horror classic that some were expecting, but it might go down as an entertaining, technically brilliant way to spend a few afternoons across its roughly 8-10 hour journey. It's elevated by superb visuals and atmosphere, and an engaging combat system that really opens up once you learn its rhythm.

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4.5 / 10.0
Dec 7, 2022

With such a rushed story and sloppy mechanics, The Callisto Protocol betrays the legacy it was built upon.

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Dec 7, 2022

The Callisto Protocol shines best in its visceral, moment-to-moment combat, which strikes a good balance between feeling tense, and intuitive. What lets it down is a story that feels a little too unfinished and a few design choices that stick out like a sore thumb in this day and age.

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