The Callisto Protocol

 PC
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. New Game Network
    Dec 12, 2022
    70
    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.
  2. Riot Pixels
    Dec 31, 2022
    69
    A mildly boring escape from Alcatraz in deep space. It’s neither great or abysmal — an epitome of mediocrity.
  3. Softpedia
    Jan 3, 2023
    65
    I desperately wanted The Callisto Protocol to be a success so that we can have another Dead Space-like franchise to look forward to, but as it stands, I can’t recommend this game, especially until its issues are fixed in a future patch. I do hope that if there’s a sequel, developers will come up with something fresh to make us forget about the first game.
  5. TrueGaming
    Dec 29, 2022
    65
    The Callisto Protocol's Production value is impressive and its among the best looking games we've ever seen (the characters are life-like), but its a shame that its combat doesn't work very well when you face multiple enemies. Also, we would've liked them to be more varied.
  6. GameStar
    Dec 1, 2022
    64
    Gorgeous sci-fi shocker for genre fans, but it suffers from some massive design and technology shortcomings.
  7. Guardian
    Dec 5, 2022
    60
    By the end, there wasn’t a lot that felt new – but I had phantom hand cramps from swinging that electrified baton, and a powerful need to sit down and have a cup of tea. I felt as if I’d survived – which is just what this game is going for.
  8. Launcher (The Washington Post)
    Dec 5, 2022
    60
    Striking Distance’s debut is a swing and a miss, but The Callisto Protocol ends on a cliffhanger. If the studio decides to revisit the series with a sequel, I’m hoping the second outing will be better than the first.
  9. Power Unlimited
    Dec 6, 2022
    58
    The Callisto Protocol is very happy to make the comparison with Dead Space, but apart from the graphics and acting performances, it does not improve its formula in any way. Callisto is beautiful, but feels lifeless and contains too little world-building. The combat is too scripted and the story starts way too slowly, and more importantly, the game is rarely scary. It is therefore a moderate warm-up for the Dead Space remake.
  10. PC Invasion
    Dec 12, 2022
    50
    Amazing visuals and stellar atmosphere notwithstanding, The Callisto Protocol is held back by a cumbersome combat system, technical woes, and other odd design decisions.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 1, 2022
    I'd probably enjoy it more on PC than console. But the thing is, it's not just that the game runs badly. There are a bunch of smaller annoyances I noted on both platforms. Enemies might grow tentacles as a prelude to mutating into something worse, and you're supposed to shoot or smash them to stop it - except I could never tell when I actually managed it. The different varieties of enemies don't make substantially different noises, so you can't quickly read a situation as you can in, e.g., Left 4 Dead. If you start inputting your dodge too early, the game defaults back to movement controls and you start to strafe, which is annoying. The quick-kill prompt just flat out doesn't appear if you have your gun out, but your gun is also your torch so you have it out almost all the time. I was looking forward to The Callisto Protocol, and I want this dog to hunt. I don't think it can right now.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 294 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 118 out of 294
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 294
  3. Negative: 120 out of 294
  1. Mortanius
    Dec 3, 2022
    0
    Giving it 0 because:
    a) Denuvo
    b) shady season pass c) crunching d) unplayable dog-excrement port on PC e) review embargo lifted during    Giving it 0 because:
    a) Denuvo
    b) shady season pass
    c) crunching
    d) unplayable dog-excrement port on PC
    e) review embargo lifted during the release day

    Such awful practices has become a norm nowadays which is really sad.    … Full Review »
  2. marcinek74
    Dec 3, 2022
    1
    I cant believe that PC version is so bad. Graphics very good but it is not enough. Very poor mechanics. Very unstable gameplay on PC.
    AAAA    I cant believe that PC version is so bad. Graphics very good but it is not enough. Very poor mechanics. Very unstable gameplay on PC.
    AAAA game? It is a f-ing joke.    … Full Review »
  3. Andrudis
    Dec 3, 2022
    1
    AVOID BUYING PC version!!!
    Buy and play any console version if you can - they both are great 8/10, but PC version is a blatant scam!    AVOID BUYING PC version!!!
    Buy and play any console version if you can - they both are great 8/10, but PC version is a blatant scam!
    Constant stutters from 120 FPS down to 2-5 FPS every dozen of seconds without any bottleneck (~60% CPU load and ~80% GPU load). Even during cut scenes.

    What makes it even worse, is that it appears devs perfectly knew about unplayable state of PC version all the time, but instead delaying release or at least issuing warning they just put review embargo till release date and knowingly released completely broken product - unplayable for most and with noticeably spoiled gameplay experience for those lucky few who do not get game breaking stutters every few seconds...
    Wait for a fix and discount at least 50% before considering buying this pile on unplayable...    … Full Review »
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