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Image via Striking Distance Studios

How to Melee and Dodge in The Callisto Protocol

Everything is a threat

Play as a Cargo Pilot in space, embarking on a horrifying journey in the new survival Horror game, The Callisto Protocol. After your Aircraft crashes you are taken as prisoner on the Black Iron Prison. But something has gone horribly wrong in the Prison from the moment that you arrive. Humans transformed into horrible abominations, hostile and hungry. Are there any survivors? Who is Dani? What is going on in this Prison? This is our guide on how to melee, dodge and block in The Callisto Protocol.

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How to Attack

Our character, Jacob is a heavy hitter. With his first primary weapon as a giant hammer. Players can melee using the R2 or RT controller button. Jacob’s attacks are slow, with every hit having an impact. Here players need to time their attacks well and get off combos after evading the enemy’s attack. Be careful as the enemy may hit a combo after you get one hit in. Jacob’s swing is slow and can be hard to get used to, especially at the beginning of the game. We recommend playing patiently and timing your attacks well.

Because Jacob takes a longer time to swing his weapon, unlike the fighting mechanics we see in other games, players should not get too greedy in trying to get off combos. You will likely only get off 1 combo in a fight, maybe none if there are multiple enemies in the room. When locked into a fighting cutscene, you may be required to mash Triangle and Y to get out of a tight situation.

A very important note: Jacob gets locked into attacking, meaning that if the enemy performs a combo when you are, the enemy will likely stun lock you first. You cannot dodge if you have already pressed the right trigger to attack. Jacob must get his attack off before you can dodge.

How to Dodge

To dodge in The Callisto Protocol is by using the left analog stick. As you fight an enemy, whether they are human or something that has lost all humanity, players are locked into the fighting mechanics, where instead of running away and re-positioning, players have to dodge attacks. You can dodge by holding the left analog stick and pulling left or right. Players can dodge throughout the fight when getting close to the enemy. Although there is no timed window of attacks, be aware that you still need to time your dodges as soon as you spot the enemy swinging at you.

The dodging mechanic is fluid and when timing this well, you will have an opening to get a combo off. Just beware of the enemy hitting back at you immediately after getting hit by one of your swings. If you try to combo too often the enemy will punish you. If the enemy tries to combo you when you are not attacking, hold the left analog stick in one direction and then switch to the other side. Pull left and right repeatedly to create a dodging sequence. This will not work if you continually pull to one side.

How to Block

Sometimes you cannot dodge every move, especially when there are multiple enemies coming after you. In these instances, you must block the attack. To block, pull back on the left analog stick, Jacob will automatically block as you pull back. This is very helpful to use when there are 2 or more enemies in one room. Blocking does not stun the enemy so use only as a means of blocking combo attacks. Again, play patiently and wait for an opening to strike. Remember to not get greedy in performing combo moves as you will get punished.

On a final note, refer to the chip in the back of Jacob’s neck to see his health. This is crucial to look at during a fight. Do not neglect this visual cue.

Related: All voice actors in The Callisto Protocol.

Author
Image of Hadley Vincent
Hadley Vincent
Hadley is a Freelance Writer for Gamer Journalist. They have been with the company since October 2022. With a BSc Honors in Psychology, Hadley focuses their creativity and passion for Video Games by primarily covering Horror, FPS, and anything with a great narrative. You will often find Hadley covering the latest indie horror games or deploying into Call of Duty's DMZ. They love a good story and one that can keep them up at night, be that for its scares or its lore.