Is The Callisto Protocol Worth Buying?

By now, the horror faithful have gotten their hands on the Callisto Protocol. But for those still on the fence, the ringing question going into the holiday season is the Callisto Protocol worth buying? After all, there are a lot of different games competing to be wrapped underneath your Christmas tree this year. With that in mind, let’s examine whether Callisto Protocol lives up to its horror roots or deserves a Facehugger to the face.

Is The Callisto Protocol Worth Buying?

As a triple-A title, the Callisto Protocol also carries a triple-A price of $60 on Steam or a heavy $70 if you’re playing on Playstation. For a horror game, the Callisto Protocol offers a lengthier experience than some clocking in at 12 to 14 hours. This is the same genre that gives you a four-hour Resident Evil 3 Remake, so by those standards, the game is doing better than others.

Horror games are often shorter than other experiences, so it’s not really fair to compare something like the Callisto Protocol to something like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. That being said, for its money’s worth, the game offers a bloody experience for gore hounds. The game isn’t redefining the horror genre, but for fans of Dead Space, this will scratch the itch until that game’s remake finally comes out. (That’s if you can get it to work, but more on that later.)

The Callisto Protocol Cast You As Everyman Jacob Lee

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and parts of The Callisto Protocol play out similarly to its predecessor Dead Space. Players assume the role of inmate Jacob Lee, who is having about as bad day as Isaac Clarke ever had if not worse. At least Clarke had some weaponry that packed a punch at his disposal. For the early hours of the game, the Callisto Protocol asks players to get up and close with a number of nasties.

These melee encounters can be frantic fights for survival, and journeying down each hallway is enough to make the blood turn to ice as you wonder what’s behind this door. Overall, I found the enemy types to be appropriately gnarly and horrifying, but perhaps, the game relies a little too much on jumpscare for my liking.

Unlike other games like Outlast, Jacob Lee doesn’t stay a victim for long. Through the course of the game, you will unlock new weapons and abilities that will help you survive. That being said, the game’s monsters are relentless and don’t give you too much of an advantage. Much has been made of the game’s gruesome death scenes, and in my opinion, they never fail to disappoint. In fact, some of the game’s craziest moments involve turning Lee’s bad experience into an interactive version of Final Destination.

The Game Needs More Polish

Sadly, the Callisto Protocol has followed an unsettling trend in 2022 that not even the biggest games like Pokemon can escape. Players have experienced a number of bugs, stuttering problems, and other issues since the game has launched. During my playthrough, I only encounter some occasional clipping of objects here and there. But I completed my review on the PS5, and the PC/Steam community seems to be facing the brunt of the issues.

While the Callisto Protocol’s technical glitches may be fixed through a future patch, it’s still worth pointing out for those who are looking to purchase the game. The last thing you want to do is wind up with another Cyberpunk situation.

Fortunately, when Callisto Protocol is humming along, it makes for a heart-pounding experience. While Jacob Lee may not be Isaac Clarke, the game offers much improvement over the Dead Space franchise and feels like a leap forward.