Video Games

What Dead Space Gets Right That The Callisto Protocol Got Wrong

After years without a sci-fi survival horror game set in the depths of space, it’s back for two months straight. The first, The Callisto Protocol, will be helmed by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield, the spiritual successor to the Dead Space series, and reportedly this monster development released in his December I am on a budget. Noticeable performance issues and finally failed to meet sales targetsThe second, a remake of the 2008 original Dead Space, made with considerable care and creativity by Motive Studios, arrived last week and Outperforms the original in almost every wayIn early 2022, Schofield was quoted as saying: “Slightly disappointed” For not being involved in the remake of the seminal survival-horror game that put his name on the map. I can only wonder how he feels now.

Let me be clear, I enjoyed Callisto Protocol overall. Although I felt many issues ultimately held it back from being greatThe performances of lead actors Josh Duhamel as Jacob Lee and Karen Fukuhara as Dani Nakamura aboard USG Ishimura I think it’s slightly stronger than the cast’s performance. With uncomfortably compelling levels of blood and grittiness and on-screen meat mulching, even the most gore-hungry gamers will consider going video game vegan. In almost every other comparison to Dead Space in , and now even more so in its remake, Callisto Protocol is shorter than a Necromorph with its knees knocked out.

Much like Dead Space, Striking Distance Studios’ jailbreak game requires you to jailbreak an arm and a leg from a mutated inhabitant, but the tools you’re given to complete the joint amputation job include the same kind of Nothing. Panache as Isaac Clarke’s iconic repurposed mining equipment weapon. Callisto Protocol features a regular arsenal limited to pistols, shotguns and assault rifles, and is satisfying enough to shoot, but with firearms featured in many other action games. are ultimately indistinguishable. To its credit, it differentiates itself by focusing on opening-time melee attacks with axes and stun batons, but going toe-to-toe with a two-headed giant isn’t a complete swing and miss No, but it’s a bit noisy The timing of the melee mechanic means that, as a function, it lands more like a blow than a knockout punch.

But by Dead Space’s halfway point, Isaac really has no choice when it comes to creative killing. . This is because the necromorph’s stubborn limbs can be shaved efficiently no matter what direction the body is tilted. With the Ripper’s spinning saw blade, you can snip off parts from each freak with vengeful glee, just like you would attack a nuisance tree branch growing over your neighbor’s fence. . Contact, on the other hand, literally hoses the rotting flesh off each Necromorph’s bones as if it’s encountered his R-rated patch in PowerWash Simulator. Each of these works perfectly in tandem with Dead Space’s object-throwing kinesis and enemy-slowing stasis abilities, offering different ways to get out of each room of angry undead astronauts. increase.

Callisto Protocol’s Jacob is a blunt weapon, while Dead Space’s Isaac is a sci-fi Swiss Army knife.


Unfortunately The Callisto Protocol doesn’t have Stasis, but it does have a Kinesis equivalent. However, it’s so powerful and so easy to exploit that it can lift enemies off their feet and throw them into the always conveniently placed spiked walls and exposed fan blades. I had a chance to notice you. Like a Jedi you’re late for a council meeting, it’s fun to drive mutants to their doom, but it does little to keep the tension up. is not. Callisto Protocol’s Jacob is a blunt weapon, while Dead Space’s Isaac is his sci-fi Swiss Army he’s a knife.

Isaac also fights a group of ghouls that are decidedly more terrifying than anything Jacob has to fight. Most of the enemies are gross in a reanimated roadkill kind of way. Dead Space’s nasty thing, on the other hand, is the cosmic horror nightmare itself.Horror movie maestro John Carpenter I want to make a film for the Dead Space series, because the game recognizes the game. Alternatively, I think filmmaking gamers are aware of games inspired by the filmmaker’s films. Either way, Dead Space’s creature designs stand out, from tiny babies with tentacles to towering Livs who can only be described as looking like the biggest buttholes in this side of the universe. Clearly, there are many more shapes and sizes up to the hyacinth. of Uranus. (sorry.)

Callisto Protocol’s level structure is as narrow as the number of enemy types. It certainly offers some impressive and unnerving locations, such as the opening of a prison cell block and stinking waste management, but it rarely gives you a moment to linger. There’s no way to turn back for the secrets that may be, just slam the door behind you at the start of each chapter and push your way through them with a surge of forward momentum. You’ve done an incredible job in bringing each area to life, so it’s a shame that almost everything passes by in a blur with little reason to stop to peruse your surroundings.

Meanwhile, the Dead Space remake gives you the ability to traverse between the various decks of the USG Ishimura, and prompts you to do so through a locked door that can be accessed once Isaac’s security level increases. Doing so gives you access to valuable resources and upgrades, and gives you a multi-part side mission to track down a number of ‘RIGs’ abandoned by their dead crew. Ship rooms and cabinets. Additionally, returning to previously visited areas, Dead Space will surprise you with additional enemy ambushes to make you feel truly unsafe and hide some interesting environmental puzzles to provide a welcome distraction to all death and destruction. While Dead Space invites you to truly immerse yourself in a haunted house of horrors, The Callisto Protocol is virtually a rollercoaster ride. Thrillingly fast-paced, but linear in direction.

Callisto Protocol is a roller coaster that eventually goes off track


At least as far as the story goes. Callisto Protocol’s campaign was completed in less than eight hours, and while we can finally see how it happened, there’s abruptness to the credits screen, suggesting it’s a few hours long episode short of an entire season. A feeling remains. TV’s – at least regarding the fate of certain characters. On the other hand, despite the fact that there is clearly a continuation to Isaac’s story, as evidenced by the existence of Dead Space 2 and 3, Dead Space continues the events onboard Ishimura in a very satisfying way. solve it. Character changes to better sell the climax of plot twists.

In all fairness, some of the shortcomings of the Callisto protocol could be improved over time. The NewGame+ mode, which didn’t exist at launch, recently free updates, additional brutal death animations, new weapons, and additional story DLC are promised later in the year, but will come as part of the paid Season Pass content. There’s a point, and a sequel announcement would certainly be welcome, but not as much as Motive Studios’ announcement of a Dead Space 2 remake. Ultimately, Callisto Protocol isn’t without its charms, but Dead Space still treats it like a suspicious corpse and tramples on all of it.

Tristan Ogilvie is a Video Producer in IGN’s Sydney office.He’s never fought a machine in real life, but once had a tense altercation with a robot bartender in Tokyo. here.

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