Well, based on my recent hands-on session with the PS5 version of the Callisto Protocol, developer Striking Distance Studio is awash with matching madness. My ride through a level called Habitat lasted several hours of gameplay, combining intense battles, chilling atmosphere, and chilling moments.
Keep reading for a recap of the game’s highlights from the preview, including details on visceral melee combat, life-saving ranged weapons, immersive customization, and more. terrifying creature mutant threat and more.
Immersive images
Set the mood – Black Iron Prison is a visually appealing yet equally astonishing setting. Steam rose from the pipes and a layer of fog hovered over the ground. The sounds of jingling chains and muted groans filled the air. Dirty floor lamps flickered infrequently, vaguely suggesting a way forward. Every inch of the prison feels weighed and alive with impressive visual fidelity.
Devil details – The camera is pulled tightly behind Jacob during gameplay, resulting in an appropriately claustrophobic feel and set of jump scares. One benefit of the intimate camera is the good, close-up look at Jacob’s character details. Beads of sweat settled on his face and caught the light, which he then wiped away. The folds on his camisole were really dirty and wrinkled. Jacob also moved with the heavy, heavy movements of a survivor of a terrible ordeal. All of these combine into a movie-like level of detail, heightening immersion and tension.
High stakes melee
Your enemy, the biophage – The Black Iron Prison is crawling with strange, infected humanoid monsters known as biophages. These enemies range from newly transformed creatures still wearing protective uniforms to skating, wall-climbing monsters with optical camouflage. Their movements are erratic, unpleasant, and surprisingly deadly. Never let your guard down and be prepared to learn some hard lessons.
Melee problem – Unlike the ultimate melee weapon of some horror games, Jacob’s electric baton is fundamental to survival. Making light hits with R1 and heavy hits with R2 feels uncomfortable and is key when setting up…
Shoot skills – A successful melee combo activates “skill shot” – a circular tile appears on part of an enemy’s body. A quick press of the L2 button causes Jacob to automatically target the weak spot for a critical hit that deals heavy damage. This is the key to survival and ammo-saving encounters.
DualSense haptics controller – When Jacob equips his baton, the PS5 controller simulates a heavy “bang” when it opens, along with a small explosion of power at your fingertips. The weight of this melee weapon expands into a satisfying response in close quarters combat.
Defense and dodge – Enemies are fast and aggressive, but Jacob doesn’t need to take hits like a fool. Moving the left stick down allows Jacob to block attacks, while pressing left or right allows him to dodge in either direction. These defense options are important to save your skin and set up a new melee combo.
Stomp ‘them all – No fight feels complete without a catalyst smack over fallen biofeed. Not only does this help finish off fallen enemies, but it’s also necessary to reduce loot including ammo, health, and credits.
Have fun with gravity – The GRP gravity weapon allows Jacob to pick up enemies and objects. GRP is a great choice for crowd control, knocking up enemies to create space, and even finding loot out of reach. Each use of GRP consumes some battery, so choose carefully.
Destroy the environment – GRP’s most gruesome and handy use involves hurling your enemies at nasty hazards like spinning meat grinders and razor-sharp propellers. Even without those kinds of dangers, I’ve found success knocking enemies off ledges and passages into the darkness below.
Count your ammo
Ranged Weapons – Melee is great for conserving ammo, but you’ll definitely freeze and have less health when leaning against the wall. It’s time to unscrew one of Jacob’s powerful guns.
BI-55 Pistol “Hand Cannon” – Jacob’s trusty shotgun has a wall clip. I found the slow, powerful pistol to shoot off enemies at a distance, slowing their pursuit and giving me time to strategize. It must reiterate that ammo is at a high level, so marksmanship is important.
Skunkgun Pistol – Later in Habitat, I discovered the schematic for a new weapon. The next time I visited a store kiosk, the 3D printer produced a stout shotgun with amazing power. Starting with a capacity of just two rounds, the Skunkgun appears best for sweeping crowds and taking down tough enemies quickly.
Gear upgrade – Callisto credits scattered around the prison can be redeemed at store kiosks for invaluable ammo, health, and equipment upgrades. During practice, I invested in a baton upgrade that allowed me to sweep enemy feet after blocking. Improvements to handguns include stability, damage, ammo refueling, and explosive projectiles. GRP upgrades include increased recharge rate, maximum energy capacity, and discharge intensity.
Mutant threat – Tentacles sometimes sprout from biophages, a viral evolution that causes them to mutate into larger, uglier enemies. Watching the bio-phagocytic meat ripple, grow, and change shape in real time is an impressive visual effect, but you’ll want to eat it in its infancy as soon as possible. Keep an eye on your ammo or gong for a sinking feeling as you aim for the sprouting tentacles only to have your cannon click dry…
Intentionally healing – Nozzles are scattered around the Black Iron Prison, but don’t expect to pop health kits and heal in battle. Jacob had to stop, get on his knees, and slowly inject the drug until the gauge on the back of his neck filled with blue. To survive a particularly intense encounter, I use GRP to launch enemies away, buying me precious seconds to heal. The increased stress feels at home in the Callisto Protocol.
Discover Rewards –Finding resources like ammo is important, and Striking Distance rewards the player’s curiosity. In one sequence, I needed to move a large box to gain access to the vent. Instead of moving forward, I use the box to climb onto a platform that holds extra ammo. In another example, Jacob mumbles to himself about following a red pipe to his goal. Instead, I immediately ventured down a private path and found a supply room with credits and health, then unlocked a door back to the main passage.
Unforgettable horror stories
Corridor of Doom – At one point, I entered a dark hallway with a glowing door at the other end. Crazy, I started running towards the light thinking it was a beacon of refuge. My optimism was violently dashed by a biophage ambush. While the encounter only required me to get past about three enemies, it felt like a real knee-jerk test for the game’s systems. In the end, I learned the importance of moving slowly, relying on melee and dodging, and taking skill shots to save ammo.
In the walls – In another difficult encounter, I tried to evade the pursuing enemy by hiding behind a nearby door. I waited, the trained cannon on the door expecting it to open and provide an easy shot at the biophage. Instead, I heard a rushing sound above and suddenly the enemy had trapped me from behind. It’s a humbling reminder to avoid paranoia.
Waterslide – Attack distance energizes its water-effect muscle in a thrilling sequence as Jacob is discharged into a large drain. The water fell convincingly in the zigzag turns of the tube and splashed the camera as Jacob plunged down the slope. When I’m not worried about dodging metal obstacles on the slide, I can’t help but think “weeee! “
Intellectual game – One of the most astonishing encounters involves a dark narrow hallway, flashing lights and a spider-like creature crawling rapidly along the walls and ceiling. The flickering effect of the light gives us glimpses of the terrifying creature as it gets closer and closer. I’ve encountered this enemy a few times before, but this terrifying ambush has stopped me.
Increase and sharpen – Towards the end of the stage, Jacob enters a room with a spinning, thorny pillar. Like a giant meat grinder. I’m glad I got a chance to use GRP and toss monster after monster in the big blender. My battery ran out before I could knock out the last enemy, who I instead shot in the leg with my hand cannon. To my surprise and delight, the monster managed to evade my attack and accidentally rushed straight into the blender, disintegrating in an instant. The effects are surprising, fun, and powerful.
This is just a taste of the memorable, engaging moments of my few hours with The Callisto Protocol. I started the hands-on with neutral curiosity about Striking Distance Studios’ visually impressive sci-fi horror project and emerged with sweaty palms and a most wanted new game. 2022. I’ll prioritize my trip back to the Black Iron Prison when it launches for PS5 on December 2nd.