Welcome to the Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security prison located on the desolate surface of Jupiter’s moon Callisto. Learn how the Callisto Protocol’s atmospheric environment, intriguing characters, and monstrous creatures make the battle for survival against the horrors of Jupiter’s dead moon a terrifyingly immersive experience. .
A future that feels familiar
One of the most important aspects of any survival horror game is the setting – the place or locations where the player can survive or die. The Callisto Protocol is filled with awe-inspiring locations, like Below, a series of long abandoned tunnels ‘below’ the prison that once served Arcas, the first human colony of Callisto. For Aasim Zubair, environmental art director, the core concept begins with a simple design philosophy: “make it dark, wet, and scary.”
Here is an amazing showcase of our lighting and gives our environmental team the fun challenge of designing a unique venue that still has the same theme as the House. prison above, while also giving clues about the environment in which it was created and the original Callisto colony.
And it certainly is. However, the environment of Below stands out in the sci-fi survival horror game thanks to its grounded inspiration.
“[Below is unique] because much of it is based on real-world materials and shapes,” says Zubair. “Instead of the sci-fi design cues that inevitably dominate many of the game’s other environments, Below allows players to feel grounded in something familiar and understandable while also allowing them to look into the past of mankind’s first attempt to colonize the dead moon.”
In addition to helping players land in a recognizable environment, Zubair’s favorite part of the environment is the mood and storytelling. “Below offers a great opportunity to explore, uncover hidden, creepy areas and the opportunity to use space to tell stories about the fascinating environment,” he said.
If you dare to explore the dark nooks and crannies of Below, there are plenty of secrets to uncover and maybe even a glimpse into the original colony’s dark past.
A terrifying human story in a pioneering future
Like the environmental storytelling of Below, Lead Writer R. Eric Lieb crafted an engaging story and complex characters to heighten the player’s feelings of dread and fear in the Callisto Protocol. . “Complex characters are important because their actions and choices are what ultimately drive the plot,” says Lieb. “However, the horror genre serves as a unique smelter for characters whose actions and choices are often literally a matter of life and death.”
The connection between the game’s protagonist, Jacob Lee, and his warden, Captain Leon Ferris, is another intriguing story. “When developing Leon, we often described him as Jacob’s ‘dark mirror’,” says Lieb. “Thematically, they both start in the same place, either unaware (or willingly blindly) of the consequences of their actions.”
“Their meeting disrupted their comfortable worlds,” Lieb said. “How each person reacts to what is happening in Black Iron – as well as exactly who is at fault – forms the core of their relationship. [as well as] The player’s understanding of the world is introduced to them throughout the game.”
Sam Witwer’s voice acting and acting bring to life the compelling character of Captain Farris. One of the things that made him stand out in auditions was his approach to character. Right from the start, he instilled in Leon a subtle threat, like a coiled snake that may or may not attack, keeping you on the lookout. Sam is an actor who wants to understand everything about characters and their role in the story, so when we cast him as Leon, it was a huge collaboration as we continued to develop the character. .
For example, while reading through, Witwer always asks insightful questions or makes suggestions that match the logical or emotional motives of the scene. And he is always attentive. The plot isn’t revealed, but there’s one particular scene in which Sam makes a hint during filming that puts Striking Distance Studios into the flow. Sam Witwer has incredible instincts and a great understanding of what makes a story a success.
Biophages and the descent into monstrosity
Character director Glauco Longhi and the creature designers at Striking Distance Studios also recognize the importance of heightening fear by creating creatures that are relevant and grounded.
“We started with the idea of people being infected so part of the fear was that what happened to them could also happen to you,” says Longhi. But not simply biological phages with humanoid shapes, they have poses based on distinct human emotions such as pain, fear, and anger.
The Callisto protocol contains a lot of enemies to intimidate and terrify the player, but Grunt is the most human. “[Grunts] bridge the gap between humans and more monstrous creatures, [their] The silhouette, proportions and anatomy are somewhat human-like,” says Longhi.
Rusher is another deformed enemy that walks on walls, sprints and rushes at the player. “[Rushers] Longhi said.
Discover more terrifying monsters, intriguing characters, exciting storylines, and gruesome environments when The Callisto Protocol releases on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on December 2, 2022.
