[Haeboni] "Deliciously Spicy" Callisto Protocol

Excellent Graphics and Sound, Enhanced Immersion
High-Quality Action and Impact... Well Capturing Genre Characteristics
Storyline Somewhat Disappointing... Looking Forward to Sequel

Calisto Protocol New York Times Square Billboard Promotional Video Scene. (Photo by Krafton)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Krafton's ambitious title, "The Callisto Protocol," has been unveiled. Receiving global attention even before its release, The Callisto Protocol demonstrates gameplay quality that meets expectations, marking the first step in showcasing the console game development capabilities of a domestic game company. Developed by Krafton's North American independent studio, Striking Distance, The Callisto Protocol was produced by Glen Schofield, famous as the creator of the horror game masterpiece "Dead Space."

Released officially on PC and console platforms, The Callisto Protocol is the only "Triple-A" level game among new releases by domestic game companies this year. It is also significant for introducing the "science fiction (SF) survival action horror" genre, which domestic game companies had not previously attempted.

Callisto Protocol gameplay screen

Feels Like the Protagonist in an SF Movie... Excellent Early Immersion

Playing The Callisto Protocol on a PlayStation 4 Pro at "normal difficulty" for about 10 hours, the most notable feature felt was its "unfriendliness." However, this unfriendliness serves to maximize the game's genres of "survival" and "horror."

Gamers accustomed to the "user interface" (UI) that displays the character's health gauge and items held at the edges of the screen may feel disoriented when starting the game. The screen shows only the background of the "Black Iron Prison" built on Callisto, a moon of Jupiter, and the character. Without the familiar UI, following only the character creates the illusion of participating in a scene from a movie.

The meticulously rendered space with high-quality graphics and sound effects further enhance immersion. The appropriate use of distant screams and footsteps keeps tension high. The appearances of more than ten types of monsters and death animations that vividly reveal bodily damage amplify the horror, serving as a stimulus to escape the unjustly imprisoned protagonist, Jacob Lee, from Black Iron Prison.

For gamers expecting "Soulslike" gameplay involving quick screen transitions to dodge enemy attacks and counterattack, The Callisto Protocol can be surprising. The character's gaze shifts at a speed similar to that of a real person moving their eyes, which may feel frustrating to gamers familiar with Soulslike games. However, this unpredictability of when monsters will appear increases tension and immersion.

Callisto Protocol gameplay screen

Story Lacks Depth, Tension Drops After Midpoint

The anticipated story was somewhat disappointing. It follows a somewhat predictable plot involving incidents caused by alien creatures on a closed-off planet, with hidden twists that are easy to foresee. There is a lack of explanation regarding the background characteristics of the characters, and the plot often progresses abruptly, reducing plausibility. However, the final scene hints at DLC (downloadable content) or a sequel, which is expected to address some of these issues.

While delivering satisfying impact and high action, the evasion system feels monotonous after the midpoint. Early in the game, the difficulty feels quite high, with players struggling and dying multiple times even against a single monster. However, since monsters have fixed attack patterns and the evasion system activates if timed correctly, the difficulty significantly decreases once the game becomes familiar.

The boss battles, which should serve as the climax of the game, leave something to be desired. Although enormous monsters appear to heighten the horror, the fights are essentially extended versions of regular battles. The terrain and objects in the boss battle backgrounds detract from the catharsis that should be felt when defeating the bosses.

Despite some shortcomings, The Callisto Protocol is undoubtedly an enjoyable game. It fully captures the characteristics of its genre, and the combination of various weapons and backgrounds enhances the action thrill. Additionally, the performances of actors and voice actors, filmed using a one-take technique like watching a movie, along with spectacular direction, provide visual highlights.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.