Everything The Callisto Protocol should teach from Dead Space
The past few months have been very generous to sci - fi revulsion gamers , good manners of two major release many years in the qualification . First , in December 2022 , gamers got a chance to have the extremely anticipated deed from Glen Schofield and Striking Distance Studios , The Callisto Protocol , which was followed merely a month and a half later by Electronic Arts and Motive Studio ’s Dead Space Remake . Despite the publicity around The Callisto Protocol and Dead Space , the two deed were received very differently , as the former generate motley reviews , while the latter garner critical acclamation , and was place among the secure titles in the current generation of gaming .
in person , I regard myself a fan of both games and have evendefended The Callisto Protocol against unfair literary criticism , but after feel multiple playthroughs of both sci - fi horror stories , it is abundantly clear that the Dead Space Remake outdo The Callisto Protocol in every respect . Although I am not blind to the many flaws of The Callisto Protocol , as someone who take care the plot as a diamond in the rough with potential for greatness , here are seven lessons that a sequel to The Callisto Protocol ( if there even is one ) must learn from the Dead Space Remake .
You Don’t Need Celebrities to Make a Great Game
Not only did The Callisto Protocol enlist a routine of big name famous person for its dramatis personae , but even the secret plan ’s marketing was star - studded . Alongside a fiber roster that comprised movie military action hero Josh Duhamel , television standout Karen Fukuhara , and voice acting legend Sam Witwer , the game ’s prequel podcast , Helix Station , featured the Emmy - nominated actress Gwendoline Christie , as well as notable fiber worker Michael Ironside . Furthermore , The Callisto Protocol even create societal metier marketing campaigns with NFL superstars George Kittle and Von Miller . While I found all of these actors and endorsers to be very telling in their various roles , to use a citation from The Callisto Protocol , “ There is always a price to pay off . ” Using renown endowment and indorser is not tatty and belike required a large amount of capital to assume their services . While I am not secret to the budgetary practice of the game ’s developer Striking Distance and/or publisher Krafton , in retrospect , thinking back to the numerous bugs and job that The Callisto Protocol face at launch , as well as the game ’s scrap flaws , it seems like the budget went to acquiring famous person gift to generate sale rather of making the best user experience possible .
On the other bridge player , the Dead Space Remake went a dissimilar route , using lesser - known , but nevertheless gifted , experienced actors . While Dead Space ’s cast all have telling filmographies , they simply are not mega stars . Even Dead Space ’s big name , Gunner Wright ( who returned to reprise his part as Isaac Clarke after past execution in the 2d and third games of the series ) is nowhere near as famous as any of The Callisto Protocol ’s fully grown three performing artist , or even the Helix Station podcast worker . Once again , while I do not have sex the recompense point for the cast of either biz , it is not unreasonable to assume that Dead Space was able to assemble a comparably talented mould to The Callisto Protocol at a fraction of the cost . To be clear , this is n’t meant to slight the talented performers or endorsers of The Callisto Protocol , but it goes to show that fame do n’t make secret plan great , developers do .
Related : The Voice Cast of the Dead Space Remake Listed
Replayability Matters
Motive Studio range an emphasis on creating replayability in the Dead Space Remake . For those who do n’t know what replayability entail , the simplest account is the idea of being capable to play a game multiple times without it sense repetitive . The Dead Space Remake has multiple endings , secret collectibles , various difficulties , a permadeath mood , interesting trophy / achievement challenge , new plot plus , side missions , unlockable location , and a divers arsenal of arm to assay out . On the other hand , The Callisto Protocol is at last a very analog experience that did n’t even have new game plus until over a month after launch . While I enjoy playing through Black Iron Prison multiple times on various difficulty , The Callisto Protocol has nowhere near the replayability of Dead Space ’s USG Ishimura . but put , Dead Space is a secret plan that you have to play multiple times if you want to see everything ( and you will be excited to ) , whereas you really only have to start the Callisto Protocol once to fully explore it .
Although Dead Space is lightyears ahead of The Callisto Protocol in term of replayability , I think both sci - fi horror experiences could be well served to take a Sir Frederick Handley Page from the Resident Evil series , whose games go even further by boast speed - running scores , challenge mode , and even multiple playable fictitious character in some instances .
Stop Trying to be Dead Space
While I do n’t think it ’s fair that The Callisto Protocol is continuously compared to Dead Space ( as I hypocritically spell an article comparing the two game ) , Striking Distance must do more to escape from the survival repulsion classic ’s shadow . Even though there are some occasional flashes of differentiation , such as some impulse pounding stealth sections and a predilection for melee combat , The Callisto Protocol is always go to be looked at as a generic brand clone if it continues to mime the Dead Space expression . I reckon it would be a refreshing modification of stride if Striking Distance leaned more heavy into stealth gameplay for the subsequence , as well as boast more of the terrific Security Unit automaton seen in the first game , and making the combat even more melee - centric , but with a caveat that will be hash out more in the next section .
Combat is Paramount
One of the grown complaint about The Callisto Protocol has been its scrimmage armed combat system , which has been largely pan off as clunky and repetitive . Although I appreciate the fact that Striking Distance attempt to be singular in their control schema and would even argue there is an unappreciated element of reality found in The Callisto Protocol ’s fight , after play the Dead Space Remake , it became increasingly readable that something needs to change for Striking Distance ’s continuation , as it was not anywhere near the standard determine by Motive Studio ’s newest game .
While Dead Space has elaborately designed , tight , varied dismemberment action that never stops feel nail-biting and exciting , The Callisto Protocol ’s combat becomes tedious very quickly . To put it roundly , the more I meet the Dead Space Remake , the more I realized a pressing need for a combat overhaul in The Callisto Protocol ’s continuation . Striking Distance would be well - serve to move on from their current arrangement and produce a fighting experience barrack by Soulsborne / Soulslike game , which would keep The Callisto Protocol ’s scrimmage - centric focus , while give players a more familiar control scheme and gameplay mechanics .
Worldbuilding, Characters, and Story are Not Secondary Features
The Dead Space Remake take everything that made the original 2008 story great and build upon it . The game further explore its predecessor ’s secret plan threads , introduced more backstory in the form of side missions , along with fetch back the memorable plaster cast of NPCs , and incorporate interesting lore / world construction . On the other hand , despite the intriguing , morally equivocal nature of some of The Callisto Protocol ’s characters , there is a blinding want of backstory and world building in its existence . The Callisto Protocol ’s sequel should learn from the Dead Space and improve its traditional knowledge , narrative , and flesh out the backstory for the game ’s characters and setting .
Variety is the Spice of Horror
Dead Space ’s foe mutation is among the greatest not just of its genre , but in all of gambling . There is an entire ecosystem of Necromorphs each possessing their own unique , grotesque endowment , and new ways to terrorise gamers in every coming upon . Even though The Callisto Protocol has some seemly foe variation incur in its Biophages , including an excellent mutation gameplay mechanic , in comparison to Dead Space , there are only about half as many monster type , and in some cases seem like reskins of the iconic Necromorphs . One can only hope that a prospective continuation to The Callisto Protocol would not just improve enemy variation , but push the limits of sci - fi repulsion even further with some fresh , new , never before seen creature designs .
relate : The Scariest Monsters in Dead Space Remake , Ranked
Immersion is Important
last , one of the big spread between Dead Space Remake and the Callisto Protocol is the believability of their background . Dead Space ’s USG Ishimura has authentic care to detail , with every pack of cards serve a unique use , and everything is connected by a tram system , making the Ishimura sense like a actual starship . Thanks to backtracking and exploration , you’re able to to the full traverse the Ishimura and really take in the setting , imagining the daily life of the crew on the satellite - crack vessel ( if it was n’t in the thick of an apocalyptic Necromorph irruption ) . Even the game ’s implements of war seems rooted in reality , as most of Isaac ’s arsenal consist of repurposed minelaying tools .
On the other hand , The Callisto Protocol ’s Black Iron Prison has some interesting features and set pieces , but does n’t feel particularly interconnect or realistic . Inside the confines of the prison house , the walls are strewn with razor sharp spike and massive whirling fan blade machinery , both of which apparently serve no role other than being environmental hazards . Also , the additive nature of The Callisto Protocol does n’t allow for any exploration , make the game a hodgepodge of tier to bid through until you reach the conclusion . essentially , along with make the setting experience more naturalistic , a sequel to The Callisto Protocol would be impertinent to incorporate some of the metroidvania - esque component from the Dead Space Remake , allowing for players to turn back and explore , creating ingress in the world .
speak of immersion , if you require to truly turn over into the human race of play , from news to guide , as well as reviews and features , Prima Games has everything you need , just a click away .
