The Callisto Protocol proves that you should be careful what you wish for; having the original creators work on a spiritual successor to Dead Space seems like a great idea. Unfortunately, the final product is closer to a nightmare than a dream come true. The Callisto Protocol is scary, but for all the wrong reasons.

It's a shame because it had some interesting ideas. The survival/horror game's emphasis on melee combat is unconventional. And the alien-inspired sci-fi setting, if not entirely original, is intriguing enough for fans of the genre. Another selling point is the stunning graphics, which make full use of Unreal Engine 4. As a fan of [Dead Space], I really wanted to like The Callisto Protocol, and while not a flop like Babylon's Fall, The Callisto Protocol is a disappointing title along with Saints Row.

The Callisto Protocol takes place approximately 200 years in the future. You play as Jacob Lee, a freight forwarder who carries cargo between the moons of Jupiter on behalf of the United Jupiter Company. During a delivery to the Black Iron Prison on Callisto, terrorists known as the Outer Way board Jacob's spaceship. In the ensuing chaos, the ship crash-lands on the moon and you are taken prisoner for unknown reasons.

Things get even worse for Jacob when the Black Iron prisoners begin to mutate into insane monsters. Jacob's only goal is to escape his cell and return alive from Callisto. However, this task is not easy given the monsters that stand in his way.

The story of the Callisto Protocol takes inspiration from classic science fiction horror films such as "Alien," "The Thing," "Event Horizon. Video games such as "Resident Evil" and, of course, "Dead Space" have also been a major inspiration. Even if you grow tired of the gameplay loops, the plot, though flimsy, will keep you moving on, if only to find out what caused the prisoners to mutate.

I would say something about the characters, but there isn't much to dig into. The acting and performances are generally good, but all the characters are superficial at best and lack complex motivations. However, they all play their roles, and one cannot fault the game for not having the nuanced characters of "God of War Ragnarok."

At its core, "Callisto Protocol" is a third-person survival/horror game like "Dead Space" or "Resident Evil." Similar to these games, players explore various environments and procure limited resources such as recovery items and ammunition. As the game progresses, you obtain firearms that can be upgraded with a 3D printer.

While melee combat is usually an afterthought in this genre, it is a central mechanic in this game. He beats his enemies with an upgradeable stun baton, which he obtains early in the game. Shattering limbs and crushing skulls with this weapon is extremely satisfying. You can also dodge attacks by holding the left analog stick to the right or left. For better or worse, swinging left or right to avoid blows reminded me of doing the same action in "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out," which was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Close combat works well enough against a single enemy, but falls apart when additional bad guys show up. Even if you successfully avoid an enemy's attack, another creature will get you. Narrow camera angles do not help. But even if the camera were further away, Jacob's slow movements would not make fighting multiple enemies that much easier. This is frustrating, considering that he will be in melee combat all the way through to the finale. In short, melee combat is very inconvenient.

You can also get tools called GRPs. GRPs are useful for bringing items to the front that are not available elsewhere, but most of the time, GRPs are used to push enemies into the myriad of spiky walls that are conveniently placed around them. I found this mechanic practical, especially when surrounded by dozens of enemies. However, since there are no puzzles in this game, it is only useful in combat.

The types of enemies are what one would expect from the horror genre and action games in general. There are fast running enemies, large enemies, small enemies, and powerful bosses. Seeing the same enemies over and over again, especially in boss fights, can become tiresome. In one three-hour play session, I faced the same type of boss four times. Killing mutated inmates is fun, but I wish they weren't all similar enemies. With the exception of a handful of security robots, the enemies can feel repetitive.

The Black Iron Prison and the Callisto surface are great settings. Unfortunately, the linear design prevents the world from being fully explored. There is some backtracking and a limited number of optional rooms to explore, but that's it. For the most part, the game directs you from one location to the next. This rigid progression is bound to frustrate some players.

The Callisto Protocol has glaring flaws, but presentation is not one of them. This is, without a doubt, one of the best looking games of 2022. The environments and characters alike are filled with a frightening level of detail that feels believable. Each environment you explore, whether it be the dark halls of Black Iron or the snow-covered wilderness of Callisto, is suitably terrifying thanks to clever lighting and particle effects.

The game's sound design is as impressive as its graphics. Disturbing sounds of agonized moans and industrial machinery keep you tense and alert at all times. When playing The Callisto Protocol, wearing the best gaming headset will enhance the immersive experience.

The Callisto Protocol is not a bad game. It has a cool sci-fi setting, great graphics, and a relatively compelling mystery plot. However, the frustrating melee combat, limited enemy variety, and linear design will alienate (no pun intended) many players. Also, as a spiritual successor to "Dead Space," the game is nowhere near good enough in terms of scares or structure. In fact, I never felt scared by this game. If a survival/horror game doesn't scare you, it has a big problem.

We don't know what the future holds for Kalisto Protocol. The ending opens the door to further works. However, Striking Distance Studios' first title does not give me any confidence that we will see more. Hopefully I am wrong and the company has a chance to deliver something better in the future. If not, at least there is the upcoming "Dead Space" remake.

There is also the story that my colleague Rory Mellon almost quit "The Callisto Protocol" because he was so angry.