Info about The Callisto Protocol™:

Official game description:
Digital Deluxe Edition
======================
With four DLCs, tons of gameplay updates, and cosmetic collections the Digital Deluxe Edition is the ultimate way to experience the horrors of The Callisto Protocol.  
In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, you take on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on Jupiter's moon, Callisto.  
When inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, you must battle your way to safety and escape while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets behind the outbreak. Using a unique blend of shooting and close-quarters combat, you must adapt your tactics to fight the rapidly evolving creatures while scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and abilities to outrun the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter's dead moon.  
**The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the Season Pass which includes four DLCs:**  
**The Outer Way Skin Collection:** Survive The Callisto Protocol’s terrifying campaign in style with. this collection of Outer Way themed player and weapons skins.  
**Contagion Bundle:** Comes with a new mode – Contagion – with a custom balanced difficulty, stronger enemies, limited resources, no manual saves and your progress is reset to the beginning of the chapter if you die. As well as 14 all-new ways for Jacob to die at the at the hands of the Biophage, and the Watchtower Skin Collection.  
**Riot Bundle:** Venture into a previously undiscovered area in the depths of Black Iron Prison filled with hordes of Biophage in Riot Mode – battle through increasingly difficult waves of enemies, earning credits to unlock powerful upgrades and purchase health and resources to help you survive. The bundle also includes 11 new death animations and the Prospector Skin Collection.  
**Final Transmission:** The Biophage virus threatens to spread beyond the walls of Black Iron Prison. Battle new enemies with new weapons as you fight through the derelict penitentiary in a last-ditch attempt to retrieve Mahler’s data, get it off Callisto and redeem yourself.  
**The Digital Deluxe Edition also includes:** Snake Skin Collection, Retro Prison Skin Collection, Biophage Skin Collection, AMD Radeon™ Skin Collection
About the Game
==============
In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player will take on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on Jupiter's moon, Callisto. When inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob must battle his way to safety to escape Black Iron Prison, while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets buried beneath the surface of Callisto. Using a unique blend of shooting and close-quarters combat, Jacob will need to adapt his tactics to combat the rapidly evolving creatures while scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and abilities to outrun the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter's Dead Moon.
HORROR ENGINEERING
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The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation take on survival horror from the mind of Glen Schofield. Blending atmosphere, tension, and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses players in a pulse-pounding story where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner.
UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY
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Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, The Callisto Protocol casts players as Jacob Lee, an inmate in Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob must face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that stalk him as he unravels the dark mysteries at the heart of the powerful United Jupiter Company.
MASTER BRUTAL, STRATEGIC COMBAT
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The Callisto Protocol challenges players to master a thrilling blend of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, including a unique gravity weapon once used by Black Iron guards to control the prison population. Players will be forced to get up close and personal with their grotesque opponents, hacking off limbs, blasting off legs, and getting creative with whatever is at their disposal to survive each life-or-death encounter.
EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER'S DEAD MOON
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One of the most hostile, isolated environments in the universe, Callisto looms large over Jacob’s desperate struggle to survive. Players must not only contend with the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but also the centuries-old secrets that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon, both above and below the surface.  
**Also Includes:** Gore Skin Collection

Release date: 1 Dec, 2022

Categories: Survival Horror, Third-Person Shooter, Real-time Combat, Single-player Story, Resource Management, Weapon Customization, Gore-focused Combat, Linear Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Stunning graphics and immersive atmosphere (weight 0.96): The game excels in graphics, sound design, and atmosphere, creating an immersive and tense horror experience. Many reviewers compare the game favorably to Dead Space, citing similar gameplay loops and atmospheric tension. The game world is detailed, with impressive lighting, character models, and gore.
- Brutal, strategic, and engaging combat (weight 0.17): The combat system is a mix of melee and ranged attacks, requiring strategic planning and resource management. Melee combat is brutal and satisfying, with a focus on dodging and counter-attacking. The game encourages players to combine melee and ranged attacks for maximum effectiveness.
- Interesting and engaging story (weight 0.1): The game features an interesting and engaging story that keeps players invested. While some reviewers find the plot predictable or clichéd, many appreciate the twists and turns, as well as the performances of the actors. The story is easy to follow and understand, making it accessible to a wide audience.
- Gore and brutal enemy design (weight 0.08): The game features grotesque enemies and gruesome deaths, contributing to the overall horror experience. Dismemberment is a key feature, with enemies reacting to lost limbs. The game celebrates its violence with painful fatalities and brutal finishing moves.
- Meaningful weapon customization and upgrades (weight 0.06): The game features a weapon upgrade system that adds depth to the gameplay. Players can find and upgrade weapons using in-game currency, making them more powerful and satisfying to use. The upgrade system is streamlined and effective, allowing players to focus on a few key weapons.
- Enjoyable, better than expected (weight 0.06): Many reviewers found the game to be better than expected, especially when purchased at a discount. Some reviewers acknowledge that the game is not perfect, but still enjoyable. These points are less specific and constructive than others.
- Well-paced with good replayability (weight 0.04): The game's length is ideal, preventing it from overstaying its welcome. The game features frequent checkpointing and adjustable difficulty settings. The game also includes a New Game+ mode, extending replayability.
- DLC provides satisfying story closure (weight 0.04): The Final Transmission DLC provides closure to the story and enhances existing gameplay mechanics. Reviewers found the DLC to be a worthwhile addition, offering a better resolution in terms of gameplay and story. The DLC introduces new areas and a final boss fight, concluding the main character's story.
- Detailed and oppressive prison setting (weight 0.03): The game's setting, particularly Black Iron Prison, is well-designed and atmospheric, creating a sense of unease and vulnerability. Environmental storytelling is strong, with detailed remnants of the past scattered throughout the prison. The dark and tense environment enhances the overall horror experience.
- Well-developed and likable characters (weight 0.03): The game features well-developed characters with interesting backstories. The main character is likable and relatable, and the supporting characters are also well-made. These points are less specific and constructive than others.
- High-quality audio and voice acting (weight 0.03): The game features high-quality audio, including well-done voice acting and sound design. The soundscape is strong, enhancing the game's atmosphere and creating a tense and immersive experience. Playing with headphones is recommended for maximum effect.
- Impressive and realistic animations (weight 0.03): The game features impressive animations, particularly facial animations, that enhance the overall experience. The motion capture used for character faces is impressive, creating lifelike and realistic expressions. The animations are smooth and fluid, adding to the game's visual appeal.
- Challenging and scary survival horror (weight 0.02): The game is a survival horror experience with challenging combat and a focus on resource scarcity. The game can be quite scary at times, with jump scares and a tense atmosphere. These points are less specific and constructive than others.
- Simple but effective gameplay (weight 0.02): The game provides ample ammunition towards the end, turning it into a simple shooting gallery. The game's design makes the player feel genuinely short on ammo, emphasizing survival horror elements. These points are less specific and constructive than others.
- Good voice acting, Steam Deck enjoyable (weight 0.02): The game features good voice acting and is enjoyable on the Steam Deck. The reviewer believes the game's Steam rating is unfair, suggesting it's better than its current perception. These points are less specific and constructive than others.

Common complaints:
- Clunky, unbalanced combat system (weight 0.64): The combat system is criticized for being clunky, simplistic, and unbalanced, especially when facing multiple enemies. Dodging mechanics are often unreliable, and enemies can feel like damage sponges. These issues make combat encounters frustrating and repetitive, diminishing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Repetitive gameplay, level design (weight 0.53): The game suffers from repetitive gameplay loops, including excessive vent crawling, linear level design, and uninspired enemy encounters. Many reviewers found the core mechanics became tedious quickly. This repetition significantly detracts from the overall experience and contributes to a sense of boredom.
- Poor save system, checkpoints (weight 0.49): Poor checkpoint placement and a flawed manual save system lead to significant progress loss and frustration. Players are often forced to repeat tedious sections after dying or encounter situations where upgrades are lost due to save reversion. This issue is compounded by the game's linearity, which prevents backtracking to collect missed items.
- Uninspired, predictable story (weight 0.24): The story is criticized for being unoriginal, predictable, and poorly executed, with uninteresting characters and a lack of depth. Many reviewers found the plot to be a generic rehash of familiar sci-fi horror tropes, failing to create a compelling or memorable narrative. The story feels like filler.
- Unoriginal, derivative of Dead Space (weight 0.21): Many reviewers feel the game relies too heavily on elements from Dead Space, but fails to execute them as well. This lack of originality detracts from the experience, making it feel like a derivative work rather than a unique title. The game is not scary.
- Incomplete ending, requires DLC (weight 0.18): The game's ending feels incomplete and requires purchasing DLC to experience the full story. This practice is viewed negatively, as it feels like content was deliberately withheld from the base game to be sold separately. The DLC itself is considered short and uninspired.
- Clunky controls, camera issues (weight 0.1): The game's controls and camera are often described as clunky and unresponsive, making movement and combat feel awkward. Weapon switching is slow and cumbersome, and the lack of FOV options can lead to a claustrophobic and disorienting experience. These issues detract from the overall playability of the game.
- Lacks enemy variety (weight 0.08): The game suffers from a lack of enemy variety, with the same types of enemies appearing repeatedly throughout the game. This repetition makes combat encounters predictable and less engaging. The limited bestiary contributes to the overall sense of monotony.
- Audio language issues (weight 0.05): Many players have reported issues with the game's audio language settings, with the game defaulting to English and making it difficult or impossible to switch to other languages. This problem has persisted even after updates, frustrating players who purchased the game expecting to play it in their native language.
- Over-reliance on melee combat (weight 0.04): The game relies heavily on melee combat, which some reviewers found to be boring and repetitive. The limited weapon customization and the fact that most weapons are inferior to the basic melee weapon further detract from the combat experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Melee-focused combat with directional dodging (weight 0.17): The game heavily emphasizes melee combat, often with a baton, combined with directional dodging.  Ranged weapons serve a secondary role, and ammunition is scarce, especially early on.  The combat system is simple but can become repetitive, with enemies often attacking one at a time.
- Linear levels, limited exploration (weight 0.11): The game features a linear level design with limited exploration, often lacking a map or clear objective markers.  While there may be some branching paths, they typically lead to loot or collectibles.  The story is presented in a straightforward manner, and the game's length is relatively short.
- Action-horror blend, strategic dismemberment (weight 0.06): The game blends survival horror elements with action, allowing players to be durable killing machines.  Dismemberment exists, but is not as effective as in Dead Space.  Ammunition is scarce early on, encouraging melee combat, but firearms become essential for boss fights.
- Telekinetic glove enables environmental kills (weight 0.06): The protagonist utilizes melee combat, firearms, and a special glove with telekinetic abilities (GRP).  The glove can be used to attract and throw enemies into environmental hazards for creative kills.  The GRP system is a highlight, adding a unique flair to combat.
- Repetitive use of tight spaces (weight 0.05): The game relies heavily on narrow corridors, ventilation shafts, and other tight spaces, which can become repetitive and feel like loading tricks.  Stealth mechanics are present but often poorly implemented.  The level design is linear, with limited opportunities for exploration.
- Mutating enemies, QTEs, environmental kills (weight 0.04): The game features enemies with distinct characteristics and mutation mechanics, requiring players to adapt their strategies.  However, enemies often attack one at a time, and the game includes jump scares and QTEs.  A special glove allows players to throw enemies into environmental hazards.
- Limited weapon variety, upgrade system (weight 0.03): The game features a progression system with weapon upgrades and combos.  However, weapon variety is limited, and upgrades may not feel substantial.  Switching between weapon types can be cumbersome, impacting combat fluidity.
- Poorly implemented stealth mechanics (weight 0.02): Stealth mechanics are present but poorly implemented due to chaotic enemy patterns and limited opportunities for use.  The camera can be problematic in tight corridors, hindering awareness of surroundings.  Stealth is often used for tedious QTE takedowns rather than strategic advantage.
- Difficulty affects resources and damage (weight 0.01): Difficulty adjustments primarily affect enemy damage, health, and resource availability.  The core game mechanics remain largely unchanged across different difficulty levels.  On the maximum difficulty, resources are scarcer, and enemies are more challenging.

Performance notes:
- Inconsistent performance, optimization issues (weight 0.33): Many reviewers report inconsistent performance, including stuttering, frame rate drops, freezes, and crashes, even on high-end hardware. Some users have found workarounds, such as disabling certain features or switching to DirectX 11, but optimization remains a significant concern. The game's performance seems to have improved since launch due to patches, but issues persist for many players.
- Save system issues, corruption (weight 0.02): Several reviewers have encountered issues with the game's save system, including corrupted or disappearing save files. Some have found temporary solutions, such as restarting the game, but the problem can lead to lost progress and frustration. The manual saving feature may also be ineffective, only saving the last checkpoint.
- Various gameplay-impacting bugs (weight 0.02): Some reviewers have encountered bugs with item boxes that cannot be opened, consumables stuck in textures, enemies spawning/despawning, and characters falling through the world. These issues can disrupt gameplay and require reloading saves. Camera issues after certain enemy animations have also been reported.
- Improved since rocky launch (weight 0.02): The PC version had a rocky launch with optimization problems, lag, and bugs, but patches have improved the situation. While many issues have been resolved, some chunk-loading lag may still persist. The initial problems left a negative impression on some players.
- Missing DLSS support (weight 0.01): The game lacks DLSS support, which is a notable omission for a graphically demanding title. Some players have resorted to using performance mods to improve frame rates. The game does include other modern graphics features like Ray Tracing and FSR scaling, but the absence of DLSS is a drawback.
- DX12 issues, black screens (weight 0.01): Some reviewers have experienced crashes and black screen issues when using DirectX 12, often resolving the problem by switching to DirectX 11. This suggests potential compatibility or optimization issues with the DirectX 12 implementation. These issues can disrupt gameplay and require workarounds.
- Texture loading issues, pop-in (weight 0.01): Some reviewers have reported issues with textures not loading properly, resulting in texture pop-in and blurry visuals. This can detract from the overall visual experience and immersion. This issue may be related to running the game on slower storage devices like HDDs.
- Audio mixing, sound design flaws (weight 0.01): Some reviewers have reported technical issues with audio mixing, making dialogue difficult to follow and requiring frequent volume adjustments. Additionally, the sound design may be flawed, with scare cues playing before enemies appear, diminishing their impact. These issues detract from the overall immersion and atmosphere.
- Ray tracing impacts performance (weight 0.01): Ray tracing significantly impacts performance, causing stutters and frame rate drops. The visual improvement may not justify the performance cost, leading some reviewers to recommend disabling ray tracing, even on high-end systems. The lack of DLSS support exacerbates these performance issues.

Recommendations:
- Buy on sale, if possible (weight 0.65): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game. The game is considered worth buying only at a discounted price, with specific price ranges mentioned. Some reviewers suggest that the game is worth buying if it can be acquired for free.
- Mixed or average experience (weight 0.6): Many reviewers express mixed feelings about the game, with some finding it enjoyable and solid, while others consider it mediocre or disappointing. Some reviewers suggest that the game has potential but falls short of expectations. Some reviewers do not recommend the game due to its issues.
- Mixed review scores (weight 0.46): Many reviewers give the game a score of 7/10 or 8/10, indicating a generally positive but not outstanding experience. Some reviewers give the game a score of 5/10, indicating a negative experience. Some reviewers give the game a score of 9/10 or 10/10, indicating a highly positive experience.
- Desire for a sequel (weight 0.03): Many reviewers express interest in a potential sequel to the game. They are curious about whether the issues will be addressed in a sequel. Some reviewers hope for a sequel to see the story's conclusion.
- Intense atmosphere and combat (weight 0.02): The game is praised for its intense atmosphere and combat. Some reviewers recommend playing on hardcore difficulty to add tension. The game is also compared to other horror games such as Condemned, Escape from Butcher Bay, Dead Space, and The Evil Within.
- Mixed opinions on DLC (weight 0.02): Some reviewers recommend buying the DLC to experience the adequate ending. However, some reviewers feel the DLC is a money grab. The reviewer recommends getting the Final Transmission DLC as it expands on the end of the game.
- Inconsistent difficulty balance (weight 0.02): The game is suitable for casual play without being overly punishing. The difficulty swings from easy to hard, seldom finding the right balance. Some reviewers suggest playing the game on easy difficulty to avoid frustration.
- Technical issues on PC (weight 0.02): The game has technical issues on PC. Some reviewers suggest considering a used console copy due to performance issues on PC. Some reviewers do not recommend the game due to the risk of encountering game-breaking bugs.
- Core gameplay is lacking (weight 0.02): The game might be better in NG+ with upgrades and a larger inventory, but this wouldn't fix the other issues. The core gameplay and content are lacking and cannot be fixed. Only fixing the weapons (less ammo, more effectiveness) would improve the game a bit.
- Weak story, good setting (weight 0.01): The setting maintains a high standard despite the weak story. The biggest flaw is failing to utilize such an interesting world properly. The story is mediocre.

Other player notes:
- Unfulfilled potential, technical issues (weight 0.05): Many reviewers felt the game failed to live up to its potential due to technical issues, level design flaws, and a perceived lack of innovation. The DLC content received mixed reviews, with some finding it worthwhile and others considering it mediocre or overpriced, especially given that the ending was released as a DLC.
- Setting: Black Iron Prison, Callisto (weight 0.02): The game is set on Jupiter's moon Callisto in the year 2320, within the Black Iron Prison. The story revolves around Jacob Lee, a cargo pilot who becomes imprisoned and must survive a mutant outbreak while uncovering the prison's secrets.
- High-quality fan-made voiceovers (weight 0.02): The game lacks official Russian and Ukrainian voice acting, but high-quality fan-made dubs are available and recommended by some reviewers. The quality of these unofficial localizations enhances the gaming experience for some players.
- Playthrough around 10-12 hours (weight 0.01): The game's length is generally considered to be around 10-12 hours, which some reviewers find to be a suitable duration. Some reviewers mention replayability for nostalgia.
- Linear, single-player experience (weight 0.01): The game is a linear, single-player experience with a straightforward narrative, offering limited exploration or deviation from the main path.
- DLC adds new content/challenges (weight 0.01): The DLC introduces new weapons, enemies, and mechanics, with some reviewers finding it more challenging than the main game. The DLC also includes new environmental hazards and puzzles.
- Development team effort (weight 0.01): The game's development highlights the collaborative nature of game creation, with Glen Schofield's leadership facing challenges and scrutiny.

Emotions:
No emotions}