Things quickly go from bad to worse when rather than being rescued and aided, Jacob is taken captive and transported to Black Iron Prison, where in spite of his loud protests, he’s thrown into a cell- which, in turn, is followed by a mass outbreak of nightmarish monstrosities throughout the prison. The Callisto Protocol kicks off with protagonist Jacob Lee on a routine transportation run between two of Jupiter’s moons, Europa and Callisto, which quickly turns sour when a surprise attack by the terrorist group known as Outer Way forces him to crash-land on Callisto. In the end, it’s hard not to walk away disappointed. There’s fun to be had here, and one could make the case for The Callisto Protocol being a decent way to kickstart a new IP that might potentially improve significantly in the future, but ultimately, Striking Distance Studios’ sci-fi horror title fails to live up to expectations in too many crucial ways. It’s a shame that it never quite makes good on its potential. From its stellar production values to its grisly sci-fi horror setting, the game makes a promising first impression. The first half an hour of the game serves as an explosive introduction, setting up the story and establishing the stakes quite effectively, while throwing you into a nightmarish setting that feels ripe for some unforgettable scares.

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