The spine-tingling survival horror experience, The Callisto Protocol, has docked with the PlayStation Plus Premium’s list of “free” trials. This tantalizing one-hour taste of the chillingly atmospheric game allows players to join protagonist Jacob Lee as he wrestles with the harrowing dangers of a galactic prison located on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto.
The Callisto Protocol trial is shorter compared to previous PlayStation Plus offerings, namely the generous three-hour sneak-peek into the world of God of War Ragnarök, one of the best games to come out this generation. However, don’t let the shorter duration stop you – every minute brims with adrenaline-pumping horror and brutal combat that’s sure to get your pulse racing.
Striking Distance’s debut title, which cost the studio around £132m over three years of development, had a horrible launch last year. Sales fell short of expectations, leading to a drop in publisher Krafton’s target stock prices. Despite the company hoping to see 5m copies hitting the shelves, this was reevaluated as sales numbers hovered around the 2 million mark. It eventually conceded that reaching its original aim would be a considerable challenge.
Yet, not all the discourse surrounding The Callisto Protocol has been grim. The game’s unique blend of action and horror has its proponents. In her review for Eurogamer, Vikki Blake eloquently describes the game as “sublime,” lauding the gory combat mechanics and the satisfying weightiness of each shot. She also points out that, although comparisons to Dead Space are inevitable, The Callisto Protocol compensates for any perceived lack of tension with its superior production value and unflinching commitment to blood-curdling fun.
The Callisto Protocol, however, is more than a mere shadow of Dead Space. It might have faltered somewhat in the shadow of Dead Space due to marketing blunders, but it stands on its own with a decent playthrough worth between $40-$50, notwithstanding the criticisms regarding its combat system.
The recent addition of The Callisto Protocol’s Final Transmission DLC and the one-hour trial on PS Plus Premium Game Trials is a commendable attempt to bolster its reputation and reignite interest among gamers. Despite the main campaign’s short length (about 10 hours), this trial provides enough game time to give players a tantalizing taste of the hair-raising adventures that await them.
Striking Distance Studios has diligently supported the game since its release, providing several patches and DLC drops. One of the latest additions even extends the base game’s ending, opening up an exciting continuation of the narrative – and even hinting at a potential sequel.
While you won’t delve that deep into the game with the demo, players will get a hearty helping of the monstrosities lurking within the galactic prison.
Sony’s PS Plus Premium tier has emerged as a knight in shining armor for developers and gamers alike. It’s bridged the gap left by developers’ decision to discontinue demos, providing gamers with an affordable avenue to trial expensive games. An additional $20 per year is a modest ask for unlimited game streaming and potential PS5 support, especially when coupled with the ability to test drive big-ticket games like The Callisto Protocol.
Unfortunately, Sony remains adamant about not launching first-party titles, including demos, on the PS Plus at launch. But, who knows? Maybe after Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 comes out, which won’t have a demo, future first-party exclusives will give us a glimpse of gameplay following the success of Square Enix with Final Fantasy 16.
