The Callisto Protocol is a survival horror game that was released on console and PC in December 2022. Right from the beginning, The Callisto Protocol had high expectations due to the game coming from the same mind that brought the world Dead Space. Glen Schofield, the creator of Dead Space, directed The Callisto Protocol. Before the game’s release, it was thought to be some sort of spiritual successor to the Dead Space franchise. The game is a Striking Distance Studios and KRAFTON production.
The Callisto Protocol Premise
Although The Callisto Protocol had high hopes before its release, the game came out to mixed reviews. This survival horror game took a unique approach to the gameplay by hyping up hand-to-hand combat over more traditional methods. In most survival horror video games, players can play stealthily or unleash an arsenal of weaponry on the enemy. Games like The Last of Us and Resident Evil put more emphasis on guns with options for stealth. Meanwhile, games like Outlast take any and all ability to fight back away from the player, forcing them to hide and run. The Callisto Protocol exists somewhere in the middle of these two gameplay styles. It forces players to use melee mechanics to attack, dodge, and counter for most of the game’s playtime. Some players loved this twist on mechanics and enjoyed the challenge, while others never got used to it.
The Callisto Protocol follows Jacob Lee, a cargo starship captain who survived a crash landing on Callisto, Jupiter’s second-largest moon. Although Captain Lee survives the crash, he’s quickly captured and taken into custody, where he’s incarcerated in the Black Iron high-security prison. Much like Dead Space, Jacob finds himself trapped in an alien world as a mysterious sickness sweeps through the prison. In order to survive, Jacob must explore the prison while fighting off infected prisoners. Players will need to navigate the prison to search for clues that explain what’s happening. The further Jacob goes, the more he uncovers the sinister truth behind the people who took him into custody.
The Callisto Protocol Main Characters
The Callisto Protocol tells its story through Jacob Lee’s eyes, making him the main protagonist of the game. Since the game mostly focuses on Jacob’s fight for survival, the cast isn’t exceptionally large. That said, despite spending most of the game in isolation, there are a decent number of major characters that show up throughout the story.
- Jacob Lee: Jacob Lee (fans also refer to him as “John Callisto”) is the main protagonist and playable character of The Callisto Protocol. Jacob is a cargo starship captain who survives a crash on Callisto. He works alongside the transport carrier, Max Barrow. Together, they work for the United Jupiter Company (UJC). The men are on a medical supply run from Europa to Callisto when the Outer Way terrorist organization ambushes them, resulting in their crash.
- Dani Nakamura: Dani Nakamura is the leader of the Outer Way, a resistance guerilla group that stands against UJC. Due to the Outer Way’s extreme measures, many believe it to be a terrorist organization. Dani is quite young, making it somewhat unbelievable that she’s actually in charge of such a group. Born and raised in Europa, Dani lost her sister to an incident UJC was at fault for. Her hatred for UJC leads her to where she is now.
- Warden Duncan Cole: Warden Cole is the ex-leader of the Black Iron Prison and one of the antagonists of the game. Cole works closely with Dr. Caitlyn Mahler to understand the illness that inevitably spreads across the prison. According to the audio log titled “Cole’s Triumph”, Cole unleashes Dr. Mahler’s experiments in the prison. He initiates the Callisto Protocol himself.
- Captain Leon Ferris: Captain Ferris is Warden Cole’s right-hand man and he takes the place of the main antagonist of The Callisto Protocol. Originally, Captain Ferris is the man who saves Jacob from the crash. He soon receives a message from Cole to take Jacob and Dani into custody and turns on Jacob in a second. Captain Ferris is the final boss of the game.
- Dr. Caitlyn Mahler: Dr. Mahler is the Chief Medical Officer of the Black Iron Prison. Her hallucinatory biophage acts as the final boss of The Callisto Protocol: Final Transmission DLC. Dr. Mahler works closely with Warden Cole and she is responsible for the research and experimentation happening in the prison. It’s Dr. Mahler’s experiments that Cole unleashes. Dr. Mahler is also the woman who inserts the CORE Device into the back of Jacob’s neck.
- Elias Porter: Elias is a supporting character and Jacob’s fellow inmate in the Black Iron Prison. Jacob meets Elias early in the game. Elias is stuck in his cell as all Hell breaks loose. He convinces Jacob to let him out by swearing he knows the layout of the prison. They make a deal to help one another escape. Elias keeps up his end of the bargain by helping Jacob navigate through the prison for the first half of the game.
- Max Barrow: Max is Jacob’s partner and the man Jacob embarked on his UJC assignment with. Max openly voices suspicion about their mission. UJC’s secrecy about the cargo they’re hauling mixed with the Outer Way attacks leaves a bitter taste in Max’s mouth. Unlike Jacob, Max does not survive the crash on Callisto. Before he dies, he asks Jacob why he didn’t listen to his worries, since he turned out to be right. Max’s memory haunts Jacob throughout the game.
The Callisto Protocol Titles in the Series
The Callisto Protocol is the first game in the series. At this time, it is unknown if The Callisto Protocol will receive a sequel. Many believe that it’s likely due to the game’s poor sales. The franchise currently only includes the base game and its DLC.
- The Callisto Protocol (December 2022)
- The Callisto Protocol: Final Transmission DLC (June 2023)
That said, The Callisto Protocol is considered a spiritual successor to Dead Space, which got a remake earlier this year (2023). Diehard fans of Dead Space may not give up on The Callisto Protocol so easily. Although The Callisto Protocol isn’t directly associated with Dead Space, some fans still draw connections between them. Perhaps, someday, the two games will actually coincide. The Dead Space franchise includes:
- Dead Space (2008)
- Dead Space Remake (2023)
- Dead Space: Extraction (2009)
- Dead Space Ignition (2010)
- Dead Space 2 (2011)
- Dead Space (2011) – IronMonkey Studios’ Dead Space for mobile devices
- Dead Space 3 (2013)
The Callisto Protocol Cheat Codes
The Callisto Protocol doesn’t have a built-in cheat code system. Modern AAA games that come out across multiple consoles and PCs rarely include cheat code abilities. Technically speaking, The Callisto Protocol doesn’t have any official cheat codes that can be easily entered into the game and exploited for easier play. The only way to get anything close to cheat codes in The Callisto Protocol is to use a Cheat Engine and download trainers. It’s important to keep in mind that downloading this kind of software may not always be safe and should be thoroughly researched before using one.
There are many trainers out there. In order to decide what’s safe to use and will provide the best results, gamers should look into their options. One trainer that’s helped many The Callisto Protocol players is The Callisto Protocol Trainer & Cheats by PLITCH. This trainer includes free cheats for anyone to use and premium cheats for premium users. This trainer can only be downloaded on PC.
Free PLITCH cheats:
- Prepare
- Refill Health
- Low Health
- Set Movement Speed (default = 1)
Premium PLITCH cheats:
- Godmode
- Easy Kills
- Add Callisto Credits ( Open/Close Inventory )
- No Reload
- Unlimited GRP Energy
For more information on the PLITCH trainer for The Callisto Protocol, have a look at PLITCH’s video on how the cheats work.
The Callisto Protocol Cheat Codes FAQs
How do you get unlimited credits in The Callisto Protocol?
The short answer: You can’t get unlimited credits without downloading and running some sort of trainer software.
The long answer: There is no official way to obtain unlimited credits. Part of the game is resource management and searching the Black Iron Prison for credits, clues, and other useful items. There are many ways to obtain credits, so players should be mindful to do all of these things during their playthrough.
Opening storage chests, searching lockers, and investigating prison cells can award the player credits. Simply playing the game normally and killing biophage enemies can drop credits. This isn’t a guarantee, but players will have to fight biophage anyway in order to survive. They can take it one step further by stomping on enemy corpses. This can also drop credits. Selling items at the Reforge Terminal is obviously a quick way to make a buck. There are also optional areas in The Callisto Protocol that players don’t need to explore but will be rewarded with credits and other valuables if they take the time to go through.
Does The Callisto Protocol have anti-cheat?
All versions of The Callisto Protocol require Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM. Denuvo Anti-Tamper and Anti-Cheat software protects games from piracy and detects cheating. The Callisto Protocol doesn’t seem to require the Denuvo Anti-Cheat, though, only the Anti-Tamper.
How can I make Callisto Protocol easier?
The quickest way to make The Callisto Protocol easier is to lower the difficulty the game is set to. Since the game’s combat is so unique, even experienced gamers may struggle when first playing the game. If the game is too hard, it may be time to consider dropping the difficulty to familiarize yourself with the gameplay before attempting the harder modes.
Other tips and tricks include:
- Players don’t have to time the dodge. They can simply hold to dodge because The Callisto Protocol doesn’t have a window to perform a dodge. Players just need to remember to alternate which direction they dodge in. Don’t dodge in the same direction twice.
- Blocking is a last resort because even if Jacob blocks, he’ll still take damage.
- Reload whenever you have a window to do so because you may not get the same chance later.
- Aim for the legs to immobilize your enemies.
- You should try to keep your enemies at a distance. You will die if the monsters surround you.
- Explore every area, optional or not. The more you explore, the more resources you’ll get.
Is The Callisto Protocol replayable?
Yes, The Callisto Protocol has a New Game+ feature, allowing players to go back in once they’ve completed the game and keep working towards achievements and trophies. Riot Mode also adds new content, so The Callisto Protocol rewards players for replaying and tackling the more challenging modes.
Does The Callisto Protocol have multiple endings?
No, the game only has one ending. The ending sets up the Final Transmission DLC.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©theRadBrad / Striking Distance Studios / KRAFTON.