Up until now, virtually all ofTheCallisto Protocol’s pre-release promotional efforts have focused on presenting the game as a merciless horror romp that won’t let up from start until its very end, but this doesn’t actually seem to be the case. Namely, Striking Distance Studios is aware of the importance of giving players some room to breathe, and a recent interview underlined something curious about the game’s pacing.
Specifically,The Callisto Protocolis taking inspiration from some rather unexpected sources, according to Striking Distance Studios' chief technology officer, Mark James. In a recent interview, James talked about the importance of “playfulness amid horror,” explaining thatCallistowon’t be a constant fountain of terror, as a game can’t always one-up itself with each new frightening encounter.
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“We were talking aboutShaun of the Dead,” said James in regard to his discussions ofCallisto’s pacing with Striking Distance Studios' CEO, Glen Schofield. James explained thatEdgar Wright’s iconic horror-comedyshowed how important it was that some things remain humorous and fantastical, even in a game as horrific asThe Callisto Protocol. The team feels that making the game a constant and consistent flip-book of terror would end up exhausting the players, which may lead to pushing some of them away, rather than nudging them towards the finale.
The Callisto Protocol’s humor doesn’t feel out of place, however, James noted. One of the examples provided was that the protagonist would need to slide down a sewage pipe at one point in his adventure. Instances such as this one are likely to be used to give the players some breathing room between instances of dealing withCallisto’s horrific biophage mutants. The game’s promotional materials have certainly underlined just how bad things will get for the protagonist, Jacob, which means players are sure to enjoy a bit of contextually-appropriate levity every so often.
Considering thatCallisto Protocolis getting post-launch contentin abundance, Striking Distance Studios may use some of its subsequent DLCs to explore less serious topics down the line. Just how important of a gameplay element humor ends up being in the end, however, is anyone’s guess. Either way, it’s highly unlikely that it will diminish the overall sense of terror and dread that much of the game has already shown off.
While sci-fi horror fans are sure to be looking forward toCallisto’s early December release, the developers seem to be working overtime to make the game as good as it can be.Glen Schofield’s recent controversial tweetsuggests that there’s some serious crunch going on, which may be a black mark on a project that otherwise seems to be shaping up rather well.
The Callisto Protocollaunches on December 2 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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