Summary
- Retrieval shows promise as a horror game inspired by Dead Space, sharing similarities with The Callisto Protocol.
- Focus on deep combat, intriguing lore, and narrative development can help Retrieval succeed where The Callisto Protocol failed.
- Retrieval should learn from successful elements of Dead Space to create a compelling and immersive horror experience.
Retrieval may be shrouded in mystery now, but this only means that its potential is as great as the imagination can muster. The upcoming horror game might even have the chance to pick up the gauntlet dropped by The Callisto Protocol, whose connection to the much-beloved Dead Space wasn't enough to drag it out of mediocrity.
Fans of science-fiction and horror could be in for a treat with Retrieval, which seems to be taking major cues from the likes of Dead Space, if its early cinematic trailers are representative of its greater whole. The game is described as an atmospheric, high-fidelity horror action game set on an alien planet, which is seemingly overrun by monsters that look curiously similar to the Necromorphs of Dead Space. Indeed, anyone who followed The Callisto Protocol ahead of its launch may have some alarms ringing while viewing Retrieval's promotional materials, as they are invoking a number of the same tropes as Visceral Games' once-legendary franchise.
New Roguelike is Set in The Callisto Protocol Universe
Fans of The Callisto Protocol are going to want to keep an eye on a top-down roguelike shooter that is set in the same universe.
Retrieval May Seem Oddly Familiar to Dead Space Fans
Retrieval Could Be Yet Another Dead Space Spiritual Successor, Like The Callisto Protocol
A quick glimpse of Retrieval's elevator pitch reveals its similarity to Dead Space; the game follows a small group of researchers stuck on an alien planet, where a terrifying force seems to be turning humans into bloodthirsty monsters. This alone is a clear connection to Dead Space, but additional details of Retrieval's marketing suggest deeper parallels.
For one thing, the main character of Retrieval, Hana Loshe, is described as a "commander of a research team," not a soldier or other sort of trained combatant. The story trailer for the game shows Hana scared and out of her depth, which further supports the notion that taking on fatal, intelligent threats isn't a common occurrence for her. This archetype is similar to Dead Space's Isaac Clarke, who is a man of thought and science rather than action or violence, thrust into a life-or-death situation against his will.
This unwilling, unprepared hero archetype can also be observed in The Callisto Protocol, which stars a cargo ship pilot.
While no gameplay for Retrieval has been revealed at the time of writing, the game's trailers and website describe it as cinematic, with a focus on atmosphere, visuals, and immersive gameplay, as opposed to a more shallow or "gameplay-first" framework. This is yet another similarity between Retrieval and both Dead Space and The Callisto Protocol, as those games put a premium on their tone, aesthetic, and cinematic storytelling, eschewing more avant-garde or experimental methods of presentation, exemplified by indie horror games like Signalis.
How Retrieval Can Succeed Where The Callisto Protocol Failed
The Callisto Protocol was obviously inspired by the first Dead Space, with the two even being spearheaded by the same man, but the greatest difference between the two is undoubtedly their critical reception. The Callisto Protocol is broadly considered a flop, underwhelming both players and critics due to its shallow gameplay and dearth of content. Crucially, the game's failure can't be boiled down to it being too much like Dead Space. If anything, it's not enough like Dead Space.
Retrieval shouldn't be a Dead Space clone, but adapting what made the series so successful could work in its favor. Strong, deep combat with creative, futuristic weapons, for example, would go a long way toward making Retrieval a worthy spiritual successor to Dead Space, as would complex, original lore. Narrative is another critical point to focus on: Hana Loshe may never be as iconic as Isaac Clarke, but her inherent vulnerability could be paired with an intriguing backstory and character arc, cementing the game's story in the minds of players. Put simply, Dead Space has a lot of lessons to teach sci-fi horror games, and Retrieval should perk up its ears and listen.
The Callisto Protocol
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 67 /100 Critics Rec: 41%
- Released
- December 2, 2022
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Striking Distance Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
