Dead Space vs. Callisto Protocol - Which Space Horror to Pick? (2024)

The original Dead Space revolutionized the survival horror market. It was released in a period when the genre was losing its strength, and there weren’t too many titles launching.

Due to that fact, the sci-fi title gained popularity extremely quickly, being a reference for many titles released later. After three main titles, the franchise stopped, and Electronic Arts put it on hold.

After years of fans asking for a new DS game, another company heard the requests, releasing its spiritual successor: The Callisto Protocol. It had every aspect we loved from the classic game but with its original twist.

But Striking Distance Studios wasn’t the only one thinking about this possibility. Soon after The Callisto Protocol was announced, EA also stated that they were working on a remake for the first game of the Dead Space franchise.

This confused players about which one to choose, especially since they launched with a month of difference from each other. If you still don’t know which sci-fi experience to go with, this article will help you.

We will compare both survival horror games on a series of aspects to see which survival horror game best suits what you’re looking for. Make sure to take a look at all aspects to choose the best one for you.

• Release Date: January, 2023

• Developer: Motive Studios

• Platforms: Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows

It’s one of the most hyped horror games of the last few years. With an already excellent original title, the expectations for the remake version were pretty high, and thankfully, they didn’t disappoint.

As the name suggests, it’s the remade version of the first creation from the Dead Space series, which is also considered by most to be the best one. It brings new graphics, polished gameplay, and new scenarios and quests, expanding the gameplay in several hours.

It is a survival horror with sci-fi elements, and its gameplay reminds of many other titles of the same kind, like Resident Evil 4. Your enemies, weapons, character, and everything else are thought out to make you feel uncomfortable and in danger wherever you go.

The story from the remake is identical to the classic, with some extras throughout the gameplay. But it essentially revolves around the same mining spaceship that gets trapped in the same orbit as the deadly creatures known as Necromorphs.

You’re an engineer called Isaac Clarke on a dangerous mission to retrieve the powerful artifact known as the Marker. But what already seemed like a risky objective became an even more dangerous nightmare. Alone and without any way to return home, you must find a way to survive these deadly creatures and escape back to your planet.

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• Release Date: December, 2022

• Developer: Striking Distance Studios

• Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows

After years without any response from EA about a new Dead Space, Striking Distance decided to create the sequence fans have always waited for. The Calisto Protocol was supposed to be its spiritual successor while being original and featuring the elements necessary to create an even better franchise.

The game opens up a spine-chilling journey filled with the most terrifying creatures you've ever encountered in a horror game. It doesn't hold back on the gore and blood, catering to the hardcore players who crave an intense experience. With its impeccable design and survival elements, it's the perfect choice for those seeking a truly terrifying adventure.

Here, you won’t be controlling Isaac, but Captain Jacob Lee, an experienced soldier who survives a spaceship crash and gets trapped on the Callisto planet. His body is retrieved by the local creatures and sent to the Black Iron Prison, a high-security facility that will become a torment until you manage to escape.

You can clearly see the inspiration in the spacial survival horror classic almost everywhere, from the creature designs to the weapons and combat. This doesn’t mean the game is a copy or anything like that. Even though it takes lots of inspiration from other games, it still manages to be original on its way and create memorable characters throughout the journey.

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Now it’s time to compare both experiences in many aspects and factors to see which one best fits what you’re looking for. Make sure to take a close look at each one to make the best decision for your next gaming session.

Here’s the definitive comparison between Dead Space Remake and The Callisto Protocol, including all the details you need to know:

Story

Even though both games have good stories and lore, Dead Space still takes a slight advantage when considering the overall plot and tension it creates for the player. Isaac’s adventure on this deadly mission is full of twists and turns that make you not know what to expect. It also takes complete advantage of the horror setting, using this tension to create frightening encounters and make you don’t know what’s real and what’s not.

The Callisto Protocol’s story is also great and has a lot of tense moments that will make you continue playing. But when we consider originality and how well-structured the plots are, they’re just not on the same level as DS.

Moreover, TCP’s campaign can be finished in under seven hours if you don’t have difficulty fighting against the creatures, making it a very short title for its price tag. Once you discover why everything happened and the origin of the creatures you see, you’ll be surprised with a credits screen telling you the campaign is over. It makes you feel like you still haven’t found the answers you were looking for, while Dead Space has a much more satisfying ending to its story.

You enjoy every moment of DS’s journey, feeling a connection with what is happening and those around you. I’ve felt like part of the universe while playing the game, something that quite didn’t happen on The Callist Protocol.

Verdict. Dead Space is a clear winner when it comes to story and narrative

Blood and Gore

If you think Dead Space is already a brutal and bloody title, The Callisto Protocol will definitely surprise you. It is one of the most violent survival horror games of this kind, and the game surely uses this to its advantage regarding combat.

Each weapon can dismember and blow the enemies differently, making it fun to play. It almost feels like playing a survival horror version of Doom. It’s disgusting, in a very good way.

Corpses are everywhere, and demons are coming in your direction, waiting to explode; that’s the experience when playing Callisto Protocol. It’s the perfect mix between scary gameplay and a bloodbath.

Dead Space is also very bloody and violent, but the blood splashes and body members flying away are nothing compared to Callisto Protocol. The physics of legs and arms being ripped off by the plasma cutter is incredible, and you really feel like slashing someone, but you won’t be painting the walls red like in TCP.

If the most important thing for you is blood and gore, make sure to go with The Callisto Protocol , and regardless of the game you choose, be ready for lots of blood and macabre creatures on your screen.

Characters

Character development is one of the most important aspects of any story-driven game, and both games deliver a good result in this aspect. Still, Dead Space clearly has a better one, with characters that really impact the plot and the story.

You can see Isaac Clarke’s development and growth during the story, not only in his experience but also in how he deals with the multiple situations he finds himself. Along with him, you’ll also find numerous charismatic figures to help you. Glen Schofield and his team did an excellent job of developing these characters, even though the main focus is the lonely exploration.

The Callisto Protocol might have slightly weaker characters, but the actors responsible for giving life to the characters are on another level. The performances of Karen f*ckuhara, as Dani Nakamura, and Josh Duhamel, as Jacob Lee, are truly amazing and contribute to the immersion feeling.

There’s no winner when it comes to characters. Both games are great in one way or another. Dead Space might have had better development throughout the story, but Callisto Protocol has better acting. The best pick will depend on what you’re looking for.

Map and World Building

Another win for Dead Space Remake is when it comes to the map. Even though the map of Callisto Protocol is gorgeous and full of life, it can be really repetitive, and you won’t find that much variety from one room to the next.

Another downside of TCP is that the game’s progression is linear, and once you pass through a certain level, you can’t go back to explore the previous ones most of the time. On the other hand, Dead Space allows you to explore USG Ishimura freely and everything it offers. Every new encounter is also unique, and you feel like you are entering a new area instead of a remap of the previous room.

This directly impacts the exploration of both titles. You feel encouraged to explore everything the map of DS hides and has to offer. But Callisto Protocol is quite the opposite, where you can’t explore the map and follow the straight line the game shows you.

As a fan of the original DS game and a horror enthusiast, it felt great to explore the ship and all the different environments the space station has to offer, making me want to enter every room I find. If map exploration and world-building are essential parts of the experience for you, make sure to pick Dead Space . It is a way better game for exploring the areas and the world around you.

Gameplay

Unsurprisingly, another win for Dead Space Remake. It has advantages in all aspects of this topic, not only because it creates a much better horror atmosphere but also thanks to the variety of mechanics and possibilities.

The Callisto Protocol might become a little repetitive as you play it, not only because you can’t freely explore the map but also due to a lack of mechanic variety and an original twist. You feel like doing the exact same things throughout the entire campaign.

On the other hand, Dead Space constantly varies the tasks you need to perform and the equipment you have. These aspects, from unlocking new weapons to getting new abilities, make the game more enjoyable, even if you play for several hours straight.

You’ll unlock new abilities that let you penetrate the security systems from Ishimura, giving you access to areas previously inaccessible. You’ll never feel like doing the same over and over again.

The same goes for combat. The weapon variety in DS makes you want to start looking for enemies just to dismember them and test the different kinds of guns you can find around the spaceship. Dead Space has better gameplay overall, being the best option in this category.

You saw this coming. Dead Space Remake is, without a doubt, the winner of this comparison.

Many details make The Callisto Protocol a not-so-good survival horror game, especially when directly compared to its main inspiration, from the unlucky release date dangerously close to DS to the lack of creativity in some of the aspects of the game.

For many fans, it feels like a ripoff of Dead Space. It is still a pretty solid title and has its highlight moments, but they’re nothing compared to the experience Dead Space delivers from the start to the end of its campaign.

Solid characters, a great story, fun combat, and many aspects that became a reference for the industry, all of that was already featured in the original version of the game. The first remake of the Dead Space franchise took all these aspects and made them even better, creating the definitive sci-fi experience.

It is a scary game for the bravest survival horror fans. You never know what to expect next in this place invested with Necromorphs. If you’re looking for the best horror sci-fi game, make sure to pick Dead Space Remake for your next gaming session.

The only thing scarier than Dead Space is some of the prices in the gaming industry, but this doesn’t have to be a problem. By knowing where to find video game keys for a good deal, you can have fun and save a lot of money at the same time.

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Both Dead Space and The Callisto Protocol can make players scream and fear everything in their surroundings. The mix between survival horror and sci-fi truly works and is a subgenre many players love to play.

TCP was highly inspired by Dead Space and all the legacy it created. Even though it doesn’t keep up to its main inspiration, it is still a fun game that shouldn’t be passed on.

Whether because of its incredible actors or the bloody visuals, several characteristics will make players have much fun while playing it. The best part is that if you like The Callisto Protocol, you’ll be amazed to know that a sequel is already on the way and will, hopefully, correct most of the first game’s flaws.

Dead Space Remake is the perfect game if you’re a fan of the saga and want to play the title again with better graphics and gameplay, and an even better experience for new players who never watched the original and now have the perfect opportunity to play this version.

Now that you know everything you need, it is time to choose which one of the options you’ll play first. Whether you prefer to explore the Black Iron prison's haunting grounds or the USG Ishimura's endless corridors, you’ll surely have a great and scary time in both games.