The trophy list for the upcoming survival horror The Callisto Protocol has been published, and achievement hunters are likely to be pleased. One of the most anticipated games still due to release this year, The Callisto Protocol just received a launch trailer ahead of its release next week.
At the end of August, Striking Distance Studios claimed achievements were currently in development, allegedly operating with the philosophy that death should not be considered punishment, but a means by which to learn enemy mechanics and improve. Studio head and Dead Space producer Glen Schofield offered a caveat to this line of thinking during a WIRED segment posted to its YouTube channel, stating that ensuring the player is not frustrated is a crucial aspect of maintaining a compelling horror experience. His example that if Striking Distance Studios were to "make something that kills you ten times," players would simply blame the game in frustration, provides some insight into the mentality behind the finalized list of trophies.
The Callisto Protocol will release with 27 achievements in total, consisting of a Platinum, 7 Gold, 9 Silver, and 10 Bronze. It is a modest collection, with only a few more than indie darling and Game of the Year nominee Stray, which interestingly omits a previously confirmed achievement to witness every possible way to die in The Callisto Protocol. Perhaps a requirement for an included achievement, but it is more likely that forcing trophy hunters to discover every animation for dying was considered rather tedious, left instead as a welcome addition when being gouged by monsters or dismembered by environmental hazards.
The Callisto Protocol places an emphasis on the panic of combat, so a list of achievements that revolve around enemy confrontations is congruent with the expressed vision. Perfectly dodging, eliminating particularly challenging foes, and using stealth to knife unsuspecting monsters are examples of the actions that will need to be performed for these trophies. There seem to be many achievements associated with the story, but they are thankfully rather subtle and will not spoil a playthrough in any meaningful way if one was to accidentally read them.
The preliminary question for most intrepid achievement hunters will be regarding The Callisto Protocol's difficulty, as a trophy is earned for completing the game on what can be assumed to be the most punishing. Given the rest relate to narrative, progression, and collectible gathering, The Protocol is About Life achievement will almost certainly determine how arduous the pursuit of The Callisto Protocol's Platinum is.
The Callisto Protocol is set to release on December 2, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
