What Sets The Callisto Protocol Apart From Dead Space--And Why Surprises Are The Name Of The Game
In just a few months, we'll finally get our hands on The Callisto Protocol, a spiritual successor to Dead Space from that game's original creator, Glen Schofield, and his team at Striking Distance. GameSpot had the chance to chat with Schofield about not only what makes The Callisto Protocol a distinct and unique beast compared to the Dead Space games, but also how Schofield's approach to game direction has evolved and how Dead Space and The Callisto Protocol are a reflection of Schofield himself.
One of the biggest points Schofield stressed in the interview, which you can read in full below, is that unpredictability is the key to any horror game's success. In even the most gore-filled horror games, like The Callisto Protocol, instilling terror and fear in the player can't be accomplished by constant «scary» images or events.
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Now Playing: The Callisto Protocol Gameplay Reveal | Gamescom ONL 2022
«As soon as something is predictable, it stops being scary,» Schofield told us.
We've seen lots of other games fall into this trap, even in established franchises that have gotten it right in the past.
Instead, there must be a disruption to that rhythm, whether it be following a period of silence with a whole bunch of loud monsters or intentionally waiting hours in between encounters in order to continue building that tension to the point where it's boiling over. Lean too far in one direction or the other, and the player will begin to anticipate when the next scare is coming, lessening its impact significantly.
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