Callisto Protocol: Beginner's guide The Callisto Protocol guide
On this page of the guide to Callisto Protocol you will find starting tips for new players. Our hints and tips include fighting monsters, finding secret locations, managing your inventory, upgrading Jacob's equipment and regenerating health.
Last update: 08 December 2022
Callisto Protocol is a game where it's easy to die or make bad gameplay decisions. This guide page contains a beginner's guide. From our tips you will learn, among others: how to fight opponents, how to upgrade Jacob's equipment, how to heal the hero, how to get credits or how to reach secret areas.
- Normal difficulty is the optimal choice
- Dodge correctly in melee combat
- Don't travel with a full inventory
- Look for valuable items you can sell
- Aim at different body parts of the monsters
- Evolve the GRP gauntlet to take down enemies more easily
- Keep an eye out for optional areas
- Destroy the cocoons in advance before heads pop out of them
- Heal after taking more damage
Normal difficulty is the optimal choice
Callisto Protocol has 3 difficulty levels. We recommend playing the game for the first time on the Medium Security level. It should offer a sufficient level of challenge (especially in large battles and boss fights) and, at the same time, force you to manage your inventory, but it does not cause frustration with frequent deaths.
You can freely change the difficulty level in the game options without restarting the game. This will allow you to beat all the more difficult parts.
In the Accessibility options, you can find various settings to significantly simplify the game, such as auto dodge or auto QTE. See the Accessibility page in the appendix for more information.
Dodge correctly in melee combat
Melee combat is very common in Callisto Protocol - you'll need to dodge left or right flawlessly.
It's not very intuitive - you have to move the left stick to the side and keep it in this position, i.e. move left or right at the same time. Also, be prepared that the monster may do a second attack right away, meaning you'll need to dodge twice in a row.
You can also block in the game, but Jacob will take some damage even if you stop the attack. We recommend using it only if you don't have time to dodge.
You can reduce damage upon blocking by purchasing the Blocking Protection upgrade. We've compiled this and other good upgrades on a separate page, Best gear upgrades.
Don't travel with a full inventory
Jacob's inventory is very limited - initially you only have 6 slots for items (not counting weapons - they are separate). As a result, you can easily get it full meaning you won't be able to pick up new items. Here are some universal tips:
- Sell all unnecessary loot in the Reforges. This will allow you to free up inventory slots and earn credits to upgrade your equipment.
- Carry only 1 health injector and some ammo. Try to keep at least half of your inventory free.
The inventory will expand to 12 slots at the end of the Habitat chapter and this will make inventory management a bit easier. We have described obtaining armor and unlocking new slots in more detail on the How to increase inventory? page in the FAQ section.
Look for valuable items you can sell
Credits in Callisto Protocol are for buying upgrades, and you can obtain large amounts of them by selling valuable items in the Reforges. They are, e.g.:
- Energy Converters - a regular converter is worth 100 credits, and 200 credits in perfect condition;
- Decoders - a regular decoder is worth 500 credits, one in a perfect condition is worth 750 credits.
Valuable loot is primarily stored in large chests that you can find in the game world. In addition, decoders are dropped by robots (you have to stomp on a robot after defeating it). We have described destroying enemy machines in more detail in the FAQ chapter on the How to destroy a security robot?.
Aim at different body parts of the monsters
In Callisto Protocol, removing limbs of monsters is not as crucial as in the Dead Space series, but you can still gain a lot:
- Shoot at monster legs to cut them off. The creature will then start crawling and become an easier target.
- Aiming at the exposed tentacles of monsters (you will start encountering them later in the game - an example of such a monster in the picture) will prevent transformations into stronger creatures.
Additional note - Cutting off the head won't necessarily kill the monster. It can still move your way and attack blindly.
Evolve the GRP gauntlet to take down enemies more easily
The GRP gauntlet is Jacob's most powerful "gadget" that you will obtain in the Aftermath chapter. It can be used to grab and throw objects and enemies. We recommend upgrading the gauntlet in the Reforges from the moment you unlock it, especially the Energy Upgrade tree, which will allow you to increase its maximum limit (longer blue energy bar).
We recommend using the glove in all locations where you can:
- throw an opponent at spikes or a working trap;
- throw the opponent into the abyss (drop them over it).
This will allow you to avoid the risk of direct confrontations and focus on other monsters faster.
Keep an eye out for optional areas
Many of the locations visited in the game have secret and optional areas. It's worth checking them all, because you can find collectibles, large loot chests or weapon schematics. Look around for:
- climbing spots and ventilation shafts;
- boxes that require a gate fuse (example in the picture) - you need to take the fuse from another box and place it in the one you found to temporarily provide electricity and, for example, open the gate.
Destroy the cocoons in advance before heads pop out of them
One of the most troublesome opponents in the game is a head connected to a long spine - they can deal Jacob massive damage or even kill him (if you fail the QTE).
- Try to shoot cocoons in advance. If you were attacked shortly after saving the game, then load the previous save and shoot the cocoon.
- If you get caught, you have to press the button shown on the screen (Triangle/Y on controller). Completing the QTE will save the hero from death, but he will still lose some health.
There are also small monsters in the game that can attach themselves to Jacob. Attack them with melee weapons before they jump or press the button rapidly to throw them off.
Heal after taking more damage
The implant on Jacob's neck shows a health bar - you have to heal him after it turns orange or red, because the hero will then be close to death and can die from a single attack.
You can heal yourself with Health Injectors (you can carry them in your inventory and remember to have at least one in stock) and Health Gels (can be dropped by defeated creatures, for example). Look mainly for boxes on the walls - they can have injectors.
We discussed the topic of healing Jacob and permanently extending the health bar in more detail on the How to heal wounds? page in the FAQ section.