Pragmata Review: One of Capcom's Best New IPs

Pragmata is the latest work of Capcom that is based on sci-fi universe and developed with RE Engine. It features a third-person shooter gameplay combined with hacking minigames that explore the relationship between the protagonist and his child-like android companion. Set in the moon research center, the title was extremely popular amongst the community as it earned more than 2 million sales since its launch. Overall, the game was positively received by critics and players appreciated its accessibility and emotional impact.

In an era of sprawling open-worlds, Pragmata is a welcome change, being a fast-paced game, which has a tight 10-12 hour story (15-16+ for completionists). It has a good set of mechanics, satisfying combat encounters, and an emotional story about human relationships.

A Bond Forged in Isolation

The story is set in the near future, on the moon, which is the center of the “Delphi Corporation” lunar facility called “The Cradle.” The facility is powered by the newly discovered mineral called “lunafilament,” which, along with 3D printers (“lim replicators”), allows the facility to produce almost anything. However, after the communication with Earth was lost, the investigation team led by Hugh Williams was sent to the facility. After a moonquake and Hugh’s encounter with the rogue AI (IDUS), he finds himself stranded on the moon with the experimental android, Diana (Pragmata D-I-0336-7), who possesses hacking abilities. Throughout the game, the relationship between Hugh and Diana is the center of the game’s story, as the two are trying to make it back home, with Hugh teaching Diana about humanity and the world outside the moon.

The game’s themes include humanity and artificiality, parenthood, and the dangers of technology. Diana's curiosity about Earth and its culture is juxtaposed with the artificial and sterile environment of the moon facility. The story is charming and heartfelt, being an underdog, which features a large amount of potential for the “dad game” genre, which usually involves the grumpy protagonist and his child. In Pragmata, however, the relationship between the characters is portrayed in a healthier, happier manner, which is not seen often in the games of the genre. Some criticize the game for having a predictable plot and requiring the player to read data logs to understand the story’s context and details. The game’s conclusion and the post-credits scenes provide a fitting resolution for the characters’ relationships while giving the player optional challenges to complete.

Hack, Shoot, Survive

The gameplay of Pragmata is its main strength, which allows the player to experience the game in a unique and accessible manner. The game offers a hack-and-shoot third-person shooter gameplay, which involves the simultaneous usage of both characters while Hugh is shooting the enemies, the player has to hack the enemies’ armor which exposes their weak points, making them vulnerable to Hugh’s attacks. The game’s combat is fast-paced, with the player being able to dodge enemy fire, shoot, and use various items. The player can also use the jetpack to get to vantage points and distract the enemies. The hacking mini-game is simple but effective, requiring the player to move the cursor around the grid, avoiding obstacles while collecting optional bonuses, which reward stat increases and other items.

The game also features a variety of weapons, including shotguns, pistols, rifles, grenades, and other weapons, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The player can also upgrade their weapons and equipment with the collected lunafilament. Additionally, the player can collect “REM” data, which can be used to give Hugh and Diana various gifts, which unlock new abilities and upgrades.

The game’s arenas are varied, ranging from confined spaces to large open ones, with the boss fights utilizing the game’s mechanics in unique ways. The player can also access the side missions in the simulation chamber, which offer additional gameplay variety. The game offers a good amount of exploration, with various collectibles and secrets to be found by the player.

The game’s combat encounters however, can be repetitive at times, and some of the controls can be unintuitive at times. The game’s feel is very good, with the player being able to get into the zone and enjoy the gameplay. The simultaneous usage of two characters is a welcome change, which is done exceptionally well, offering the player a good amount of variety in the gameplay, which is enhanced by the upgrades and the usage of the terrain.

The game’s presentation is very good, featuring the detailed environments and the character models. The game’s physics is good, with the debris behaving realistically. The game’s sound design is exceptionally good, with the ambient noises and the voice acting, from David Menkin and Grace Saif as Hugh and Diana, respectively, being some of the best in the industry.

My Final Thoughts

Pragmata is a game that combines action-adventure gameplay, a touching story, and an impressive presentation. It is a refreshing alternative to the tedious open-world games as it provides a decent action-packed experience that is easy to get into and quick to play. The hack-and-slash gameplay, combined with the two-character system, is the game’s primary strength, being simple to learn but extremely rewarding to master. The game’s presentation is good, with the game featuring detailed environments and good character models and voice acting. The story is charming and heartfelt, focusing on the relationship between the two main characters, while also delivering a message about technology and humanity. Overall, Pragmata is a must-play game for anyone, who enjoys the “dad game” genre, as it is one of the best entries of the genre to date.