Launching a new IP is never easy, and that applies to any studio, even a big one like Capcom, which has released some of the best games of the year so far. So, when I fired up Pragmata, I was a bit nervous as to what the game would offer. I only watched a couple of trailers and decided not to play the demo so I would experience everything in the full game. What I discovered was not only a bold and beautiful experience, but also my favorite Capcom game of the year.
The Dark Side of the Moon
This brand-new tale puts us in the high-tech suit of Hugh, a member of a response team that gets sent to the moon after something goes awry. Like many sci-fi plots, something goes terribly wrong, leaving our protagonist alone, at least until he finds Diana, the human-like Android. Here, the job is simple: figure out what is happening in this lunar station and why Diana just popped out of nowhere to help you.
Now, since the story isn’t particularly long, I won’t spoil any more details, but I will talk about my favorite things: the two protagonists, their interactions, and the world-building. For the former, they are extremely likable, though Diana steals the show in every scene with her heartwarming, eager-to-discover attitude. Hugh, on the other hand, was extremely relatable and, despite feeling flat at first, became a terrific protagonist.
Of course, what stands out the most is the interactions both of them have, with Hugh teaching Diana a few things that often border on the philosophical, and a few other things that separate the station life from living on Earth. The truth is that they are a solid duo and one I really enjoyed watching grow as they traversed across all the areas in the station.
However, my absolute favorite part of the game was the world-building, which is on par with what you’d see in Resident Evil. See, this station has something called Lunafilament, which is a material capable of replicating almost anything. Everything around this map has been printed with that material, leading to some eerie yet alluring locations of half-printed scenarios. This felt extremely symbolic, as the game explores many deep themes that touch on what’s authentic and what isn’t. And of course, since this is a pure sci-fi adventure, there’s a lot of environmental storytelling that enhances the narrative and the atmosphere this seemingly empty station conveys.
Even if the plot may have a few pacing issues at the beginning, Pragmata delivers a superb narrative, mainly thanks to its two protagonists, their interactions, and the many topics surrounding their encounter. What I thought would be a lighthearted adventure ended up becoming something that left me pondering many things, which is something that I always look for in a video game plot. And if you’re a sci-fi fan, Capcom nailed the vibe, the atmosphere, and created a playground for those who love exploring a few derelict locales overrun by deadly machines.
Hack-and-Shoot
Since I was going in blind into Pragmata, I only had a remote idea of how combat worked, but once I tried it fully, my jaw dropped. Pragmata is, as I have dubbed it and hope it catches on, a hack-and-shoot title. Also, hack as in messing with a robot’s system to make their day a living hell, not slicing them apart. Here, Diana does the hacking, and Hugh does the shooting, and both parts of it work extremely well to the point that there are just so many options to pick from that you might feel a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way.
For the shooting part, which isn’t as simple as it may seem on the surface, Hugh has a plethora of weapons, all belonging to different categories. You have your main guns, which usually have infinite ammo with a short reload time, and you have others that work on limited ammo and disappear once you use them, such as a shotgun, a grenade launcher-like gun, and even a pistol that deploys decoys.
In terms of gunplay, it felt a bit more like a survival-horror game, in terms of limited ammo, but several options to let you tackle fights differently. In some, you can throw a decoy and distract enemies so you can take them down, or just blast them with a piercing rifle. However, shooting alone will get you nowhere, as hacking and shooting need to work in tandem to defeat the many deadly robots in the station, which leads me to the next part.
Hacking is the other half of combat, and has the same number of options, if not more. When aiming at enemies, you’ll get a screen that lets you hack a foe by making your way through different nodes and eventually “opening” an enemy. Opening enemies makes them vulnerable to all damage, allowing you to take them down faster. If you stick to shooting only, enemies won’t receive a lot of damage, and vice versa with hacking.
Also, when infiltrating enemies’ systems, you have the option to use different nodes for added effects. If you pass through them during hacks, you can either turn them friendly, stun them, or damage them. There’s even an option that allows you to deliver a final blow if you trigger a node once an enemy is at a low HP percentage. Just like special weapons, these hack nodes have limited uses, encouraging saving some for the right encounter.
All these many options may sound daunting, but the game allows you to set your loadouts before leaving for any of the many sections of the station. Speaking of which: mission structure. While the story is linear, you can freely explore the locations you’ve unlocked and then return to the Shelter, which is the game’s hub, to work on your upgrades.
The upgrade system was another thing I loved, as it also encourages you to explore and fight the enemies that keep respawning after entering an area again to increase Hugh’s HP and damage, or Diana’s hacking capabilities. There are also several resources that let you unlock new functions for Hugh, such as a perfect dodge or even increase the functionality of some hacks and weapons.
Overall, the gameplay loop of Pragmata and its core concepts are among the best I’ve seen in a third-person shooter. The combat is extremely challenging, and always keeps you on your toes, as enemies are ruthless and the only way to beat them is by putting your hacking skills to the test while doing some simultaneous shooting. And last but not least, enemy variety is perfect, with boss fights being some of the most mind-blowing, challenging, and unique ones I’ve experienced this year.
A Collector’s Paradise
Another standout aspect of Pragmata is how well it handles exploration, despite being in a semi-linear world.
The station is broken down into different areas, and each one of them has a plethora of collectibles for you to find, all of which unlock relevant and useful functions back at base. For instance, you can go hunting for upgrade modules to beef up Hugh and his armaments, or go look for REMs, which unlock modules at the Shelter where Diana can play. There are also breakable figures, similar to the good old Mr. Raccoon from Resident Evil, and even new mods to unlock that will give you some passive bonus for your next journey.
Yet, what I really liked is how rewarding everything felt, as it wasn’t just exploring to complete a checklist, but rather, exploring to power up my protagonist, unlock outfits, or even try a new build that leaned more into powerful Hacking attacks.
Another thing worth mentioning is just how Pragmata has this Metroidvania feel to it. Initially, many areas will be closed to you, but progressing through the story will give you the ability to remove these obstacles and unlock a hidden zone or maybe one of the infamous Red Rooms that feature some of the most challenging enemy gauntlets in the game, yet also have some of the best rewards.
In terms of performance and visuals, this is easily one of the best-looking games Capcom has made with the RE Engine. While I did encounter some minor glitches, especially with Diana’s hair strands, that was the only hiccup, as my framerate never dropped and the game looked beautiful from start to finish.
One of Capcom’s Finest
Capcom already has a packed lineup this year, yet I never thought the new IP would become my favorite video game from this company, and that’s coming in a year where we got Resident Evil Requiem and Monster Hunter Stories 3. Pragmata is a brave and beautiful new formula from the studio, and one that nails every one of its aspects with the high quality and care many of us were expecting.
In the end, I’m glad Capcom is also launching new things because, while I love its franchises, and some of my favorite ones come from this company, it is always refreshing to see something new. Still, it is even better to see a formula pay off and be so entertaining, alluring, and addictive, and that is precisely what Pragmata offers every step of this heartwarming sci-fi journey.
Pragmata (PS5 Review)
Pragmata is a bold and beautiful experience that shows Capcom is just as great at making new entries to its franchises as it is at creating brand-new, exciting IPs.
Pros
- An endearing plot with unforgettable characters
- Some of the best visuals created with the RE Engine
- An addictive and unique gameplay loop
Cons
- Just a few visual glitches
