Capcom has been on a hot streak in recent years, releasing new installments in popular franchises. resident evil and Monster Hunter It received widespread critical acclaim. Japanese game developers and publishers have been focused on playing their hits instead of trying new things. pragmata That's a really interesting prospect. Capcom's all-new, all-original IP; pragmata It's a sci-fi action adventure with bold ambitions that don't always stick the landing.
in pragmataIn , players take on the role of Hugh, an astronaut who travels to the moon with his team to fix communications problems at the lunar base after contact is lost. Upon arriving, it didn't take long for Hugh to realize there was a much bigger problem at the base. He faces a hostile AI called IDUS and his army of deadly robots.
Most of the robots Hyuga encounters on the moon actively try to kill him, but one exception is Diana, an android that resembles a child. Diana and Hugh team up to fight IDUS and solve the mystery of what exactly happened to the moon base. Hugh and Diana quickly develop a father-daughter relationship, but their relationship doesn't offer the strong emotional core one might expect.
Diana is full of personality, but Hugh is quite bland and ordinary. pragmata's plot beats are also fairly generic and predictable, resulting in an inoffensive story that's entertaining enough to pass by but doesn't add much to the proceedings. Most players will be able to see every major plot twist happening a mile away, preventing the story from getting too interesting.
Pragmata is all about action
pragmata's plot is serviceable but unremarkable, so luckily it's not a big focus of the game. pragmataHe's mainly interested in exploration and combat, two things he excels at. pragmataI was skeptical about this mix of maze puzzle and third-person shooter, but it works much better than I expected.
Hugh and Diana must hack the fighting robots and expose their weaknesses. This is accomplished through a simple maze mini-game in which players move across a grid through damaging blue boxes and nodes that can provide bonus effects, such as confusing enemies into attacking their friends or granting healing powers to Hugh. When done correctly, pragmata Hacking leaves enemies vulnerable, giving Hugh the opportunity to land a satisfying critical hit.
Enemies will not stop chasing Hugh and Diana while the hack is in progress, so players must complete the hack as quickly as possible. Between hacking, shooting, and dodging pragmata Combat can get very hectic and intense, especially as the puzzles become more complex later in the game.
Increasingly challenging hacks and a healthy variety of enemies are guaranteed. pragmataThe combat is still fun from start to finish. Hugh's diverse arsenal also helps, as players can utilize weapons such as standard pistols, machine guns, explosive shotguns, and even decoy guns to distract enemies. Aside from Hugh's main gun, all weapons have cooldown timers and limited ammo to consider, forcing players to think strategically in every fight.
pragmataThe combat really shines in the intense boss battles. Players will fight against giant robots with attacks that can annihilate Hugh in just a few hits. pragmata When a boss fight breaks down and Hugh runs out of healing items, players will be sweating. Because one wrong move can start a long fight from the beginning. pragmataBoss battles are a highlight, although they may sometimes feel like a bit of a bullet point before players can properly upgrade their gear.
disadvantage pragmataThe boss battle is repetitive. There are a few noteworthy encounters that effectively occur multiple times, which is frustrating because the boss designs are great, and I wish we'd seen more of them. Same problem occurs. pragmataThe environments are very varied at first, but lose steam around the halfway point.
in pragmataScientists on a lunar base have created a giant 3D printer that can make just about anything. It gets messed up and creates a jumbled area that looks like it was pulled straight from something like: firstHowever, this opens the door for the game to include a wider variety of locations to explore beyond the clean room. At first, pragmata It makes great use of this by allowing players to explore a version of New York City and a few other unique environments that I won't spoil, but this ambition is abandoned fairly quickly and most of the game is spent traversing areas that look the same.
pragmata It's not a horror game by any means, but it's definitely a game that shares DNA with horror games. resident evilPlayers will find files that slowly reveal more details about the story and an upgrade/progression system that isn't too far removed from the game that follows. resident evil 4.
While I was disappointed by the lack of variety in some parts of the game, there's no denying that these areas are fun to explore and they all look great. pragmata It consistently offers awe-inspiring sights, and the level of detail in each area is impressive, especially considering how well the game runs.
Take shelter
Hugh's spacesuit is equipped with propulsion devices that allow him to reach heights and leap over gaps, making him ideal for navigating the irregular layout of the Moon Base. Players can utilize Hugh's thrusters to launch straight attacks towards their targets, but each area is filled with useful collectibles that are definitely worth taking the time to hunt down.
pragmataPlayers can upgrade Hugh's thrusters, suit integrity, weapons, and more through collectibles along with currency that drops from defeated enemies. These upgrades are purchased from shelters, which can be accessed through hatches that act like checkpoints. Shelters are primarily used for upgrades and healing, but they have much more functionality.
While visiting the shelter, pragmata Players can also chat with Diana, identify special Earth objects hidden in the game world, and challenge themselves to complete simulated scenarios in exchange for rewards. There are also collectible bingo coins that players can use to complete bingo cards at the shelter and receive more items.
Some bingo cards cannot be fully completed until they are completed. pragmata Players clear the relevant Red Zones, which are extremely difficult areas that require special keys to access. pragmata Although the Red Zone is entirely optional, it is often worthwhile to complete it for the bingo cards and other rewards players earn by overcoming challenges.
Pragmata is short, but there's a lot more to do after the credits roll.
Red Zones, collectibles, and post-game unlocks give you the following benefits: pragmata Although it has more replay value, you might be a little disappointed to learn that the game is quite short. It took me about 6 hours and 35 minutes to complete my initial playthrough, thoroughly exploring several levels and completing several red zones and training simulations along the way. 100% completion may take 15-20 hours depending on skill level. Now that I think about it, I personally felt there was no need for the game to be any longer. At first, I was fascinated by combat and exploration, but pragmata I started losing strength in the last hour.
pragmata It certainly starts off strong, but not enough to keep you fully engaged until the final credits. It's a highly polished sci-fi game with fun combat and exploration, but the weak story and characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. Still, it's exciting to have a completely original IP from Capcom. pragmata It doesn't quite live up to the high standards set by the studio's other efforts, but it's mostly a worthwhile venture.
pragmata It releases on April 17 for PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided with a PS5 code for review.
