Review | Pragmata

A Short Review

Ah, Capcom. They often nail it, and that is exactly what this game is. It's an experience that gives you a lot of fun, feelings, and just glides through your life like other games you sit through in one or a couple of sittings.

It's a technically impressive game, although linear, but everything feels polished, the controls are just so good, and combat is satisfying. What else do we need, really?

Story and the Characters

You get to control Hugh and Diana - Hugh is a human that gets stuck in a space station during a classic maintenance task, and Diana is an android AI that feels like a living daughter the more you play the game. They have the perfect synergy, so playing the game equals enjoying the narrative every second. Maybe the plot is somewhat predictable and basic, but the real point is living with these characters.

Game Design, Exploration

I felt like I was playing an arcade version of Dead Space. You get to jump and hover all around the space station, while hacking bots to do multiple damage parameters that come from either your arsenal or the environment. You can also overheat enemies to one-hit them.

The concept of the game is reaching the main part of the robot-infested station. You can hack almost everything, and I love that part, it feels like the game has 2 main mechanics, so that adds a lot to the fun. It's either hacking terminals or enemies while shooting and trying to collect fun stuff for the rest room in the station.

Combat

You will need to use right-side buttons to hack enemies in grid-like shapes while traveling through nodes that reveal weak points or add damage or debuffs to enemies. You need to do it prior to using weapons, because you will not do a lot of damage without it. It's really impressive to have such 2 strong mechanics in the game, and if you ask me, other than hovering, everything is just perfect when it comes to controls.

I really loved the combat, it feels juicy - and the only flaw is maybe the re-skinning of some enemies and the last chapter. The rest - pure fun.

Side Content

Side content is just collecting REM memories that are reminiscences of things from Earth, and placing them in your hub for Diana to explore. She loves to comment on everything you collect or draw you a picture, so enjoy. She rules.

The rest is upgrading your equipment and doing challenges (which are super fun) to get more upgrade materials. All basic stuff, wrapped inside a game that serves exactly what it stands for. Nothing feels redundant, and that is where Capcom knows best.

Conclusion

Pragmata is a great single-player gem that offers a lot of fun, excellent characters, and satisfying combat - all under a fully baked and polished product. I wish there were more games like this one, because I love when it clicks and never lets go. Pragmata is exactly that - an experience you'll love and cherish, even though it's not perfect.

Welcome to Dead Space - where they have... Robots and AI.

The best bits are the ones that feels like environments on earth. I just love nature and vivid colors.

I mean, how can you not collect all REM memories for Diana? She is just a delight.

Save the planet, leave the station, or, something else? The story is basic, but Diana and Hugh aren't