We recently got to try the demo of Pragmata on the Sony PlayStation 5, Capcom’s latest sci-fi 3rd-person adventure shooter.
Set on a lunar research station, the game follows spacefarer Hugh and android Diana as they work together to fight a hostile AI known as IDUS, which is controlling the station, and return to Earth.
Since this is a demo, you’ll skip some important story points since you already have the childlike android.
The Pragmata demo, or Pragmata Sketchbook, is essentially a tutorial on how to play the game.
We really liked Pragmata’s setting. It’s sci-fi, but it’s a little more grounded. Hugh’s suit resembles what astronauts wear, with short-burst jets and a Dead Space-esque helmet. The usual controls for walking, sprinting, jumping, and hovering are there. The jump jets in Hugh’s suits let you jump and hover, which is essential when you’re out exploring parts of the base.
Diana, the cute little female android, is precocious but incredibly helpful as you move about the base. She can help access lifts and portals. What sets this game apart is its effective use of a hacking mini-game integrated into combat.
Pragmata is not just about adventure; you also get to shoot rogue robots and drones. But you can’t really rely on your weapons. Diana can hack into robots to provide you with a damage boost, slow down enemies, and more.
At first, we found the hacking mini-game a little difficult to do because while you’re hacking, the bots move, advance, and try their best to whack you silly.
You need to keep moving, dodging, and putting some distance between you and the bots to execute hacks, increase damage, and more.
And yes, there’s a slight learning curve, and I died several times because I was too busy hacking the mini-game than dodging attacks. But once you get the hang of it, the battles get more interesting and rewarding.
You also have access to various weapons, including shotguns, stun guns, and more. And ammo is almost non-existent. You have to conserve the special weapons ammo and use it when you really need to. Accessing certain levels also requires hacking and more mini-games.
Battles can get hectic, and the Pragmata lets you taste your first big bad boss battle. You’ll dodge missile barrages, big bot rushes, and more.
Once you complete the game, the Pragmata Sketchbook awards you with a little cutscene where Diana rates your combat performance and the amount of time it took to finish the game.
And since this is a demo, you can finish the game in 20 minutes. You can speedrun it to get a better score.
So is Pragmata a good game based on the demo? Definitely.
Watch our gaming video below:
Pragmata is coming out on April 17, but you can pre-order it now.
For more game reviews and news, stay tuned to TGXP3.