The Moonbound Misstep: Pragmata's Mixed Bag

Capcom has built a reputation for consistently delivering strong, long-running franchises like Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, and Street Fighter. Its latest attempt to launch a new property, Pragmata, shows promise but ultimately falls short of greatness. The sci-fi game takes elements from Resident Evil’s slow-paced action and merges them with a futuristic world exploring lunar colonization, artificial intelligence, and more. While it boasts some unique ideas, including an innovative combat system and disorienting levels that feel like AI-generated art, these are buried beneath a familiar structure and a story that relies heavily on sci-fi tropes.

The game’s narrative begins with a small team investigating a disturbance at a lunar outpost, only to find the place eerily quiet and empty. The protagonist, Hugh, soon finds himself separated from his team and teams up with Diana, an experimental android. Together, they aim to uncover what’s happening on the Moon and find a way back to Earth, all while evading a rogue AI that has taken control of the colony and turned every bot into a deadly machine.

Despite its horror roots, Pragmata is more of a traditional third-person action game with a focus on exploration. Hugh can upgrade his suit and weapons, allowing players to customize their playstyle and approach combat in various ways. The addition of Diana’s hacking abilities adds a new layer of strategy to battles, requiring players to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.

The combat system is where Pragmata truly shines, offering a unique blend of action and puzzle-solving. While the game’s visuals are stunning, with detailed environments and realistic character designs, the real highlight is the way Hugh and Diana work together during battles. This simultaneous control scheme requires players to think creatively and adapt quickly, making combat encounters both challenging and engaging.

However, aside from its innovative combat mechanics, Pragmata falls short of truly standing out. The game’s exploration and story elements feel overly familiar, relying on well-worn sci-fi tropes that don’t offer much in the way of surprises or originality. The narrative has potential, particularly in its exploration of themes like AI-generated environments and lunar colonization, but ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

In conclusion, Pragmata is a game with great ideas and innovative combat mechanics, but it fails to fully capitalize on these strengths due to a lack of originality in its story and setting. While the game shows promise, particularly in its early moments, it ultimately feels like a safe bet rather than a bold new direction for Capcom.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/910385/pragmata-review-ps5-xbox-switch-2-pc