Pragmata Review: Destructoid describes a "lunar odyssey that reinvents the sci-fi shooter"

The new production from Capcom, Pragmata, takes us to Cradle, an abandoned lunar base where the extraction of a revolutionary ore named Lunafilament has turned into a disaster. The lone astronaut Hugh Williams arrives with his team to uncover the mysterious reason behind the radio silence. But the AI IDUS goes berserk, ejecting almost all of its occupants from the world, save for Hugh. An improbable survivor, the character is relieved to meet Diana, a pragmatic android with a child-like form, in order to explore the high-tech ruins in search of a way back home to Earth. After this setup, let's see what the Destructoid journalist thinks of Pragmata.

Gameplay is at the heart of this adventure: a hybrid third-person shooter that skillfully blends action with conventional weapons and hacking. Take control of Hugh for the shootouts - from pistol to assault rifle, depending on various 'support units' - and switch over to Diana to hack enemy robots via a mini nodal puzzle in the vein of Pipe Mania to reveal their weaknesses or unlock special effects and bypass shields. In terms of ergonomics, it flows smoothly, it's addictive, and it gives every fight a real brainy duel quality, like a Gears of War 2 boosted with AI.

The level-hub structure within a central 'Shelter' accessible by tram evokes Devil May Cry 5, with a bit of backtracking for collectibles and upgrades. Diana scans the terrain like a detective mode, complete with its own visual cues, highlighting objectives and secrets. Graphically, on PS5 Pro it's simply stunning, the journalist notes: realistic lunar lighting, flawless robotic animations, a ravaged world that breathes updated old-school sci-fi. The sound, between oppressive ambiance and an epic, emphatic orchestral score, completes the sense of Hugh and Diana as a genuine duo.

The length is decent (15-20 hours for the main story, more for 100% completion), with replayability on offer thanks to New Game+ mode and hacking challenges. No open world, but compact, intense levels. A fresh game that surprises with its inventiveness, despite level design that occasionally falls a bit short.