Capcom occasionally releases games that stand out for their unusual or unconventional concepts. These titles can be even more distinct than typical unique offerings. While Pragmata is fundamentally a third-person shooter, a hands-on demo session revealed it shares this peculiar charm. Its puzzle-hacking element, initially unconventional and even strange, begins to make sense and feel natural after some practice.
Hugh awakens on a lunar research station, completely alone amidst hostile enemies, with the goal of contacting Earth. His only companion is Diana, an Android who appears as a young girl and seems to have a connection with some of the artificial lifeforms and robots. The challenge arises because these mechanical beings perceive Hugh and Diana as threats and attack on sight. Hugh’s firearms alone are not powerful enough to defeat them, necessitating the regular use of Diana’s hacking ability to enhance shots and apply crucial buffs.
The early segment of Pragmata available for playtesting offered an opportunity to experience Diana’s hacking both in and out of combat. The objective involved restoring power to the station, which required navigating various sections, using Diana’s ability to activate switches to open doors, and confronting a formidable robot boss. While environmental hacking—such as initiating unlocking processes, moving platforms, or accessing new areas—is as simple as aiming and pressing a button, the hacking required for enemy encounters is more intricate.
Admittedly, adapting to the combat hacking took some time, though it felt comfortable by the time the boss fight was reached. On the upper right side of the screen, a 4×4 grid appears, containing elements to highlight in specific directions. These might include power-ups or buffs Hugh collected, potential blockades, and a green power symbol. The objective is to trace lines in the correct sequence to trigger damage bonuses and reach the power sign, enabling Diana to help Hugh inflict significant damage. A common challenge was remembering that this system is tied to the ABXY buttons, often leading to an instinct to use the directional pad for movement.
Despite its apparent complexity, Diana’s hacking in Pragmata is quick and provides substantial bonuses, quickly becoming second nature. Upon encountering an enemy, players can swiftly navigate the grid to power up while simultaneously using the analog stick to maneuver Hugh and evade attacks. Once mastered, this process can be completed in a matter of seconds. The benefits persist for a duration, encouraging players to re-engage the hacking segment when switching weapons or reloading to refresh the advantages. During the boss fight, additional sub-weapons appeared in the area, allowing for efficient multitasking: Hugh could move to collect these while the player simultaneously executed the hacking sequence, preparing for the next assault. This often resulted in defensive boosts or attacks capable of hitting multiple foes instead of just one.
The sampled area of Pragmata felt like an introductory tutorial, suggesting that Diana’s hacking could potentially become more challenging or demanding in later stages. However, in this early segment of the game, it felt neither intrusive nor annoying. It made logical sense within the moment, and the buffs it provided significantly aided survivability. It is an unusual mechanic, but potentially in a beneficial way. Further exploration of the game is anticipated to form a complete judgment.
Pragmata is scheduled for release on the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on April 24, 2026, and a demo is available. A Diana amiibo will also be released.
