Pragmata Review: A Soulful Sci-Fi Adventure of Paternal Love in Space
When Pragmata was first unveiled alongside the PlayStation 5 in 2020, its glossy trailer hinted at a sleek sci-fi action experience set in the vastness of outer space. While the game undoubtedly delivers on those futuristic thrills in abundance, what truly stands out is its unexpectedly tender narrative centered on paternal love. This marks Capcom's surprisingly soulful and belated entry into the gaming world's sad dad genre, offering a unique blend of action and emotion.
A Near-Future Lunar Mystery
Set in a near-future fiction, the story revolves around a corporation named Delphi, which has established a research station on the moon's surface. Here, scientists experiment with advanced 3D printing technology, utilizing a material called Lunafilament to effortlessly recreate everything from simple tools to entire structures. Predictably, the situation takes a dark turn when the station suddenly goes silent. Engineer Hugh is dispatched from Earth to investigate the malfunction, plunging players into an engrossingly mournful and melancholic atmosphere from the very beginning.
As Hugh explores the station, he navigates glistening corridors that lead to eerily abandoned laboratories. Half-printed creations stand motionless, with threads of filament protruding uselessly from their unfinished frames, while holograms replay recorded conversations from increasingly anxious researchers. Hugh soon uncovers the grim fate of the human workers, but he does not face the dangers alone. When attacked by malfunctioning security droids, he is rescued by a Pragmata—a 3D-printed android companion designed to resemble a six-year-old girl, a detail that becomes crucial as the story unfolds.
Dynamic Combat and Emotional Bonds
Hugh names his new pint-sized companion Diana, who proves invaluable in combat by hacking directly into murderous mechs. With Diana perched on his shoulders, a simple tap of the left trigger allows her to breach enemy code in real time, exposing their weak spots. This mechanic introduces a hacking mini-game in one corner of the screen, requiring players to multitask between blasting robotic foes and managing the hack, reminiscent of the under-appreciated Nintendo DS RPG The World Ends With You. Initially, combat feels straightforward with limited weaponry and hacking options, but as players discover new hacking mods, unlock weapons, and enhance Hugh's suit with Iron Man-esque thrusters, it evolves into a layered test of reflexes and strategy.
Beneath Pragmata's metallic sci-fi sheen lies a welcome warmth. As Hugh and Diana traverse danger-filled corridors, their pseudo father-daughter relationship blossoms organically. What could have easily devolved into forced sentimentalism instead grows naturally around characters that players genuinely care about, with each new line of dialogue eliciting a smile. Players gradually uncover the horrors that befell the lunar colony, but mercifully, they can take breaks from combat and mystery by descending into an underground shelter.
Upgrades and Exploration
This upgradeable hideout, with a touch of Death Stranding's aesthetic, allows players to unlock suit and weapon upgrades, undergo training simulations, and deepen their bond with Diana. After conversations, Diana picks up crayons to draw tender pictures of her and Hugh, learning about Earth and human nature through his stories. Players can even engage in activities like hide and seek or install a 3D-printed playground in the shelter, adding layers of interaction and emotional depth.
Thanks to the base's print-happy scientists, Pragmata offers pleasing visual variety, quickly transitioning from sterile white corridors to lush tropical jungles, serene beaches, and the lunar surface, where players float freely unshackled by gravity. The world's lore is equally well-realized; for instance, wandering through an eerily half-printed recreation of New York City reveals emails from Delphi employees expressing intense boredom as robots handle all their tasks.
Stunning Art Direction and Performance
While a mid-game lull briefly reduces the action to a directionless shooting gallery, a slew of late-game upgrades and eyebrow-raising story revelations ensure Pragmata concludes on a giddy high. The game is held together by stunning art direction from Cho Yonghee, the artist behind the hauntingly brilliant Nier Automata. Although expected to look impressive on a powerful PS5 Pro, Pragmata also runs surprisingly well on Nintendo's tablet-sized Switch 2 console, showcasing its technical versatility.
Despite its sparkling near-future setting, Pragmata succeeds by feeling like a throwback to gaming's recent past. It is a beautifully crafted, heartfelt single-player adventure that introduces a novel combat idea while prioritizing storytelling and atmosphere. Where many attempts at heartwarming games can come across as off-puttingly saccharine, Pragmata executes its father-daughter relationship with surprising deftness, making it a standout title in the sci-fi genre.
Pragmata is set for release on April 17, priced at £49.99, and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 platforms.
