The moon has always been a symbol of mystery and human curiosity. While we’ve dreamed of reaching it for centuries, the notion of establishing a permanent base on its barren surface remains a distant goal. While humanity has made great strides in space exploration, the idea of setting up a sustainable moon colony is still a work in progress. In science fiction, when humanity leaves Earth to start a new life elsewhere, there’s usually a pressing reason for departure. However, PRAGMATA takes a different approach: instead of leaving Earth to explore the cosmos, it’s all about returning from the lunar station to our home planet with an unexpected companion – a young girl/android named Diana.
PRAGMATA is far more than a typical escort mission. The astronaut player controls all movement and offensive abilities, but the true magic comes from Diana’s hacking skills. As players fight through waves of autonomous enemies and hostile androids, Diana simultaneously hacks into enemy defenses, giving the astronaut a strategic advantage. This dynamic could have been a logistical nightmare – controlling movement, aiming, shooting, and hacking all at once. But in practice, it flows naturally.
The hacking mini-game involves navigating a grid, dodging traps, collecting nodes, and targeting the enemy core. In the demo, these segments were simple and quick, taking only a few seconds to disable the enemies’ shields. The weapons available in PRAGMATA are diverse, and each has its unique mechanics. The astronaut’s signature pistol boasts infinite ammo, though it takes time to recharge, while other weapons picked up along the way may only hold a few shots before being discarded for something better. Energy weapons are prevalent, and I found myself leaning towards the energy shotgun for blasting through the demo.
Unlike many linear action games, PRAGMATA offers players the chance to explore. The astronaut can jump and glide between platforms, and shooting security locks opens new pathways and elevators, facilitating easier navigation around the lunar station. Taking the time to explore the environment rewards players with new weapons and even increases the capacity for healing items, adding a layer of depth to the experience.
The demo, which lasted around fifteen minutes, gave me a chance to revisit a world that Capcom first introduced five years ago. As I played, I couldn’t shake the feeling of déjà vu – the gunplay and technological design reminded me of Lost Planet. Of course, this is just my personal take on it. There’s still time before PRAGMATA is fully ready, with a scheduled release in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC. It promises to be a unique journey, and I’m excited to see how it evolves.