No writer has been as regular with its high-quality hits as Capcom has been over the previous couple of years. Now the corporate follows up Resident Evil Requiem (the ninth important entry within the long-running franchise) with an unique third-person shooter referred to as Pragmata. That includes enjoyable weapons, some beautiful robotic designs, and among the most unusual gameplay you’ll discover this yr, Capcom has delivered one other sport of the yr contender — extremely, its third since 2026 started.
It solely took me about half-hour to be really sucked into Pragmata, which may be summed up as probably the most PS3-style PS5 sport to be launched this yr. Whereas a comparability to 2 console generations in the past could be learn as a dig at its graphics or being dated, that isn’t the case right here, because it appears to be like beautiful and feels contemporary from begin to end. As a substitute, it’s a reference to its design philosophy, as it’s experimenting with a style we’re all conscious of and winds up offering an entirely distinctive expertise not like something I’ve performed earlier than.
Whereas the sport’s opening feels loads like Lifeless House, as you discover an eerily empty house station till discovering a bunch of foes that wish to homicide you, it shortly shifts gears and turns into its personal expertise. What makes Pragmata so distinctive is that you simply’ve received a bit of lady android named Diana hanging onto your again your entire time, and he or she makes use of her know-how to hack the robots attempting to assault you. That is all executed by navigating grids formed just like the enemies with the DualSense’s face buttons. There’s a studying curve, as you’ve received to concentrate to foes strolling in direction of you whereas additionally determining how one can accumulate hacking boosts within the grids (which might usually be like mazes) earlier than ending them, nevertheless it turns into extremely satisfying and enjoyable.
It’s so uncommon to get to expertise one thing this contemporary and polished. Sometimes, when a sport has this thrilling an innovation, it feels 80% of the best way there and is tough across the edges, basically begging for a sequel. Nevertheless, you continually get upgrades to the sport’s hacking mechanic, and there’s a large amount of depth to it, fairly than it being a neat concept that shortly will get repetitive. I used to be actually impressed with how fully-featured and thought-out each side of the fight was, with its spectacular boss battles actually forcing you to convey your A-game to outlive the encounters.
Complementing the fight is the sport’s super sense of exploration. Transferring across the house base is a number of enjoyable (you’ve received a hover and a quick-dodge), and the sport rewards gamers for being thorough with bonuses that can help you improve your character’s talents and abilities. From collectible toys for Diana to play with within the hub world to costumes you possibly can unlock by taking part in simulator missions, there are a number of extras to expertise if you wish to absolutely dive into the sport fairly than dashing by means of its 12-hour journey.
Pragmata additionally has a reasonably fascinating sci-fi world at its core, with a moon analysis station gone haywire as a result of a hostile AI system sending robots to assault you, and superior 3D printing having the ability to create something — even a recollection of New York Metropolis. Nevertheless, the story of contacting Earth and discovering synthetic companionship whereas destroying each different robotic you see by no means fairly will get out of second gear, and its comparatively boring protagonist (additionally a standard trait of many PS3 video games) doesn’t elevate any of the sequences. The story is finally the sport’s weakest factor, even when it has a pleasant theme of discovered household, nevertheless it retains the sport shifting and doesn’t get in the best way of why the remainder of Pragmata is so nice.
Pragmata (PS5) Assessment: Last Verdict
Pragmata is 2026’s most unusual sport to this point, with its mix of puzzles and third-person motion being a complete blast. Anybody in search of a contemporary expertise will wish to test it out, because it’s not like almost anything and has a beautiful sci-fi world to discover as properly. Capcom’s latest sizzling streak isn’t ending but, because the writer continues to pump out sport of the yr contenders at an unprecedented fee.
Unbelievable and distinctive fight
Exploration is a blast
By no means will get repetitive
Story is okay however will not compel you
Disclosure: The writer supplied a digital copy for our Pragmata PS5 assessment. Reviewed on model 1.200.000.
