Earlier today, right after the morning rush of getting the kids to school, I settled into my usual routine: checking social media. While scrolling through the PlayStation Philippines group, I stumbled upon a post saying that Pragmata finally has a demo. This game has been on my radar for a while now—that first trailer really got me hooked.
I rushed to turn on my PS5 and hit download. Thankfully, the installation was quick, so I didn't have to wait long to start playing. Here is my take on the demo so far.
Pragmata at a Glance:
The demo was played on the PlayStation 5 console, and it is called Pragmata Sketchbook.
Characters
Pragmata features two protagonists. Hugh Williams is the main playable character, using a variety of firearms and his suit's boosters to navigate the environment. He is accompanied by Diana, a Pragmata/android who can hack robots to reveal their vulnerabilities. She piggybacks on Hugh while they fight the enemies.
The Plot
Stranded on the Lunar station, they must navigate a facility controlled by a hostile AI that views humans as threats. Together, they fight to survive the station's defenses—often utilizing strange "Lunafilament" technology—to escape and return to Earth.
The game kicks off with a striking scene: Diana sits front and center, calmly drawing and humming, while chaos happens behind her. In the background, Hugh is fighting off waves of androids to keep her safe. She seems completely unbothered by the danger surrounding her, leaving Hugh to do the heavy lifting to protect her.
What I liked about the game
This game is exactly the kind of refresh we needed. We’ve been asking for something unique, and Capcom really delivered. Good job, Capcom! 🙂 Now, let’s dive into the things I liked after playing the demo:
1. Unique Hack-and-Shoot System
Pragmata introduces a fresh gameplay loop: the hack-and-shoot system. In this setup, Diana hacks enemies to expose their weak points. The hacking itself is straightforward—you just navigate to a destination box using the face buttons (Square, Triangle, X, and Circle on the DualSense).
The tricky part? You have to solve this puzzle while actively dodging enemy attacks. It is a serious multitasking challenge! But if you pull it off, the payoff is huge—your damage output skyrockets, allowing Hugh to take down the enemy in just a couple of shots.
2. Sci-Fi setting
Pragmata is set in a dystopian near-future on Earth's Moon, specifically within a haunting, abandoned lunar colony. The environment blends realistic astronaut technology with surreal sci-fi elements, depicting a once-cosmopolitan cityscape that has been overrun by hostile forces after mysteriously losing contact with Earth.
3. Pacing
The pacing reminds me of classics like Gears of War—everything moves with weight, rather than the excessive speed of titles like Vanquish. This feels like the right design choice. Because the moon has different gravity thant the earth, plus, Diana is on piggyback limiting Hugh’s speed and movement. The hack-and-shoot mechanic requires split attention between solving puzzles and dodging, the moderate pace keeps the combat challenging but manageable.
4. Visible Damage counters
One detail I really appreciated is the visible damage counters. When you land a shot, the damage numbers pop up on screen, giving the combat a very RPG-ish feel. It reminds me a lot of Nioh—seeing exactly how much damage you’re dealing adds a unique and satisfying layer to the gunplay.
5. The boss fight experience
The game introduces a different type of boss - which are androids. On the demo, I experienced battling with an unknown enemy which let’s call Guardian. It resembles fighting with the “Metal Gear”. - well it’s just me, but for MGS lovers, they will agree on this. 🙂
What Could Have Been Better
Of course, no game is perfect—even one I’m excited about. There were a few things in the demo that left me scratching my head or wishing for more. Let’s talk about what I hope gets improved in the full release:
1. Missing Backstory
This is the main aspect where the demo felt lacking. We were just dropped into the action without any explanation or backstory. The characters are just there, and things start happening without us knowing why. It would have been great if they included a brief prologue or a little history to set the stage before throwing us into the fight.
2. Hacking while watching out for enemy attacks takes a learning curve
While the hack-and-shoot mechanic is fresh, it definitely takes some getting used to. The hacking mini-game involves navigating a grid—avoiding red blockers to reach the green destination—to trigger that massive damage multiplier.
The tricky part? The game doesn’t pause. You have to solve this puzzle while enemies are actively trying to take you out. It’s a serious multitasking challenge.
My advice? Fire the Stasis Net first! Freezing the enemies buys you those precious few seconds to complete the hack safely without getting interrupted.
3. The "Stasis Net" Cheese Strategy
There is a cool weapon called the Stasis Net that freezes enemies for a few seconds, letting you hack and destroy them with zero resistance. Honestly? It feels a bit broken. If you abuse this ammo, it can easily "cheese" the game, removing the challenge entirely since enemies are rendered helpless.
I used this on the demo boss (let’s call it the Guardian) and completely incapacitated it. It allowed me to hack it instantly and land a bunch of cheap shots on its weak point without any risk. The game is naturally challenging, so I feel like relying too much on the Stasis Net might actually rob you of the fun and intensity of the combat.
My thoughts, really
I finished the demo in just 16 minutes, and it left me wanting more—specifically, more story depth. The focus was strictly on combat and puzzles, leaving the narrative completely in the dark.
I’m not fully hooked yet, though I am still curious about the final game. Compared to how well the Nioh 3 demo sold its experience, Pragmata felt a bit weak in its presentation. Let's hope the full game delivers more!
Will I buy it on the release date?
While Pragmata offers unique experience, buying on pre order is a no for me. I still have few games on my backlogs that I’m more hyped and looking forward to play. I can sit and wait this one out, and perhaps buy on the marketplace once the hype has cooled down. 🙂
But hey! Capcom did a great job on the demo, so most likely, the game is also cool! Take my thoughts with a grain of salt! It’s an interesting game, and if you have the budget - go for it, buy the game. 👍🏼
Games It Reminded Me Of
While playing Pragmata, I couldn't help but recall some other great titles. Since Pragmata is set in space, I definitely spotted some strong resemblances to these gems:
- Mass Effect: Andromeda: The gravity mechanics and the way you dash through the air gave me a similar feel to this title. The movement definitely has that "pathfinder" vibe.
- Dead Space Remake: The plot and the sheer isolation of being stranded in space made me think Pragmata took some heavy inspiration from Isaac Clarke’s journey.
- Returnal: The tight, bullet-heavy shooting mechanics felt very reminiscent of this roguelike shooter.
- Vanquish: Hugh’s high-tech suit stands out just like Sam Gideon’s in Vanquish. The robotic enemy designs also give off a very similar vibe.
Preorder Pragmata
For those who are already sold on the game, Pragmata officially launches on April 24, 2026—just a few months from now. You can pre-order it digitally or head to your favorite local game store to secure your copy (and snag those pre-order perks and bragging rights!).
I hope you had fun reading my take on the demo! So, the big question: Will you be buying this on Day One, or are you going to pass for now? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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