Preview: Don’t Sleep on Capcom’s Pragmata, the Most Inventive PS5 Shooter in Years

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If you believe that Pragmata resembles just another typical sci-fi shooter, you’d be greatly mistaken. In fact, Pragmata stands out as one of the most intriguing Third-Person Shooter (TPS) games we’ve had a sneak peek at in quite some time.

Originally unveiled together with the PS5 and subsequently experiencing significant delays over the subsequent years, this upcoming game primarily centers on a pivotal gameplay feature: mastering the art of hacking.

In the role of burly space explorer named Hugh, you’ll be armed with an assortment of weapons typically used in combat: a tool resembling a Dead Space plasma cutter for destructive purposes, the ability to quickly evade threats using thrusters, and a jet pack for added agility during jumps.

However, the primary figure lacks the ability to cause significant harm independently; instead, he relies on the aid of Diana, a woman resembling M3GAN with bare feet and blonde hair, whom he teams up with on a space station orbiting the moon, detached from Earth.

What sets this game apart is the fantastic enhancement: whenever you lock onto an opponent using the L2 button, a mini-game reminiscent of The Assembly Line’s iconic Pipe Mania pops up, adding an extra layer of excitement to your aiming experience.

In this game, you’ll move a cursor from one point to another using face buttons, while navigating around obstacles and collecting power-ups for extra damage. While it’s not mandatory to grab the power-ups, doing so will deal additional harm. Upon completion, your opponent will be weakened, making it easier for Hugh to defeat them.

The gameplay transforms into a rhythmic dance with the DualSense controller, where you strategically aim at your robotic enemies, evade them skillfully, and concurrently sabotage their systems. This unique twist pushes the boundaries of the conventional third-person shooter genre.

During our demonstration, we unveiled innovative tools that enhance the game’s intricacy: a ‘freeze’ tool temporarily immobilizes adversaries, offering you valuable time to manipulate other enemies visible on the screen. Each enemy possesses a distinct hacking grid, within which fresh power-ups emerge, contributing to the combat’s puzzle-like character.

The device offers an extraordinary tactile experience; haptic feedback adds a sense of significance to every hack, and the controls are finely tuned to give the gameplay a rhythmic flow.

The execution of the ramp-up is smoothly handled: as we equipped Hugh with shotguns and other tools, we swiftly discovered uses for each one. Although we didn’t observe it during our demonstration, we anticipate that the complete game will incorporate a skill tree and additional weapons to further customize your strategy.

Though our excitement may not be as high regarding the narrative, it’s evident that Capcom is pouring a great deal of effort into the combat system – an area they have been consistently masterful for quite some time. It’s easy to envision how the intricacies of hacking will introduce new hurdles to the campaign as time progresses.

It appears that the delays in Pragmata’s release have been beneficial for them, and we strongly recommend keeping an eye on this project from the Japanese publisher as it seems promising and noteworthy.

Although it may bring to mind games such as Dead Space, Binary Domain, and Vanquish, this upcoming title boasts a unique feature that sets it apart. We strongly advise you to add it to your list of anticipated releases for 2026.

Are you fully convinced about Pragmata? Have you found the distinctive third-person battle system intriguing? What other aspects of the game do you believe Capcom should reveal or announce to persuade you that it will be outstanding? Please remember not to attempt hacking Push Square in the comments section below.

Are you convinced about Pragmata and its unique third-person combat system? What additional features from Capcom might make you think this game is going to be amazing? Don’t try to hack Push Square in the comments below.

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2025-06-25 19:36