Capcomis normally on the ball when it comes to deadlines. Over the last decade, it garnered a reputation for announcing games in theResident Evilfranchise, only to get them into our hands less than a year later. Titles were rarely shown to the public when they aren’t ready, so our first glimpse takes place right when development is drawing close to its end.
I won’t be surprised if the same thing happens with upcoming games likeOnimusha: Way of the Swordor the long-rumouredResident Evil 9. Capcom has mastered the art of making its production process fast, efficient, and always having new experiences coming out for players to sink their teeth into. Unfortunately,Pragmatais one of the very few black sheep in its flock.
After Years Of Waiting, Pragmata Finally Feels Like A Real Game
Pragmata is Capcom’s first original franchise in almost a decade, and is developed by some of the pioneering minds behind the likes of Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Devil May Cry.We first saw it shown off during the PlayStation 5 reveal showcase in 2020, in which it was framed as a major exclusive for the upcoming console that would take full advantage of the hardware. I was blown away by its reveal, where an astronaut is seen exploring what looks like a faithful version of Manhattan’s Times Square as a little android girl plays with holograms of cats just a few steps in front of him.
Then, the hologram roof begins to malfunction as a damaged satellite crashes through the ceiling and sends our two protagonists hurtling into the air. It’s basically a concept trailer of the setting and characters, but was so well put together that you wanted – no,needed– to know more. Another trailer, this time with a decent look at gameplay, surfaced in 2023, but was accompanied by the first of many delay announcements until Capcom broke news of an “indefinite delay” later that year. After that, we heard nothing.
It even has Steam and PlayStation store pages now, showing that Capcom is likely a bit more confident about gearing up for Pragmata’s eventual release.
Until now. Capcom released its longest trailer yet for the game at this week’s State of Play. It features gameplay, story details, scary-looking robot children, and a lot more. This is giving serious ‘The Last of Us in space’ vibes, and I’m absolutely here for it.
I Sincerely Hope It’s Worth All The Delays
This new trailer also gives the little android girl with flowing blonde hair a name - Diana. It seems she will spend a lot of the game on our protagonist, Hugh’s back, using her hacking powers to compromise robots, provide healing, and assist in solving puzzles. Enemies are all robots of some form, ranging from creepy humanoids wielding laser swords to an assortment of huge mechs we must duke it out with across larger arenas.
There is a lot of Resident Evil DNA in the gameplay formula here, albeit mixed in with a bit of Vanquish for good measure.
I love the slow-motion dodge mechanics and variety of weapons seen in the new trailer, which hopefully remain fresh enough to carry an entire campaign across this derelict space station. Also, why is this place so clean? It feels like whatever corporation used to call it home simply walked away and never came back. Either way, there are plenty of mysteries found in this trailer alone that I’m eager to uncover.
I’m most intrigued by the rocket boosters on Hugh’s boots, which will, with any luck, result in some level design that emphasises both interior and exterior verticality. If we’re exploring an abandoned space station with a little android girl and also wearing an advanced spacesuit ourselves, surely there’s time for a moonwalk or two?
No matter how great this new trailer looks, it’s impossible to ignore the multiple big delays that have hampered Pragmata’s development. What happened during production for it to hit such a roadblock, and did that result in the project being entirely reworked into a new form that is only now seeing the light of day? A lot of familiar characters and imagery we glimpsed in the original reveal remain, but everything else is completely up in the air.
Capcom has made a name for itself by releasing critically acclaimed games at a steady and reliable rate over the past two console generations, and with Pragmata being one of the sole exceptions, it’s hard not to view it with a bit of scrutiny. Here’s hoping we’re not due another Exoprimal.
