Pragmata hands-on report: hack-and-blast through a futuristic city

With just a month remaining until the release of Pragmata for PlayStation 5 on April 17, I recently had the opportunity to experience the game firsthand during a press event.

The preview took place in a cityscape reminiscent of New York, as showcased during February’s State of Play. During the session, players could explore, engage in combat, and upgrade their abilities while progressing towards a significant boss battle at the end.

In the game, Hugh can wield an array of firearms to combat enemy “bots,” although their robust armor makes standard shots less effective. This is where Diana’s hacking abilities become crucial.

When Hugh targets an enemy, Diana activates a grid-like Hacking Panel. By drawing a continuous line through the blue squares, players can execute a successful hack, dealing damage and temporarily weakening the enemy’s armor. The more squares connected, the greater the damage and the longer the armor remains compromised. Once vulnerabilities are exposed, Hugh’s weaponry can inflict substantial damage.

However, enemies remain active and will not pause during hacking attempts. Players must remain vigilant, deciding whether to extend their hacking sequence for greater effect or to terminate it early to evade incoming attacks.

Certain enemy bots are shielded by red barriers, rendering them immune to hacking. These shields can be dismantled using Hugh’s weapons or other attacks, allowing Diana to hack once the shields are down. Players must decide between prioritizing hacking or gunfire depending on the situation.

Some enemies launch homing missiles at Hugh, which can also be hacked. Successfully hacking these projectiles allows players to redirect them back to their origin.

Hugh has access to four different gun types. Apart from the Primary Unit, each weapon breaks once its ammunition is depleted, requiring strategic usage.

Executing well-timed combos, such as immobilizing enemies with the Tactical Unit, hacking them during combat, and then finishing them with the Attack Unit, is highly rewarding. The Defense Unit, useful for distracting enemies, is advantageous in various scenarios.

Carrying a Hacking Node introduces yellow tiles on Diana’s Hacking Panel. Connecting these tiles during a hack triggers special effects, such as Decode, which reduces enemy defense, or Multi-Hack, which affects nearby targets. Each use consumes a Hacking Node, and once depleted, these effects are unavailable.

The full game will offer upgrades and customization options, enabling players to carry multiple Hacking Nodes, enhancing tactical flexibility.

The Shelter serves as a safe space where players can restore health and use materials like Lunafilament to unlock new abilities or enhance weapons and Hacking Nodes.

Unlocking the Critical Down Node allows players to knock down weakened enemies and follow up with powerful melee attacks, intensifying combat. Regular upgrades and customization of loadouts are essential to prepare for deeper exploration into the game’s sectors.

After numerous upgrades, I faced a massive enemy bot at the demo’s conclusion. While the core mechanics of hacking and shooting remained, this encounter heightened the challenge with area-of-effect attacks and multiple shields obstructing hacking attempts.

Hacking under heavy fire was demanding, but progress was not lost when retreating to avoid danger, allowing for a calm completion of the hack. Deciding when to break the red shields and switch to offensive tactics added a new dimension to the gameplay.

Just as I was relishing my victory, a sudden hacking prompt appeared mid-cutscene, a final reminder of the game’s relentless pace.

Pragmata offers a unique blend of shooting action and puzzle-solving mechanics. I eagerly anticipate how the full release will build upon the game’s tactical depth.

Pragmata is set to launch on PS5 on April 17.