Resonating with Nostalgia
For those who have ventured into the world of Pragmata, a striking resemblance to the action games of the Xbox 360 and PS3 era is hard to overlook. This connection, once a potential criticism, has transformed into a badge of honor for the developers at Capcom. The game’s director, Yonghee Cho, and producer, Naoto Oyama, expressed their delight when asked about the comparisons during a recent interview with GamesRadar. Their enthusiasm was palpable, even before the interpreter could relay the question.
Interestingly, neither Cho nor Oyama directly attributes their game to the influence of the cover shooters and chainsaw bayonets that defined that era. Oyama suggests that the nostalgia stems from a time when developers were pushing boundaries and experimenting with new concepts. “Maybe the reason people might feel that way is because, during the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, a lot of different developers and publishers were experimenting with new types of games and just completely new games,” he noted. “The Pragmata dev team, as well, they put a lot of passion into creating something new.”
However, it’s worth considering that the appeal may also lie in the fact that Pragmata offers a linear, single-player action experience—a rarity in today’s gaming landscape. This year has seen a resurgence of such titles, with releases like Resident Evil: Requiem and 007: First Light also enjoying commercial success. These games hint at a growing appetite among players for the bold, brash, and relatively concise experiences reminiscent of a bygone era.
Yet, Pragmata is not without its innovative elements. The game’s unique combination of third-person shooting and hacking minigames has garnered positive feedback. In his review, Justin Wagner highlighted this aspect as a standout feature, stating, “It’s the ace up Pragmata’s sleeve that makes the whole package a winner.” Players engage with enemies through a tile maze mechanic, utilizing either controller buttons or a mouse, before unleashing their firepower.
