What Makes Pragmata's Central Station Stand Out

A moment-to-moment game loop driven by a brave hacking mechanic needs reassurance on higher levels for higher-ups. This is where Pragmata gets very conservative and uncharacteristically Gen 8: Souls level progression along with Metroidvania level sections, Souls main currency farming along with basic action/RPG secondary currency collection. There are perks, upgradable weapons and slots. There’s a training room, there are challenges. And, yes, there’s a hub.

Nothing special at first: just a station, just shortcuts, just throwaway mini-dialogues, just collectibles. But it’s the little differences that stand out. I’m not patched up the moment I get there, I’m patched up when I pass through the entrance. The robot assisting me doesn’t oversell its cutesy. And the journalist’s race for the scoop narrated chapter by chapter is low-key breathtaking in how it paces itself across the game.

However, the main standout to me is the environmental modules. Every major station has special collectibles that unlock projections to set up simple scenes, such as campfires and playgrounds. Nothing special, they’re just campfires and just playgrounds after all. But as I’m wrapping up the game, the station is no longer bare, it’s full of life, even if that life is artificial projection. That’s a powerful environmental progression at its best: when there was no player, there was no life, but now there is.