I apologize for the small overlay with my PC's performance data. I forgot to hide it during the first few minutes of gameplay 😅
On the 11th, during the 2025 Game Awards conference, the Pragmata demo was announced. This game wasn't particularly on my radar, but since it was a free demo, I decided to give it a try and see what it was like.
The demo is designed to introduce us to the combat mechanics: we move around a small stage where we solve puzzles and defeat the occasional enemy.
The combat in the game is very interesting. We will have a special mechanic linked to the little girl behind us. While we aim at enemies, she will be able to hack them, but hacking requires us to complete a small pattern, which can be a bit complex considering that the enemies keep advancing.
If we manage to complete the pattern correctly, the enemies will be stunned and we will cause them more damage. In addition, we will also collect a couple of 'special modules' along the way, which will be marked on the pattern when hacking. If we activate these modules, in addition to stunning the enemy, we will reduce their defense. It takes some getting used to at first, but after a few minutes, hacking becomes a little easier and even satisfying. Although I was playing with a mouse, I'm curious to know how difficult it might be to complete these patterns with a controller.
Since I forgot to hide the performance overlay while playing, I'll take this opportunity to mention that I was QUITE surprised by the performance. Considering how things are right now, with every new game that comes out requiring a NASA-grade super PC, I expected this one to have some issues on my PC, which isn't exactly 'powerful'. But that wasn't the case at all. I was able to enjoy a stable 60 FPS on high graphics settings. You can even try a little bit of ultra if you dare, but then you'll start to notice some minor stuttering. As a fun fact, the game's official Steam page lists my GPU (RX 6600) as recommended.
The demo will end when we reach a large room where we will face a boss. The mechanics will be similar to those of the small enemies: hack, weaken them, and shoot. However, the boss will make us run and evade more than usual, as it has area attacks.
During this battle, we will unlock a special ability. The girl behind us will be able to unleash a kind of mega pulse that will directly stun the enemy without the need to hack them. Pretty spectacular, to be honest.
The demo it's quite short; it took me about 10 minutes to complete. However, after finishing, you get some special costumes and a new skill so that you can play it again if you want. As I said at the beginning, this game wasn't on my radar. I knew it was coming out in 2026, but that's about it. However, I have to admit that the demo has made me reconsider. I don't know if I'll be tempted to try it when it's officially released, but I'll keep an eye on it.
All the images/gifs shown in this publication have been taken and created by me
Pido perdón por el pequeño overlay con los datos de rendimiento de mi PC, olvidé ocultarlos durante los primeros minutos de juego 😅
El dÃa 11, durante la conferencia de los Game Awards 2025, se anunció la demo de Pragmata. Este juego no es que estuviese especialmente en mi punto de mira, pero, al ser una demo gratuita, me animé a probarla a ver qué tal.
La demo está pensada para que conozcamos la mecánica de combate: nos iremos moviendo por un pequeño escenario donde resolveremos puzles y acabaremos con alguno que otro enemigo.
El combate del juego es muy curioso, tendremos una mecánica especial que irá ligada a la pequeña niña a nuestras espaldas. Mientras apuntamos a los enemigos, ella podrá hackearlos, pero hackear requiere que completemos un pequeño patrón, lo cual puede ser un poco complejo teniendo en cuenta que los enemigos siguen avanzando.
Si logramos completar el patrón correctamente, los enemigos quedarán aturdidos y les causaremos más daño. Además, también recogeremos un par de ‘módulos especiales’ por el camino, que aparecerán marcados en el patrón a la hora de hackear. Si activamos estos módulos, además de aturdir al enemigo, reduciremos su defensa. Al principio cuesta adaptarse, pero luego de unos minutos el hackeo se hace un poco más fácil e incluso satisfactorio. Aunque yo estuve jugando con mouse, me da curiosidad pensar qué tan complicado puede ser completar estos patrones con control.
Aprovechando que olvidé ocultar el overlay de rendimiento a la hora de jugar, aprovecharé para comentar que el rendimiento me dejó BASTANTE sorprendido. Teniendo en cuenta cómo están las cosas actualmente, que cada juego nuevo que sale te pide una super PC de la NASA, me esperaba que este tuviese algunos problemas en mi PC, la cual no es precisamente ‘potente’. Pero nada que ver, pude disfrutar 60 FPS estables en gráficos altos; incluso puedes probar un poco de ultra si te animas, pero ahà ya comenzarás a notar pequeños tirones. Como dato curioso, en la ficha oficial de Steam el juego pone como recomendada mi GPU (RX 6600).
La demo acabará cuando lleguemos a una gran sala donde nos enfrentaremos a un jefe. La mecánica será similar a la de los enemigos pequeños: hackear, debilitarlos y disparar. Aunque el jefe nos hará correr y evadir más de lo normal, ya que tiene ataques de área.
Durante este enfrentamiento desbloquearemos una habilidad especial. La niña a nuestras espaldas podrá soltar una especie de mega pulso que aturdirá directamente al enemigo sin necesidad de hackearlo. Bastante espectacular, la verdad.
La demo acabará dura bastante poco, me tomó unos 10 minutos completarla. Aunque luego de acabar, obtendremos unos trajes especiales y alguna habilidad nueva para que, en caso de querer, la repitamos. Como dije al principio, este juego no estaba en mi punto de mira, sabÃa que salÃa en 2026 pero poco más, pero he de admitir que la demo logró sembrarme la duda. No sé si me anime a probarlo cuando salga oficialmente, pero lo tendré vigilado.
This game definitely has an interesting mechanic. But how does it affect gameplay? You know, attacking a creature while solving a puzzle on the right side sounds strange. I wonder if it gets boring after a while? Still, I like games that offer a different experience. Otherwise, all games would be the same.
Once I got used to it, my experience was fun. When you solve a puzzle quickly and shoot, causing the enemy to take a lot of damage, it's very satisfying.
I think that rather than becoming boring, I would say it will become more complicated. In the demo, the enemies are somewhat slow, and even so, you can feel some pressure because you see them approaching while you solve the puzzle. But in the final game, I imagine there will be faster enemies that will surely make you more nervous haha.
Alright so it worth a try. Thanks a lot for your detailed examination
Excellent review of the demo! I really like that you focused on the hacking mechanics. Trying to solve a pattern under the pressure of an approaching enemy seems like a very risky idea, but Great for an action game.
Se ve muy bien este juego, he tenido curiosidad sobre la historia detrás del juego, pero ahora veo que las mecánicas son bastante más interesantes de lo que creÃa.
Solo espero no tener que luchar contra la niña al final de la aventura.
la cara de esa niña da un poco de miedo