Pragmata was... just okay

[FarJyyUir]

I don't have the hardware for this game so I can't play it even if I wanted to. But I dislike the design of the robot girl. It's just so bad. The stupid looking coat. No shoes. Messy hair that needs to be trimmed. Then it looks like she's got light makeup on despite looking 7. The guy is so generic looking so every dadslop player can self insert. Hugh is a dorky name. ect...

Anyway, it's not like games with fug designs can't be good. But from what I've seen it doesn't look like it's a lot of fun after awhile. Is it just hack/shoot, hack/shoot over and over?

What do other women think of dadslop games? Would you like momslop games? Maybe like something similar to Aliens?

Hugh is a dorky name.

 

[Kovlak]

That is definitely untrue. Look, I get, we're all interested in different things, and certain games didn't work for others or vice versa, but they've been on a great roll. Fine?If you're not interested in any of these, but let's not downplay their actual accomplishments. Most of the games that have come out are more than just "hype". I wasn't interested in games like any of the monster hunters, their spinoffs, nor Path of the Goddess, but catcom are still one of the few a a a comedies left that even bothered to do new I.Ps and experimentation that succeeded and works. I get you are burned before, but guess what? You're not the only one. All of us were hurt or got disappointed in some capacity, during their dork age. I will still call out when they screw up badly or get too greedy, but I'm not gonna let it rule my life. To do so is foolish and really doesn't help anyone. Let alone yourself. So let's drop this pathetic pity party.

I will say Exoprimal is disappointing, and there's no point getting attached as one day to servers might go down and there's no chance to even bother playing it again. Otherwise, Capcom has been doing well and they got more exciting things to come.

I'm not saying Capcom's games are bad. And they do bring new things to the table, but I don't think they fully flesh them out to become amazing games. For example, they have been getting a lot of scores in the 80s. But you're right that compared to any other company they're rolling banger after banger. But something feels missing. Maybe a bit of passion. They're very competent technically, but maybe miss a bit of unfiltered passion. They look a bit sanitized?

 

[BrawlMan]

something feels missing. Maybe a bit of passion. They're very competent technically, but maybe miss a bit of unfiltered passion. They look a bit sanitized?

That's a load of bull. There is really nothing sanitized about them, and they still have passion. Take cot most of the platinum alumni back for christ's sake. Along with Hideki Kamiya. They are making a new Okami game. I'm not even a fan of that franchise, and I'm excited. If you're expecting the exact same microscopic passion they had during the pre seventh generation era, then next expect nothing but disappointment. It doesn't have to be exactly the same, that's okay. What you're asking for is literally whatever you experience in your youth, the same way you had it before, but done again. You choose what you want, but I don't settle for impossible nor unrealistic expectations Nor do I expect to fulfill my every little need. There really is no quota on passion.

 

[Kovlak]

That's a load of bull. There is really nothing sanitized about them, and they still have passion. Take cot most of the platinum alumni back for christ's sake. Along with Hideki Kamiya. They are making a new Okami game. I'm not even a fan of that franchise, and I'm excited. If you're expecting the exact same microscopic passion they had during the pre seventh generation era, then next expect nothing but disappointment. It doesn't have to be exactly the same, that's okay. What you're asking for is literally whatever you experience in your youth, the same way you had it before, but done again. You choose what you want, but I don't settle for impossible nor unrealistic expectations Nor do I expect to fulfill my every little need. There really is no quota on passion.

Like you said it's not the same.

 

[Tortuga]

Yeah i feel the same about modern Capcom
Their games feels sanitized and with lack of passion
All latest RE games all look and feel same even with same flat and boring UI
Seems like by the book AAA products, instead of unique and interesting video games
Technically not bad but extremely mediocre
Past decade Capcom was rather disappointing for me, while 15-20 years ago Capcom used to make bangers

 

[BrawlMan]

Like you said it's not the same.

So what? That inherently a bad thing. If it was the same thing over and over again, without much distinction or to please my every single need, then it's boring. While the champion the old school and I am in favor of the new school as well, or a geunine balance of the two. So long as these games are made with fun in mind, and not screwing people over, then I see nothing wrong here. I am not spoiled for "passion". I've seen the most passionate games ever made, I either didn't like them or wasn't my thing. That said, I didn't be snob about it, nor faced constant "disappointment". The problem with your mind set, is that it's "never enough". You will constantly be filling a bottomless hole. I've seen too many times to count.

It's called have realistic expectations. If you can' do that, nor ever bother to try, then it is pointless. Do whatever you want, it's called enjoy life and all the similar and different things that brings joy.

Past decade Capcom was rather disappointing for me, while 15-20 years ago Capcom used to make bangers

Sounds more like absurdly high expectations than anything they've done wrong recently or in a long while. All you're doing is chasing the magic dragon. The only difference being, are you aware of it or noe

 

[JellyjamLu]

I would like Onimusha Way Of The Sword to be good, real good. guess i'll find out soon.

Yeah i feel the same about modern Capcom
Their games feels sanitized and with lack of passion
All latest RE games all look and feel same even with same flat and boring UI
Seems like by the book AAA products, instead of unique and interesting video games
Technically not bad but extremely mediocre
Past decade Capcom was rather disappointing for me, while 15-20 years ago Capcom used to make bangers

You and Kovlak have hit the nail on the head, here I was going bananas thinking RE9 for example was around 6-7 for me yet the rest of the internet was practically kneeling before it.

Edit: just wanted to be clear, RE9 is NOT a bad game. my score is just a reflection based on personal taste.

 

[BrawlMan]

I would like Onimusha Way Of The Sword to be good, real good. guess i'll find out soon.

You and Kovlak have hit the nail on the head, here I was going bananas thinking RE9 for example was around 6-7 for me yet the rest of the internet was practically kneeling before it.

You're the odd one out. Whopdee doo. I don't like OG RE4, yet more than enough people were bowing to it, and more than few got mad for those not having a hive mind mentality. Though before that, back in the early YT gaming review days (talking between 2006-2009), the hardcore RE1R-CVX only fans considering calling RE4 a Resident Evil game in a positive manner, "heresy". Funny how time changes, or the meaning of "RESIDENT EVIL".

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2026

Check out the time stamp for the second video especially.

 

[Ikagura]

Do I even need to say anything atp, wdfym “stereotypes exist for a good reason”.

How do you type this, look at it, revise it, and then post something like that and think that will go over well?

I've always found it "icky" when somebody says that kind of stuff because it reminds me of some folk saying aberrations like "women are bad at reading maps" just because of some examples.

Using anecdotal evidences to spread cliches can be really harmful on the long term.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2026

Their games feels sanitized and with lack of passion.

The game is good, what do you mean by "lack of passion"?

 

[Kovlak]

The game is good, what do you mean by "lack of passion"?

Lacks sauce. Designed by corporations to be as inofensive as possible.

 

[Ikagura]

Lacks sauce. Designed by corporations to be as inofensive as possible.

And what is that "sauce" to begin with?

I don't get why it would be better if it was offensive.

 

[Aunt Sarah]

I've seen plenty of people saying this, it's a pretty common view.

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2026

And what is that "sauce" to begin with?

I don't get why it would be better if it was offensive.

Yeah... I do not understand that at all. I'd like to know who exactly that poster thinks should be offended and in what way, and an in depth explanation of how that would make it a better game. Because I just do not get that at all. Because what little experience I have with stuff that goes out of its way to be offensive on purpose is usually... extremely cringe and forced. Like that recent Rob Schnieder stand up routine. (fella could have just kept doing Adam Sandler movie cameos and rode off into the sunset as a nostalgic icon)

I mean, Pragmata for instance offended a lot of people just because Diana existed. Fatal Frame 2 Remake offended some people because it wouldn't let them see the underwear of a 15 year old girl. Also, less of her sister's cleavage was visible, (apparently... WHY ARE YOU LOOKING?????) which was also seen as terribly offensive by the same people. It seems like most videogames offend people in completely unintentional ways these days.

 

[Kovlak]

And what is that "sauce" to begin with?

I don't get why it would be better if it was offensive.

The word "sauce" in my post is not random. Like with a dish, you can design a game so it's as widely appreciated as possible, but it generally sands the edges of a more artistic view for wide acceptance.

The symptom of this are games that don't last long in the cultural discourse. Used and discarted as we wait for next product.

Do you remember Dragon's Dogma 2? It launched about 2 years ago.

 

[Ikagura]

The word "sauce" in my post is not random. Like with a dish, you can design a game so it's as widely appreciated as possible, but it generally lacks the edge of a more artistic view.

What would make it a "more artistic"?

Also I'd argue that Pragmata is a new IP from a big studio that isn't made with online nor multiplayer in mind which is a rare sighting in AAA nowadays.

I'd also argue that trying to have an edge doesn't make something necessarily better.

Yeah... I do not understand that at all. I'd like to know who exactly that poster thinks should be offended and in what way, and an in depth explanation of how that would make it a better game. Because I just do not get that at all. Because what little experience I have with stuff that goes out of its way to be offensive on purpose is usually... extremely cringe and forced.

And there's also the saying "style over substance" which could apply to several games.

 

[Kovlak]

What would make it a "more artistic"?

I'd also argue that trying to have an edge doesn't make something necessarily better.

You're right that having an edge doesn't make entertainment better necessarily, but makes it memorable. Art is meant to express something, not just to sell.

Like with the expression "style over substance", games nowadays feel more disposable, generic, meant to entertain just for a while, until next game launches.

 

[BrawlMan]

The word "sauce" in my post is not random. Like with a dish, you can design a game so it's as widely appreciated as possible, but it generally lacks the edge of a more artistic view.

Not every artistic view needs to be "edgy".

That's what got us more than bad enough bullshit in the first place in practically any medium. Especially video games. That was part of the problem with Capcom's dork age. They were appealing to people who did not give a crap about them in the first place or hated on anything Japanese, despite going super hard on Western appeal and catering to the things "they wanted" (but not really, when said different group already had at the beginning [those who play COD, Gears, & nothing esle] and thus didn't need those games). They still do Western appeal, but they learn to dial it back and not be afraid, nora ashamed of their Japanese roots. There is sauce, but it's not the sauce you want or keep imagining.That was never going to be there in the first place. You're blaming for something what it is and not what you wanted it to be. That those imaginary or impossible expectations you keep forcing on these games, I am telling you about. Once again, i'm not interested in every single cop com game, but I don't force nor dilute myself into these wild expectations or go on about a lack of "sauce". Only Exoprimal has that distinction, but that's due to more, so going for an online only service play where there's no point in touching the game, when the servers go offline. It'll be dead paperweight when it eventually happens.

 

[Kovlak]

Not every artistic view needs to be "edgy".

That's a contradiction. If a art product sands it's edges in order to not express much of anything, to pretty much just exist and be consumed, is it really art?

 

[Aunt Sarah]

Like with the expression "style over substance", games nowadays feel more disposable, generic, meant to entertain just for a while, until next game launches.

I have seen people saying this every new generation of gaming in the last 40 years.

 

[Kovlak]

I have seen people saying this every new generation of gaming in the last 40 years.

And are they wrong? Or are things, not just games, increasingly generic and disposable?

I'd argue a reason for the retro revival in games, music, movies, entertainment in general, sometimes even old appliances, is a rebellion against how pretty much everything has become shallow, inofensive and bland. Souless.

We have mastered the technical side, but are losing the ability to express something at all with things.

 

[BrawlMan]

That's a contradiction. If a art product sands it's edges in order to not express much of anything, to pretty much just exist, is it really art?

Don't get me wrong there's edgy and then there's "edgy". The second edgy i'm referring to is what killed off a lot of games on the seventh generation or make them age so poorly, that they're not even relevant and stuck on the console.They debuted on. It's not edgy for the sake of art, it's edgy for the sake of corporate profiteering. Shallow edginess for the sake of it in corporate greed with a master plan. Hence why I have those two videos. If you can't figure that out, then you would have fell for something that wasn't needed in the first place.

Also, art doesn't have to be edgy to be interesting. Edgy is not a negative, but at the same time it's not some quota nor consonant measuring gap. So hiding behind the whole "I want art" or "art" excus is bull. If that's the case, you might as well just be defending TLOUS2 over and over again and just keep playing versions of that. If you can find them.

And are they wrong?

Yes and no. Mediocrity always existed in some fashion.Is that you have those who didn't say anything, or didn't wanna say something until they kept mark it off of it, or get clickbait. If it wasn't for that or not the internet, they wouldn't have said anything or not much at all, qnd went on about their business like nothing happened. Yes, there are bad stuff out there, but like I said with Sturgeon's law, it is the true 10 % are what truly matters in any medium or media. There are things like, don't like, but i'm not gonna have a constant stick up my ass about it and cry as if nothing truly matters unless it involves me in some capacity. People like that are always full of shit.

 

[Ikagura]

You're right that having an edge doesn't make entertainment better necessarily, but makes it memorable. Art is meant to express something, not just to sell.

Like with the expression "style over substance", games nowadays feel more disposable, generic, meant to entertain just for a while, until next game launches.

It sounds like a you problem only because Pragmata features a rather wholesome story about a guy protecting a girl.


Remember that Capcom made DmC Devil May Cry which tried to have an edge without quality behind.

Also remember that the seventh gen of console suffered from many "darker and more mature" iterations of older franchises only because they followed the trend, it was corporate edge.


I do like games with style like MGR but at least this one didn't take itself too seriously (something that MGS sadly suffered for some time around 4 and V).

 

[Aunt Sarah]

And are they wrong? Or are things, not just games, increasingly generic and disposable?

I'd argue a reason for the retro revival in games, music, movies, entertainment in general, sometimes even old appliances, is a rebellion against how pretty much everything has become shallow, inofensive and bland. Souless.

We have the technique, but are losing the will to say something with things.

Opinions on subjective matters cannot be either right or wrong, provided they are based on firsthand experience. They believed they were right and had the right to express that viewpoint, my opinion on the validity of that view isn't really relevant in this context. Do YOU think they were right that all 16 and 32-bit games were style over substance soulless cash grab products?

My Uncle Mark thought NES games were soulless products too focused on graphics over gameplay, style over substance compared to his beloved Atari and Commodore 64 games. Simply pointing out that the games you see as awesome retro games with soul had people, in their time as new games, bemoaning them all as generic and disposable, accused them of being style over substance too obsessed with pushing new graphics boundaries. As soulless.

I still have yet to see any explanation of who you think should be offended by these games, how they should be offended, and why that would make the game better. I simply cannot understand that.

 

[Kovlak]

Don't get me wrong there's edgy and then there's "edgy". The second edgy i'm referring to is what killed off a lot of games on the seventh generation or make them age so poorly, that they're not even relevant and stuck on the console.They debuted on. It's not edgy for the sake of art, it's edgy for the sake of corporate profiteering. Shallow edginess for the sake of it in corporate greed with a master plan. Hence why I have those two videos. If you can't figure that out, then you would have fell for something that wasn't needed in the first place.

Also, art doesn't have to be edgy to be interesting. Edgy is not a negative, but at the same time it's not some quota nor consonant measuring gap. So hiding behind the whole "I want art" or "art" excus is bull. If that's the case, you might as well just be defending TLOUS2 over and over again and just keep playing versions of that. If you can find them.

Yes and no. Mediocrity always existed in some fashion.Is that you have those who didn't say anything, or didn't wanna say something until they kept mark it off of it, or get clickbait. If it wasn't for that or not the internet, they wouldn't have said anything or not much at all, qnd went on about their business like nothing happened. Yes, there are bad stuff out there, but like I said with Sturgeon's law, it is the true 10 % are what truly matters in any medium or media. There are things like, don't like, but i'm not gonna have a constant stick up my ass about it and cry as if nothing truly matters unless it involves me in some capacity. People like that are always full of shit.

I'd say things are getting increasingly corporatized. Decided increasingly more in boardrooms, for the great benefit of shareholders and executives, while the people who make them are churned like disposable tools, and that doesn't make things very soulful or compeling...

 

[Aunt Sarah]

I'd say things are getting increasingly corporatized. Decided increasingly more in boardrooms, for the great benefit of shareholders and executives, while the people who make them are churned like disposable tools, and that doesn't make things very soulful or compeling...

Which I do again feel compelled to point out is something people said in relation to videogames in the mid and late eighties, the early and late nineties, the aughts, the 2010's, etc. Covering the entirety of what most of us view as the retro golden age of gaming.

 

[Kovlak]

Remember that Capcom made DmC Devil May Cry which tried to have an edge without quality behind.

Also remember that the seventh gen of console suffered from many "darker and more mature" iterations of older franchises only because they followed the trend, it was corporate edge.

Most people I see choose the PS2 as the best console gen. I prefer the 7th gen, but I do recognize that gaming lost more in that transition than blurry graphics.

I still have yet to see any explanation of who you think should be offended by these games, how they should be offended, and why that would make the game better. I simply cannot understand that.

I don't think anyone should be offended by these games, because they aren't meant to be offensive. Although some are. Seems like a father daughter relationship in 2026 is starting to be offensive...

What I think is, like Gabe Newell aluded in this famous tirade about realism not being necessarily fun, people in general want something they can't experience in real life. People want wild concepts mashed together. Just look at the hype around Blood of the Dawnwalker compared to Witcher 4. And shooting robots in a father-daughter relationship doesn't express excitement to me. Especially after The Last of Us, Nier Gestalt explored that or similar concepts.

Which I do again feel compelled to point out is something people said in relation to videogames in the mid and late eighties, the early and late nineties, the aughts, the 2010's, etc.

And are they wrong? Or are they feeling the times? We live in an increasingly corporate world.