What Makes Pragmata’s Character Dynamic So Intriguing

Published by Capcom, the game has sold over 2 million units in just 16 days after its initial launch in April of this year. The game not only has an addictive action gameplay but a very strong psychological narrative that emotionally captures the gamer’s natural human nature to love and protect somebody dear to them, especially what appears to be a very helpful but physically helpless little child. Pragmata is also touted as a “Dad Simulator”, as the entirety of the game revolves around Space Engineer Hugh and the little sweet android girl he encounters and eventually adopts as his own, Diana. Technically known as D-I-0336-7, a “Lunafilament” child android, Diana was created to help the top scientist of Delphi Corporation’s moon base Dr. Neil Higgins to find a cure for his dying daughter Daisy. In retrospect, Diana was created in Daisy’s 6 year old image though she developed a personality of her own.

The story is long, complex, heartwarming, and mostly sad. To summarize, Delphi Corporation double-crosses Neil Higgins in the use of Lunafilment killing Daisy in the process. With his daughter’s death, Dr. Higgins infected with Lunafilament as well, instructs Diana’s older android sister 8 to carry out his revenge on Delphi and Earth. 8 is to bombard the planet with “Dead Filament”, the toxic byproduct of the Nano creating Lunafilament to exact his revenge. The Moon Base goes radio silent.

Hugh is sent with a space engineering team to the moon base to investigate what happened but due to a moonquake, is separated from his team and wakes up to find himself rescued by Little Diana. Forming a bond, Hugh and Diana explore the bigger Lunafilament formed moon base known as the “Cradle” facing danger and challenges in order to restore communications with Earth and eventually escape back to the planet. This is where the gameplay revolves around as they have to team-battle enemy bots, the corrupted base AI, and 8 with Diana’s hacking and Hugh’s combat skills. This is also where the game gets emotional and where the father and little daughter bond blossom and solidify until the game’s sad ending with a father’s ultimate sacrifice.

The Daddy Simulator

There are only a handful of games that can be considered as “Dad Simulators” with “The Witcher” being one of the most popular of them. Pragmata levels it up because of the unique and intriguing dynamic that Hugh and Diana have. The entire game revolves around this as it is displayed and emphasized in practically all instances of the game (narrative and gameplay). Every other character in the game including 8, provide a supporting role to this main dynamic. Hugh is the only known human left in the Cradle as he finds out during the game that his teammates have either perished or gone missing. This deepens his dependence on Diana who likewise depends on him to protect her.

As the game progresses, the psychological effect on the gamer gets more intense as one finds oneself living the relationship and father-daughter bond of Hugh and Diana. Hugh has to protect Diana as she (child as she is) is his only means of accomplishing his goals to contact Earth and escape. The little Lunafilament girl starts learning from him about everything she has a question for, and gets attached to him like a little daughter not wanting to let go of her Dad. Hugh has found a daughter and she becomes the most precious thing in his life.

Together, they fight their way through the moon base exploring the different simulated areas from parts of New York to a sunset beach with Diana longing all the while for the real Earth and Hugh promising to take her there and (in not so many words), keep her as his adopted and beloved daughter no matter what. They fight together with Hugh carrying Diana on his back and shielding her at every turn from harm’s way while she hacks and electronically attacks their robotic opponents. In a fight with 8, Diana is injured and Hugh goes through great lengths to save her with the player experiencing the roller-coaster emotions that come with the touchy situation.

Finally, the most intense emotional part of the game that magnifies the father-little daughter dynamic is the ultimate sacrifice Hugh does for his Little Android daughter who in essence acts, feels, and in practicality is a 6 year old little girl with a very powerful computer mind. In all this, Hugh loves his daughter and sacrifices himself to get his little girl on a transport back to earth. Believe it or not, this made many players cry. Hugh fulfills his promise but doesn’t return with Diana as he is infected with the toxic Dead Filament he could never bring back to earth. Never mind himself, as long as his little girl survives. A father’s love and sacrifice is one of the most intense character dynamics ever seen in gaming today making Pragmata one of the best games in gaming history.