As soon as you start playing Pragmata, you’re thrown into a fight alongside Hugh Williams and his smart AI companion, Diana—the game’s main character. You’ll need to quickly learn how to balance hacking enemy robots and shooting them to survive.
Use Diana’s hacking skills to make enemies vulnerable to attack—though they might fight back a little harder—and then use Hugh’s wide range of weapons to eliminate the enemies. Getting the hang of this mix early on is really important for progressing smoothly.
Hack Enemies to Open Them and Deal Damage
One of the game’s standout features is working with Diana to hack enemies before Hugh takes them out. This combo of technology and firepower creates a fun and strategic way to fight.
When you aim at an enemy, a grid will appear on the right side of your screen. You control Diana as she navigates through this grid—kind of like a short maze—to hack the enemy. These hacking mazes start simple but will grow more complex, adding obstacles and nodes as you improve your hacking skills.
Hacking isn’t necessary to hit enemies, but it’s often a good idea. Hacked enemies can be damaged from afar, and they may stagger, making it easier for Hugh to finish them off. Once hacked, enemies are “Open,” making them more vulnerable to Hugh’s weapons for a limited time.
You need to be careful, though, as robots don’t freeze when you hack them unless you use a weapon or hack to keep them still. Dodge enemy attacks while hacking to keep yourself safe and open them up for more damage.
Complete the hacking maze by reaching the green node, which executes your hack attack. You can increase your damage output by passing through blue nodes on the grid and by adding hacking modules to your loadout. Follow it up with the right weapons to take down even the toughest enemies.
Units Are Both Weapons and Defenses
Hacking is vital, but it’s not the only tool you have. Hugh has various weapons that backup his hacking efforts and help you fight more directly.
In the loadout menu, units are categorized into four main types:
- Primary Unit: Always equipped, this is a default gun that recharges after each use. You start with one and unlock more as you advance through the story.
- Attack Units: Located on the left side of the menu, these are high-power, limited-ammo weapons you find, unlock, and upgrade at the Unit Printer.
- Tactical Units: On the right side, these are support units that help with actions like freezing enemies or reducing hacking grid sizes. Choosing the best ones depends on your play style.
- Defensive Units: At the bottom, these provide shields, decoys, drones, and other defenses to boost your survivability.
Always modify Hugh’s loadout before leaving the shelter, especially before entering new sectors. Different gear and hacks work better in certain situations, so switch items as needed.
As you find new schematics, print new units at the Unit Printer to keep your arsenal updated. While enemy drops can replenish ammo, planning your loadout beforehand helps you prepare for the challenges ahead. Use the shelter to upgrade, save, and prepare before major fights to increase your chances of success.
Loadout Overview
The loadout system in Pragmata might seem overwhelming at first, but it’s designed to let you customize your play style. You can fine-tune your combat approach using different units, mods, and hacking nodes.
Before heading out, you select which units Hugh will carry, with options to swap and upgrade as you progress. The first slot always contains Hugh’s default Primary Unit, which recharges automatically. As you advance, you’ll unlock more powerful weapons through story progress and upgrades.
Next, you choose hacking nodes—yellow nodes on the grid—that give you special bonuses like dealing damage to multiple enemies, confusing bots to fight each other, or increasing damage. These are crucial for gaining an advantage during fights.
In the loadout menu, you’ll also equip mods to boost Hugh’s stats. Mods are organized into Attack, Hacking, Defense, and Support categories. With dozens to choose from, you can mix and match to fit your preferred tactics. Upgrades at the Unit Printer allow you to add more mods and hacking nodes to your loadout, making Hugh more versatile and prepared for tougher battles.
Always review and adjust your loadout before major encounters, ensuring you’re equipped with the best combination of units, mods, and hacks to face the challenges on the moon.
