Compare The First Berserker: Khazan vs Pragmata

Accessibility is supported by easy mode, summons, and other options, though not every reviewer personally tested them.

Accessibility evidence is mixed: grouped presets help, but reviewers specifically criticized missing colorblind support and red tile readability.

AI behavior is criticized where it appears, with one review calling it braindead.

Aiming earns positive marks because weak-spot shooting carries strong feedback and rewards careful targeting.

Animation quality is praised for enemy animation and combat motion.

Animation quality is positive where discussed, with motion capture and large boss animations helping sell character interaction and spectacle.

Art direction is broadly praised for its cel-shaded, anime-inflected, gothic style, though originality concerns remain elsewhere.

Art direction is a standout, especially the NASA-punk, AI-slop, lunar-base, and uncanny Earth-replica aesthetics.

Atmosphere is mixed: one review praises dense historical mood, while another finds the atmosphere less inspired.

Atmosphere is praised for its eerie, artificial, lunar, and emotionally reflective spaces.

Boss design is the strongest point of consensus, with many reviewers calling bosses excellent, memorable, fair, intuitive, and satisfying despite some reuse or harshness.

Boss design is generally praised as spectacular, challenging, and mechanically expressive, but some reviews call out too few bosses or frustration.

Bug frequency is mostly low, though some reviewers mention minor bugs or a specific visual attack issue.

Bug frequency evidence is positive where mentioned, with one reviewer saying they encountered no glitches during play.

Camera behavior is split between one review calling it solid and another saying it leaves a lot to be desired.

Character development is criticized as lacking.

Character development centers on Hugh and Diana’s growing bond, which reviewers overwhelmingly found organic, heartfelt, and memorable.

Checkpoint placement is praised, especially checkpoints before bosses that reduce runback frustration.

The checkpoint/Shelter loop is useful but imperfect, with respawning enemies after Shelter visits bothering at least one reviewer.

Combat is the product’s clearest strength: reviewers repeatedly call it fast, satisfying, deep, and among the genre’s best, with only a few reservations about stamina or consistency.

Combat is the strongest consensus point, with reviewers praising the simultaneous hacking and shooting as satisfying, distinctive, and deeply engaging despite occasional clunkiness.

Summon and companion systems are split: one review loves the system, while others criticize unreliable ally AI.

Diana’s companion role is highly valued because her hacking is mechanically essential and strengthens the central duo dynamic.

Content variety is mixed, with praise for mission objectives and factions but complaints about limited weapon variety.

Content variety is praised for blending combat, puzzles, platforming, exploration, biomes, simulations, and post-game activities.

Controls are described as smooth, tight, responsive, and precise, helping the demanding fights feel skill-based.

Controls are broadly praised as responsive and intuitive, with several reviewers saying the demanding dual-input combat becomes smooth once learned.

The core loop earns praise for making hard-earned combat wins feel cathartic and motivating.

The core loop is repeatedly described as compelling and satisfying, though one preview found the repeated hack-window rhythm somewhat formulaic.

Crafting is positively described as easy to understand and relatively self-explanatory.

Crash stability is mostly acceptable but not perfect, with one reviewer reporting a couple of crashes.

Dialogue quality is praised most when Hugh and Diana talk in the Shelter or quiet moments, where reviewers found the relationship charming and warm.

Difficulty is the most contentious attribute: many reviewers find the challenge fair and rewarding, while others report brutal spikes, stamina strain, or unbalanced bosses.

Difficulty is viewed as challenging but fair, with multitasking pressure and tough fights that usually feel rewarding rather than punishing.

Resource balance has mixed evidence, with currencies and consumables creating strategic tension but sometimes feeling overengineered or grindy.

One review highlights a touching optional quest with emotional weight.

Emotional impact is one of the clearest strengths, with many reviewers saying the Hugh-Diana relationship moved them or made them care.

Endgame content gets mild praise for adding New Game+ weapon options, though one reviewer wished those ideas appeared earlier.

Endgame content is mixed-to-positive: many reviewers like the post-game and New Game Plus, while one found some challenges lackluster.

Enemy variety is usually praised as sizable and fresh, though a few reviews still complain about samey enemies.

Enemy variety is mostly strong, with different robot types and threats keeping combat fresh, though a few reviewers wanted more bots or bosses.

Environmental detail is mixed: several environments look good, but some reviewers find areas washed out or drab.

Environmental detail is a strength, with varied biomes, dense sci-fi spaces, Times Square-like areas, forests, and lunar vistas highlighted often.

Exploration is mixed: several reviewers like hidden rewards and shortcuts, but others find exploration limited, stifled, or nearly absent.

Exploration is generally rewarding thanks to hidden paths, collectibles, secrets, and backtracking incentives, although weak maps and pathing sometimes undercut it.

Fast travel convenience is mixed, with praise for resuming from checkpoints but criticism that players cannot freely warp inside levels.

Fast travel convenience is mixed because Shelter return points are useful, but one reviewer wished travel worked between hatches instead of only back to Shelter.

Frame rate stability is positive overall, with only rare drops or exceptions reported.

Frame rate stability is mostly positive on PS5/PC, but Switch 2 receives lower marks for unlocked frame-rate fluctuations.

Fun factor is very strong overall, with many reviewers saying the game is joyful, addictive, satisfying, or peak despite difficulty.

Fun factor is high across reviews, with many calling it joyful, entertaining, or simply fun to play.

Reviewers praised the overall gameplay systems as well integrated, varied, and satisfying, especially when shooting, hacking, movement, and exploration reinforce one another.

Graphics and visuals are viewed positively, with reviewers praising cel-shading, presentation, and attractive visual identity.

Graphics quality is consistently praised across platforms as sharp, gorgeous, technically impressive, and powered well by Capcom’s engine.

Grind level is mildly criticized because skill-point acquisition can be time-consuming.

Grind level is a minor concern, particularly Cabin Coins and the number of currencies.

Handheld suitability is praised where Steam Deck play is discussed.

Handheld play suitability is mixed: Switch 2 and Steam Deck are playable/impressive, but compromises and frame-time fluctuations limit enthusiasm.

Haptic feedback integration is praised in the DualSense version because adaptive triggers make the action feel tactile.

HUD clarity is a concern in one review, where collectible scanning created visual noise and clutter.

Immersion is positive in one review that finds the experience engaging and brutal.

Immersion benefits from the two-character combat feel, strong sci-fi presentation, audio, and environmental design.

Innovation is praised in one review for meaningful twists on familiar mechanics.

Innovation is one of the strongest attributes, especially the real-time hacking/shooting blend and Capcom’s willingness to build a new IP around it.

The learning curve is steep, with early difficulty spikes strong enough to make one reviewer consider stopping.

The learning curve is noticeable because simultaneous hacking and shooting takes time, but reviewers usually found the process well managed.

Level design is highly divisive: some reviews praise memorable layouts and shortcuts, while others call the levels basic, boring, recycled, or even terrible.

Level design is widely admired for semi-linear routes, shortcuts, varied sectors, and combat arenas, though repetition appears in a few late-game comments.

Live-service support looks uncertain in post-release coverage, with reports of a likely final patch and a murky future.

Load times receive explicit praise for being very fast.

Loot opinions are mixed: some call it manageable or streamlined, while others find the volume of gear chore-like or excessive.

Lore depth is limited in one review’s view, with little to learn beyond mechanical hub functions.

Lore depth is useful but uneven, with datapads and holograms adding detail while sometimes carrying story information that should have been central.

Map and navigation design is praised for clear mission information and segmentation.

Map and navigation design is a recurring weakness, with multiple reviewers saying the map, minimap absence, or pathing made backtracking harder.

Menu usability is mixed: one loot process is streamlined, but other reviewers find respec and gear menus annoying or time-consuming.

Menu usability receives positive evidence from reviewers who liked quick hub/loadout feedback and minimal menu friction.

Mission design is a weak spot in the harsher reviews, with complaints that missions can feel like formalities or use puzzling reset structures.

Mission design is mixed because some reviewers enjoyed the structure, while others criticized repeated lock-and-door objectives or formulaic area setups.

Mission variety is mixed to weak: some remixed side content adds freshness, but boss reuse and recycled side missions are repeated complaints.

Mission variety is mixed, with some reviewers praising changing mechanics while others call out lazy or repetitive late encounters.

Movement feel is generally positive when discussing thrusters, dashing, and hover movement, though some platforming-specific momentum issues remain.

Narrative quality is mixed: reviewers like the coherent revenge setup and some entertaining moments, but many call the story thin, generic, predictable, or underwhelming.

Narrative quality is divisive: the character bond lands strongly, but several reviewers call the broader plot predictable, safe, or uneven.

Onboarding is uneven: tutorials can work, but some reviewers say the intro and early ramp fail to showcase or teach the best systems well.

The onboarding experience is positive, easing players into shooting, movement, and hacking without dragging out the opening hours.

Originality is mixed to weak: reviewers often call the game derivative, while still noting that it executes borrowed ideas well.

Originality is praised because Pragmata feels like a fresh new IP with a distinctive puzzle-shooter identity.

Pacing splits opinion, with one review praising its momentum and another calling the campaign laborious and rehashed.

Pacing is mostly strong, with reviewers praising brisk forward momentum and a compact runtime, though one late section was said to drag.

Performance optimization is strongly praised, with multiple reviewers reporting pristine or highly optimized performance.

Performance optimization is strong on PC and generally impressive, though Switch 2 shows compromises and frame-time concerns.

Platform-specific feature support is positive where PC and Switch-specific features are discussed, including DLSS and technical scaling.

Platforming precision is mixed: upgrades and hover movement help, but some reviewers found momentum inconsistent or specific platforming moments frustrating.

Polish is praised overall, though a few bugs and design caveats remain.

Polish is widely praised, with reviewers calling Pragmata confident, well-executed, and carefully designed.

Progression is broadly praised, especially boss-attempt rewards, free skill respecs, and multiple growth systems that keep failures productive.

Progression is a major strength, with upgrades, currencies, hub growth, and loadout improvements providing steady goals and player choice.

Protagonist appeal is polarized, with one review calling Khazan ideal for the game and another finding him flat.

Hugh’s protagonist appeal is mixed: some found him endearing or refreshing, while others saw him as generic or vanilla.

Puzzle design is praised for turning hacking grids into a real-time combat puzzle that feels fresh rather than a throwaway minigame.

Replay value is moderate: New Game+ and weapon experimentation help, but limited build variety and repeated playthrough fatigue are recurring concerns.

Replay value is strong, supported by New Game Plus, post-game challenges, collectibles, simulation missions, and reviewer desire to continue after credits.

Save reliability is praised because frequent saving prevents meaningful progress loss after crashes.

Side characters are a recurring weakness, often described as generic, shallow, or not meaningfully integrated.

Diana’s side-character appeal is strong, with reviewers repeatedly describing her as charming, heartfelt, and central to the game’s appeal.

Skill trees are usually praised for depth and experimentation, though some reviewers say build variety remains narrower than expected.

Sound design is praised for impact, weapon clashes, parry sounds, and matching the game’s brutal tone.

Sound design is highly praised for punchy weapons, sci-fi acoustics, hacking feedback, and kinetic combat audio.

The soundtrack is generally liked, especially for elevating boss fights and tension.

Soundtrack quality is praised for electronic battle music, Shelter themes, and emotional piano moments.

Tutorials receive positive notice for being clear and non-intrusive.

Tutorial and onboarding are praised where mentioned, with early sections introducing the unusual loop without overwhelming players.

Upgrade systems are useful and rewarding, though one reviewer disliked that the full weapon suite waits until New Game Plus.

User interface design earns praise for an encyclopedia that explains abilities and systems.

User interface design is praised for streamlined menus and real-time information that reduces friction.

Value is strongly positive in reviews that mention price or buy guidance, especially for action/Soulslike fans.

Value for money is generally positive when reviewers cite 12-16 hours, post-game content, New Game Plus, and a $60 price point.

Visual effects are praised for making climactic moments more dramatic.

Visual effects quality is praised indirectly through path tracing, reflections, combat sparks, explosions, and spectacle, though it is less commonly discussed than overall graphics.

Voice acting is consistently praised, especially the English performances and lead voice work.

Voice acting is positively reviewed, especially Diana’s performance and the natural delivery that grounds the sci-fi premise.

Weapon balance is mostly positive because weapons feel distinct, though some reviews want more variety or deeper differences within weapon classes.

Weapon balance is positive overall, with varied weapons, loadout limits, and ammo scarcity encouraging adaptation and experimentation.

World-building gets positive notice for shaping factions, locations, and the Dungeon & Fighter setting.

World-building is praised for its lunafilament, moon-base setting, environmental storytelling, and AI/technology themes.

Writing quality ranges from edgy entertainment to predictable revenge-story criticism.

Writing quality is mixed, ranging from sincere and heartfelt to on-the-nose or underdeveloped in its broader sci-fi themes.