I've already raced through Pragmata 3 times, and it's cemented Capcom's mastery of the modern action game speedrun

The Hidden Layer Behind a Legendary Developer

Like every polished title in Capcom's recent lineup, Pragmata delivers hours of motion-captured performances, detailed ray (even path) traced environments, and enormous things to blow up in a variety of spectacular ways. The game clocks in around a dozen hours and rewards completionists with a generous selection of post-credits modes and unlockable extras. But beyond the surface-level spectacle lies a deeper layer that has captivated me since the original Resident Evil. Exploring this layer has truly cemented Capcom's mastery of the modern action game speedrun in my mind.

While the main campaign offers a polished narrative, there is a "secret" side to Capcom games that often goes underappreciated. I have been powerless to resist this hidden layer since playing the original Resident Evil. I treat every new release like one of their classic arcade hits. You simply replay and practice until you can tear through it at the speed of light. Although there may not be a formal 'time attack' mode to select in Pragmata, the mechanics quietly support this behavior. You just need to know what to look out for during your runs.

• A clear time listed on a completed save file
• Occasional "Would you like to skip the playable intro and get straight to the real game?" messages
• The freedom to skip expensively made cutscenes entirely

Everything that appears on my monitor is information I can learn from. The deliberately artificial sci-fi setting makes a UI full of time-saving data feel completely natural. Status effects are clearly labelled and displayed, while scanned weak points are marked with targeting reticles. Pixel-accurate AoE markers allow me to dodge and weave through a particle shower of deadly attacks without hesitation. My entire arsenal is conveniently divided into clearly defined, colour-coded roles that dictate combat pacing.

How Capcom's mastery of the modern action game speedrun transforms gameplay

This isn't just about superficially skimming through a great game and missing the best bits. When I'm speedrunning, I am engaging with the mechanics so deeply that the game feels brand new. It changes the entire tempo of the experience and introduces new challenges in what would otherwise be safe areas. The clear time listed on a completed save file tracks every second of progress. The occasional skip prompts ensure I never waste time on unnecessary dialogue.

The obvious question is why bother when all of this self-inflicted stress doesn't actually "count" for anything. The short answer is simply "Because it's fun." The longer answer is that playing in this way fundamentally alters the experience. I use dashes to cancel lengthy recovery animations and refuse to heal until I absolutely have to. As in Monster Hunter, healing is a slow, vulnerable act that I avoid whenever possible. This mindset forces me into otherwise avoidable trouble that somehow becomes enjoyable.

I rush towards a robot the size of a house and try to dodge every close-range attack it throws at me. I allow a dangerous enemy to give chase as I boost towards my current objective. When a swarm of missiles approach my position, I calmly hack them while they're en route to my face. I send them back to their origin for free additional damage instead of merely shooting them out of the air. With practice, towering robots that used to stomp me into a fine paste are quickly prioritised. They become confused and attack their allies, making it easy to walk up and unload exactly the right kind of weapon on weak points.

Mastering the Lunatic Difficulty

Much like Capcom's Devil May Cry, it is not the upgrades to my guns or the extensions to my health bar in Pragmata that make the biggest difference. It is how I am using everything I have always had in more skilful ways. I must anticipate enemy behaviour and learn how different mechanics interact with the environment. I will move through the game faster by remembering which enemy groups I can ignore. I also track which weapon to save for an upcoming fight and the optimal route through a room full of laser beams.

I can prove this is more than hollow theory by attempting the speedrun on the unlockable "Lunatic" mode. This difficulty makes enemies hit incredibly hard and forces me to reacquire all upgrades from scratch. Every run starts as fresh and weak as my first attempt. The inescapable difficulty, coupled with a speedrunner's mindset, leaves me with little choice but to play smart. I must find life-saving synergy in the available options.

I constantly ask myself these critical questions during every run:

• When is the best time to use a gun that increases the presence of helpful hacking nodes?
• How can I work a particular position-activated mod into my usual combat routine?
• Do I want to knock enemies down, temporarily stun-lock them in place, or focus on triggering the overheat state?

Triggering the overheat state leaves robots on their knees and open for a powerful special attack. I managed to shave a little over two hours off my initial 6 hour, 18 minute clear time on my second Standard difficulty run. After that, I tried on Casual and got it down to about 2hr30m. That means I am already dashing through Pragmata fast enough to comfortably clear it twice in one working day.

The Allure of Repeat Runs

That sounds like a terrible thing to say about a brand new release, doesn't it? But here is the thing: This is a game I want to clear twice in a day. I already know how it plays from beginning to end to unlockable bonus stages. Yet repeat runs are more exciting, not less. I am constantly getting myself into scrapes I did not before. I am thrilled when things go wrong and the Pragmata speedrun demands even more precision. This experience proves that Capcom's mastery of the modern action game speedrun is alive and well.