Capcom has been on a hot streak in recent years, releasing new entries in beloved franchises. Resident Evil and monster hunter to widespread critical acclaim. Instead of trying something new, the Japanese game developer and publisher stuck to playing most of the hits that made it. progenitor Such an exciting prospect. A brand new, completely original IP from Capcom, progenitor A sci-fi action-adventure with bold ambitions that doesn't always stick.
in progenitorPlayers take on the role of Hugh, an astronaut who travels to the moon with his crew to fix communications for a lunar base there after a loss of contact. Upon arrival, it doesn't take long for Hugh to realize that there are much bigger problems at the base, as he faces a hostile AI named IDUS and its army of deadly robots.
Most of the robots Hugh encounters on the moon are actively trying to kill him, the one exception being Diana, an android resembling a small child. Diana and Hugh team up to fight the IDUS and solve the mystery of what happened to the moon base. Hugh and Diana quickly develop a father-daughter dynamic, but their relationship doesn't provide the strong emotional core one might expect.
Diana is bursting with personality, but Hugh is so bland and ordinary. progenitorThe plot beats are also generic and predictable, resulting in an inoffensive story that's entertaining enough to get by but doesn't add much to the proceedings. Many players will be able to see all the major plot twists coming from a mile away, which prevents the story from being too exciting.
Pragmata is All About the Action
progenitorThe plot is serviceable but not remarkable, so luckily it's not a big focus of the game. progenitorMostly related to exploration and combat, two areas it excels in progenitorI was skeptical about its mix of maze puzzles and third-person shooter combat, but it works much better than expected.
The robot Hugh and Diana fight must be hacked to expose their weak points. This is accomplished through a simple maze mini-game where players are tasked with moving on a grid through blue boxes that deal damage and nodes that can grant bonus effects such as encouraging enemies to attack their allies or heal Hue. When done correctly, a progenitor The hack weakens enemies, giving Hugh a chance to land satisfying critical hits on them.
Enemies will not stop chasing Hugh and Diana while the hack is being done, so players must finish them off as quickly as possible. Between hacking, shooting and dodging, progenitor Combat can get very busy and intense, especially as the puzzles get more complex later in the game.
Increasingly challenging hacks and healthy enemy variety ensure this progenitorThe fight remains solid entertainment from start to finish. Hugh's varied arsenal also goes a long way, with players able to use standard pistols, machineguns, explosive shotgun-like weapons, decoy guns to distract enemies, and more. Aside from Hogg's primary gun, each weapon has a cooldown timer and limited ammo to consider, and so players must think strategically in each encounter.
progenitorThe combat really shines in its intense boss fights, pitting players against hulking robots that can wipe out the hog in just a few hits. progenitor Players sweat when boss battles get down to the wire and Hugh is out of healing items, as one wrong move can start long fights from the start. progenitorThe boss battles are the highlight, though they can sometimes feel a little bullet spongy before players properly upgrade their gear.
A downside of progenitorThe owner of the fight is repetitive. There are some notable encounters that effectively happen too often, which is disappointing because the boss designs are great, and it would have been nice to see more of them. Also the problem is the same progenitorenvironments, which start off very different but lose steam around the halfway point.
in progenitorScientists at the base of the moon have built a giant 3D printer that can create many more things. It goes out of whack and creates a bunch of topsy-turvy areas that look like they were pulled straight out. InstallationBut it opens the door for the game to include more diverse spaces to explore beyond sterile rooms. at first, progenitor It benefits greatly from letting players explore a version of New York City and a few other unique environments that I'll spoil, but this ambition is abandoned fairly quickly and most of the game is spent wading through similar-looking areas.
progenitor Not a horror game by any means, but it definitely shares some DNA Resident EvilNot too far from the games, players gradually find files that reveal more about the story and an upgrade/progression system. Resident Evil 4.
While I was disappointed by the lack of variety in some parts of the game, there's no denying that these areas are fun to explore, and they all look fantastic. progenitor Delivers consistently stunning visuals, and the level of detail in every area is impressive, especially considering how well the game runs.
Take shelter
Hugh's astronaut suit is equipped with thrusters that allow him to reach high altitudes and boost voids, perfect for making his way through the chaotic layout of the lunar base. Players can use Hugh's thrusters to make direct shots at their targets, but each area is full of useful collectibles off the beaten path that are definitely worth taking the time to hunt down.
progenitorCollecting, along with currency dropped from defeated enemies, allows players to upgrade Hugh's thrusters, suit integrity, weapons and more. These upgrades are purchased at the shelter, which is accessible through hatches that act like checkpoints. The shelter is mainly used for upgrades and healing, but it comes equipped with much more functionality.
When visiting shelters, progenitor Players can interact with Diana, check out special Earth objects they have hidden in the game world, and challenge themselves to complete simulation scenarios in exchange for rewards. There are also collectible bingo coins that players can use at the shelter to complete bingo cards and get even more goodies in return.
Some bingo cards cannot be completed completely progenitor Players clear their respective Red Zones, which are extra-tough areas that require a special key to access. progenitor Red Zones are completely optional, but completing them is often worthwhile for the bingo cards and other rewards that players earn for completing their challenges.
Pragmata is short, but has a lot to do after the credits roll
Gives Red Zones, collectibles, and post-game unlocks progenitor Some more replay value, but some may be a little disappointed to know that the game is quite short. It took about six hours and 35 minutes to complete my initial playthrough, and that was while thoroughly exploring several stages and completing a handful of red zones and training simulations along the way. 100% completion will probably take somewhere in the 15 to 20 hour range, depending on skill level. Having said that, I personally feel that the game doesn't need to happen anymore. While I was initially hooked by combat and exploration, progenitor In the last hour, the steam started to disappear.
progenitor Sure starts off strong, but it's not enough to keep you fully engaged until the end credits. It's a highly-polished sci-fi game with fun combat and exploration, but its weak story and characters keep it from reaching its full potential. Still, it's fun to have a completely original IP from Capcom, and while progenitor While it doesn't quite live up to the high bar set by the studio's other efforts, it's mostly a worthwhile adventure.
progenitor Launches April 17 for PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided with a PS5 code for review.
