*Pragmata* Takes Off with a Score of 86! What Is Capcom Hiding This Time?

I’ll pencil in an estimated 90 hours for now. For games like this—systems-rich and fond of stuffing in hidden references—I basically always go for a full-collection route. Illusion of Reality really did open strong this time. After Resident Evil 9: Requiem scored 89 on Metacritic, Capcom’s new title has also posted 87 on OpenCritic and 86 on Metacritic. Judging by the current word-of-mouth trajectory, it’s no longer just “consistently solid”—it looks much more like the kind of dark horse with serious staying power you see on year-end lists.

From the direction reviews are taking, what people appreciate isn’t just the level of polish, but also Capcom’s increasingly seasoned ability in recent years to organize and deliver content. The original text says it “may become one of the strongest contenders for Game of the Year,” and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. For a game to score that high, it usually isn’t just because one aspect is off the charts; more importantly, its systems, pacing, and presentation have to lock together like a late-game combo attack in a JRPG—and Illusion of Reality clearly seems to be hitting that sweet spot right now.

What’s generating the most discussion about this game, though, isn’t the score itself, but its Easter eggs and how cleverly it “plays with memes.” On the moon base, there’s a poster for Resident Devil 3. One look at the name and it’s obvious: it’s a hardcore mashup of Resident Evil and Devil May Cry. Better yet, the poster’s protagonist blends traits of both Leon and Dante, while striking a deliberately intimidating pose straight out of DOOM, surrounded by a crowd of “zombie demons.” It feels like cramming signature moves from different series into a single super move animation—absurd, but weirdly addictive.

If you’ve been paying attention to Capcom lately, you’ll know this isn’t the first time they’ve done something like this. Requiem previously hid Easter eggs in the form of game discs referencing classics like Mega Man 8 and Street Fighter, which shows they now have a very good sense of exactly what the player community loves. Unfortunately, this time the “Resident Evil x Devil May Cry” poster is still just a humorous Easter egg, and it’s still a long way from becoming a real crossover project. But looking at it from another angle, with both their technical capabilities and brand reputation on the rise, a future action title that mixes a touch of horror with stylish combo-based combat doesn’t feel completely out of the question.

My advice is pretty straightforward: if you’re the kind of player who cares about overall polish, presentation details, and the density of series references, Illusion of Reality is already worth keeping a close eye on. And if you’re already a fan of Capcom-style games, then the sheer concentration of Easter eggs in this one is an extra bonus. What’s worth noting is that the most compelling thing about it right now isn’t just the label of “high-scoring new release,” but the way Capcom is turning its own archive of IP memories into a kind of ongoing content asset. For players, this is exactly the kind of game that easily fuels community discussion, second-playthrough Easter egg hunting, and screenshot-based analysis over the long term—and that is precisely what can push a game from being merely excellent into true Game of the Year contention.