Moon Cats and Metal Scraps: Navigating the Mass Production Array Maze in Pragmata
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff takes a deep dive into the neon-lit chaos of Pragmata's Mass Production Array, offering a witty and comprehensive guide to finding all 20 essential upgrade components.
Right, so Capcom finally let us loose in the moon-sized fever dream that is Pragmata, and bloody hell, it’s a lot to take in. You’ve got little Diana hitching a ride on your back, a cat that’s clearly more than it seems, and an environment that looks like someone tried to build Tokyo inside a giant neon-lit toaster. I’ve been tinkering with the Mass Production Array sector all morning, and if you’re like me, you’ve probably spent more time staring at the floating cars than actually finding the gear you need to survive.
It’s a classic gaming conundrum, isn’t it? The developers build this stunning, complex world, and then they hide the most important bits of kit behind a garbage truck or under a stray bus. It’s like a digital Easter egg hunt, but with significantly more robots trying to kill you. But don't worry, I’ve done the legwork (and the jumping, and the hacking) to find exactly where those 20 upgrade components are hiding.
According to a brilliant breakdown by Paulo Kawanishi over at Polygon, this area is a proper maze of glowing panels and filament clusters. Let’s break down how to strip this place of its valuables without losing your mind in the process.
### The Entry Fee: Test Site Platform
When you first rock up to the Test Site Platform, don’t get too distracted by the scenery. The first component is actually right there at the Test Site Entrance (#01)—just follow the path to the right of your pod. It’s almost a peace offering from Capcom.
Once you’ve had the inevitable encounter with the cat (I reckon that feline knows more than it's letting on), you’ll find another component tucked beside a glass container at the end of the first corridor (#02). And for the third one (#03)? Keep an eye out for a bot popping out of a side room in the corridor leading to Area 5. It’s like the game is rewarding you for being a bit nosy, which is exactly how I like to play.
### Retail Therapy (With More Explosions): The Shopping District
Now, the Shopping District is where things get properly chaotic. It’s a vertical nightmare, but the loot is worth the vertigo. As you land on the main street, look under a bus—yes, really—for a platform holding the fourth component (#04). If you’re feeling more traditional, there’s an alley with a massive ad of a woman (#05) where another one is just sitting in the corner.
My personal favorite? The nod to Capcom’s history. There’s a component (#06) perched on a platform right in front of a 'Ghouls 'N Ghosts' poster. You’ll need to climb a garbage truck to reach it. It’s a lovely little touch of nostalgia while you’re busy trying not to get flattened.
As you dive deeper into the Shopping District, the puzzles kick in. You’ll need to hack a floor panel to make it rise (#07) and keep your eyes peeled for a component floating above you after the scene where Hugh and Diana chat about the mannequin (#08). Don't forget the safe boxes! One tucked away after hacking the second antenna holds a cheeky double-drop (#10).
### The Vertical Hustle: Side Alleys and Business Districts
This is where the game starts asking you to use those thrusters for more than just looking cool. In the Side Alley (#12), you’ll find a tower surrounded by platforms. Reach the top, jump to the passage near where Diana does her hacking magic, and it’s yours. For the next one (#13), use the elevator nearby, go to the edge of the roof, and look down. It’s a bit of a leap of faith, but I promise there’s a platform down there.
The Business District follows a similar pattern—hack an antenna, find a room, grab a component (#14). But keep an eye out for the safe boxes here too. One requires a jump from a bridge near the Office Space Station (#15), and another requires some serious thruster work to reach the top of a neighboring building after hacking the fifth antenna (#16).
### The Final Cleanup: Filaments and Facilities
Later on, things get a bit messy in the Lim Recycling Facility. You’ll find one component by climbing a cabinet and jumping onto some pipes (#17), and another right next to a hologram in the room where you get the filament-clearing upgrade (#18).
And here’s the kicker: once you can actually clear those glowing filament clusters, you need to backtrack. I know, I know—backtracking is the bane of my existence too. But there’s a component hidden behind clusters in the Shopping District (#19) and another in a room accessed via an elevator in the Side Alley (#20) that you can only reach once you’ve cleared the gunk.
### The Big Picture
So, why does any of this matter beyond just making your numbers go up? Well, in the broader context of gaming tech, we’re seeing a real push toward these "player-driven" economies. While Pragmata is a traditional Capcom joint for now, you can almost see the fingerprints of where things are heading. Imagine if these upgrade components were unique assets you could trade or move between different sectors—that’s the Web3 dream, isn't it? A world where your scavenging actually builds a persistent digital legacy. For now, though, they’re just essential for making sure Hugh doesn't get turned into lunar scrap metal.
It’s easy to be skeptical when a game throws this much "stuff" at you, but I reckon Capcom has actually managed to make the exploration feel rewarding rather than just a chore. It’s a bit messy, a bit confusing, and bloody hell it’s weird, but it’s got heart. Just watch out for the flying buses.
*Credit where it's due: This guide was adapted from the excellent work of Paulo Kawanishi at Polygon.*
Tags: Pragmata, Capcom, Game Guides, Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi Gaming
Original article: Polygon