007 First Light Review: Bond Has Never Been This Cool

by

James Bond is a hugely famous character, instantly recognizable to almost everyone. First appearing in the 1953 novel Casino Royale, the British spy quickly became a global icon thanks to a long string of successful movies, television shows, and video games.

This character has been portrayed by many actors, each bringing their own unique interpretation to the role. Though James Bond has changed and evolved over time, one thing has always stayed consistent: he’s undeniably cool, and always will be.

Creating a James Bond game that truly captures the spirit of the franchise is incredibly difficult. It’s been over 14 years since the last one came out, so I was really excited when IO Interactive announced 007 First Light. However, I also tried to stay realistic, as I haven’t always been a big fan of IO Interactive’s previous work – they’re best known for the Hitman games.

Bringing back a beloved and iconic franchise after a long absence and making a truly great game is incredibly difficult. The easy answer is that it can’t be done well. But IO Interactive proved that wrong with 007 First Light, delivering a polished, engaging adventure that lives up to the legacy. It’s a fantastic achievement.

Welcome to MI6, Bond

Even the most polished James Bond game will fall flat if its story isn’t engaging. Players expect Bond adventures to be packed with excitement, suspense, and grand-scale action. Thankfully, 007 First Light delivers on that front, offering a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience.

007 First Light explores James Bond’s early career, showing how he first became a spy for MI6, the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service. MI6 agents are experts at collecting information and carrying out secret operations both within the UK and around the world.

007 First Light begins with James Bond on what seems like a standard military assignment in Iceland. Everything is normal for his team at first, but the mission quickly takes a dangerous turn, leaving Bond stranded in enemy territory. He soon discovers this wasn’t a typical operation at all – he’s accidentally walked into a secret MI6 undertaking.

This is where James Bond’s story starts: he’s on a mission, communicating with MI6 headquarters by radio and doing field work for the organization. After completing the mission in his signature, action-packed style, the head of MI6 is impressed and invites him to be one of the first candidates for the revived 00 program.

A weak story could have ruined the game, but thankfully, 007 First Light delivers a good one.

The game starts with a straightforward idea, but quickly becomes much more complex – and I don’t want to spoil the surprises! I was really impressed with what IO Interactive accomplished; the story is captivating because it doesn’t hand you everything. Instead, it slowly reveals information, making you piece together the mystery and uncover the conspiracy yourself.

Starting your first mission as a 00 agent takes you to stunning locations and introduces you to a memorable cast of characters who can aid you. The game features exceptional voice acting, even in minor roles, which truly drew me into the story and made the world feel incredibly real. I was eager to meet each character and hear their perspective.

The game 007 First Light cleverly includes references and hidden details that longtime James Bond fans will appreciate. Hearing the classic “shaken, not stirred” line in the game was a particularly satisfying moment – I reacted just like Leonardo DiCaprio in that popular meme!

I was surprised to find that the story was actually the best part of 007 First Light. I didn’t expect much from IO Interactive when it came to storytelling, and I worried the narrative would be the game’s weakest point. Thankfully, I was wrong!

Expressive and Cinematic Gameplay at its Forefront

This new Bond game offers a fresh mix of thrilling action sequences and strategic stealth gameplay. While it takes inspiration from other popular games, it ultimately creates a unique and memorable experience.

The game features exciting, movie-like action sequences – think high-speed chases or clinging to a plane in flight – and they’re all incredibly well done. A standout moment for me was a fight that took place in a fancy spa, complete with a stunning fireworks display. Watching the colorful explosions light up the night sky, I couldn’t help but think, “This is awesome.”

Like the Hitman series, 007 First Light emphasizes sneaky gameplay and adapting to whatever happens. The game gives you lots of options for tackling each situation, thanks to a variety of gadgets you unlock as you play. Each gadget has a special use and can change how you handle every challenge.

Consider the Dart Phone and Smoke Pod. The Dart Phone fires a silent dart that immediately makes enemies sick and disoriented, causing them to move away. This can clear obstacles like guards, creating a path to your goal.

The Smoke Pod obscures the enemy’s vision, letting you either quickly and quietly eliminate a target or slip away from danger. Combining the Dart Phone and Smoke Pod is an ideal way to play stealthily, if that’s how you like to approach challenges.

007 First Light takes inspiration from other well-known games, but it ultimately creates a unique experience.

If you prefer a more direct approach instead of sneaking around, there are gadgets to help with that. The Missile Pen fires an explosive that instantly defeats a target and damages nearby enemies. Alternatively, the Laser Strap can briefly stun an opponent, giving you a chance to quickly move in and attack.

Beyond your available tools, the game lets you creatively interact with the world around you. It’s similar to Watch Dogs, allowing you to remotely control electronics – like disabling security cameras for stealth or creating diversions by hacking machines. This variety in environmental interaction keeps each situation interesting, even if you play through the game again.

Licensed to Kill

007 First Light features two main ways to fight: close-quarters combat and shooting. The hand-to-hand fighting is very similar to the system used in the Batman Arkham games, focusing on punches, counters, and dodging – and it feels really good to play.

The game’s levels are packed with obstacles and cover, which sometimes causes the camera to struggle during fights. I often found the camera getting stuck behind objects while I was fighting, forcing me to quickly readjust my view. It wasn’t game-breaking, but it was definitely annoying.

Aside from hand-to-hand fighting, the game plays like a cover-based shooter. I generally liked how the gunplay felt, and it created some truly exciting situations. I was actually surprised by the challenge of the shooting sections; I took a lot of damage and died often.

The game offers a refreshing break from its stealth-focused missions with intense combat scenarios called “Licensed to Kill.” These encounters are especially exciting because you’re often outnumbered and have limited resources, forcing you to be resourceful and think quickly to survive.

Adding gadgets and environmental dangers to fights makes them much more engaging, offering a lot of creative possibilities. I especially loved using the Laser Strap to temporarily blind snipers, then quickly taking them out with a headshot from cover.

Closing Comments

After a 14-year break, IO Interactive took a big chance by creating a new James Bond game. It’s tough to do justice to such a famous character, but they succeeded brilliantly. Not only is 007 First Light a fantastic game, but its story feels like a true Bond adventure. With excellent writing, acting, visuals, and gameplay, it’s a stylish and captivating experience. James Bond is back, and he’s cooler than ever.

Read More

2026-05-26 15:11