James Bond had a bit of a rough ride in the gaming world over the years, with many fans still looking back fondly at N64 smash GoldenEye 007 or 2004’s Everything or Nothing. It’s been 22 years with little to celebrate, but now IO Interactive have stepped into the tuxedo and delivered 007 First Light, an adventure that aims to tell the story of a younger and less polished Bond before he became the legendary 007.
Early Bond
Rather than dropping you into the shoes of the suave secret agent we all know, First Light focuses on Bond during his early days as he works his way through the ranks of MI6. It’s a clever setup as it allows the developers to put their own spin on the character while still keeping many of the classic Bond elements intact.
You’ll find yourself travelling across a host of stunning locations around the globe from snow-covered mountain facilities to glamorous tropical resorts and heavily guarded evil villain lairs.
Each area has plenty of opportunities for exploration and gives you different ways to tackle objectives whether that is through stealth, gadgets or simply exercising your licence to kill.
Story-wise, 007 First Light does a solid job of building Bond into the 00 agent we all know. There are plenty of twists, betrayals and shadowy organisations pulling strings behind the scenes and while it occasionally leans a little too heavily into familiar spy territory it remains fun throughout.
Spy Games
The supporting cast also do a great job of helping flesh out Bond’s journey as he learns that being a secret agent is not always as glamorous as it appears. With special shoutout to Lennie James as Greenway and Kiera Lester as Moneypenny who both smash it out of the park.
Gameplay is where IO Interactive’s style really shines through. Much like their work on Hitman, many missions offer multiple routes and approaches allowing players to decide how they want to complete objectives. You can sneak through restricted areas, gather intel to unlock new opportunities or rely on gadgets to gain the upper hand.
007 First Light features a nice balance between stealth and action too. While going in guns blazing is always an option the game rewards those who take their time and think through situations.
Though it’s worth saying the game isn’t as strict in some ways as Hitman, you can play it a lot faster and looser which is a plus in a lot of ways though hardcore Agent 47 fans may feel a little disappointed.
Infiltrator Gadget
But what is Bond without his gadgets? Well, the boys at Q Branch have got you covered with a host of Bond-inspired tools available throughout the campaign. From hacking devices on your phone to hidden lasers in your watch there is plenty to experiment with and they help give the game its own identity outside of simply being a Hitman-style experience.
Graphically, 007 First Light looks fantastic with detailed environments and strong character models helping bring its globe-trotting adventure to life. Explosions and action sequences are cinematic while the soundtrack does a great job of capturing that classic Bond atmosphere.
Voice acting is strong across the board with Irishman Patrick Gibson managing to make the younger version of Bond feel both familiar but fresh as well.
As for the downsides some missions can feel a little too guided and linear. The story also takes a little while to really get going as there is just a bit too long spent on the training side of things early doors.
007 First Light is an extremely impressive debut for IO Interactive’s take on the famous spy. It successfully blends stealth, action and player choice into an adventure that feels worthy of the 007 name while laying the groundwork for what will become a very exciting new series.
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