007 First Light Review

For more than 70 years, James Bond has been one of entertainment’s most enduring icons. From the novels of Ian Fleming to decades of blockbuster films starring everyone from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, Bond has become more than just a character he’s a cultural Icon.

Video games have been part of that legacy too. From GoldenEye 007 to Everything or Nothing, Bond has enjoyed some memorable adventures in the gaming space. Yet despite the character’s popularity, no developer seemed better suited to handle the license than IO Interactive, the studio responsible for the Hitman Franchise.

When IO Interactive announced it was creating an original Bond story, many fans had the same reaction: of course they are.

After all, Hitman already shares plenty of DNA with James Bond. Exotic locations. Elaborate villains. High-tech gadgets. Creative infiltration. The question wasn’t whether IO could make a Bond game.

The question was whether they could make a Bond game that felt distinct from Hitman.

The answer in my opinion is a resounding yes.

A New Bond for a New Generation

007 First Light tells the origin story of a young James Bond before he earns his famous 00 status. This isn’t the polished superspy we’ve come to know over decades of films. Instead, we meet a younger Bond talented, impulsive, arrogant, charming, and eager to prove himself.

Following a heroic act during his service as a Royal Navy aviator, Bond is recruited into MI6’s newly revitalized Double-0 program. What follows is a globe-trotting adventure that explores his transformation into Britain’s most dangerous secret agent.

The story immediately succeeds because it understands Bond at his core.

This version of James is reckless, often acting before thinking, yet possesses an undeniable charisma that allows him to navigate situations few others could survive. Throughout the campaign, his beliefs and methods are constantly challenged by those around him, creating a surprisingly compelling character arc.

Importantly, this isn’t simply a retelling of familiar Bond stories. IO Interactive has crafted an original narrative that feels authentic to the franchise while establishing its own identity.

Fans will find everything they expect from a Bond adventure: espionage, political conspiracies, secret organizations, cutting-edge technology, exotic locations, dangerous villains, and plenty of twists along the way.

An Outstanding Cast

A Bond story lives and dies by its characters, and First Light delivers one of the strongest ensembles the franchise has seen in years.

Patrick Gibson steps into the role of James Bond and immediately makes it his own. Rather than imitating Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig, Gibson creates a unique interpretation of the character. His Bond is younger, more energetic, and occasionally immature, yet still possesses the confidence and charm that define the character.

It’s a performance that balances humor, vulnerability, arrogance, and heroism exceptionally well.

The supporting cast is equally impressive.

M remains the stern leader of MI6, constantly forcing Bond to question his instincts. Moneypenny brings warmth and wit to every interaction. Q steals multiple scenes with his gadgets and deadpan humor.

The standout newcomer, however, is Greenway.

As Bond’s mentor, Greenway serves as a perfect foil to the young agent. Experienced, disciplined, and visibly frustrated by Bond’s recklessness, their relationship evolves throughout the story and provides some of the game’s strongest moments.

Combined with excellent motion capture and voice performances across the board, the narrative feels remarkably cinematic from beginning to end.

The Bond Fantasy Perfectly Realized

If there’s one area where First Light truly excels, it’s understanding what makes James Bond appealing.

This is not simply a stealth game. Instead, it captures the entire Bond fantasy.

One moment you’re infiltrating a luxury gala while posing as a photographer. The next, you’re racing through crowded streets in a high-speed chase before finding yourself involved in an explosive shootout against overwhelming odds.

Every mission feels like a classic Bond film brought to life.

The game constantly shifts between stealth, investigation, social manipulation, exploration, action, and cinematic spectacle. It never remains in one mode long enough to become repetitive.

The result is a gameplay experience that feels varied and exciting throughout its roughly 14-hour campaign.

More Than Hitman with a Bond Skin

The obvious comparison is Hitman, but First Light quickly proves it has its own identity.

Like Hitman, missions are built around dense, intricately designed environments filled with opportunities, secrets, and alternative routes. Players can eavesdrop on conversations, gather clues, discover shortcuts, and manipulate situations to gain advantages.

However, Bond approaches these scenarios differently than Agent 47.

Agent 47 thrives on remaining invisible. Bond thrives on improvisation.

If you’re caught trespassing, Bond can often bluff his way out of trouble through dialogue. Guards may believe he’s a photographer, an inspector, or simply someone who got lost.

These interactions create a unique layer of social stealth that feels perfectly suited to the character.

The game encourages creativity rather than strict adherence to stealth systems. Failure often creates new opportunities instead of forcing players into a reload screen.

It’s one of the smartest design decisions in the entire game.

Gadgets Worthy of 007

No Bond game would be complete without gadgets, and Q delivers in spectacular fashion.

Bond’s arsenal includes:

• A multifunctional Q-Watch
• Q-Lenses for reconnaissance
• Hacking devices
• Laser tools
• Poison dart gadgets
• Sonic distraction devices
• Smoke and concussion gadgets

Players can bring different combinations of equipment into missions, creating meaningful choices before each operation begins.

Every gadget serves a purpose, whether you’re playing stealthily, aggressively, or somewhere in between.

Most importantly, they’re simply fun to use.

Surprisingly Great Combat

One of the biggest surprises is how strong the combat feels. Where gunplay in Hitman often felt like a last resort, First Light embraces action without sacrificing strategy. Firefights are intense, responsive, and cinematic.

Bond can disarm enemies, shoot weapons out of their hands, use environmental objects during fights, perform devastating melee takedowns, and chain together combat actions in ways that make every encounter feel dynamic.

The choreography deserves special praise.

Slamming enemies into walls, throwing objects, diving across cover, and triggering environmental explosions creates some genuinely thrilling moments. The combat isn’t trying to reinvent the genre. It simply aims to make players feel like James Bond.

And it succeeds.

Spectacle on an Uncharted Scale

The game’s biggest surprise may be its blockbuster set pieces.

Throughout the campaign, IO Interactive delivers moments that rival some of gaming’s most memorable cinematic experiences.

Massive chases, collapsing environments, high-speed escapes, train sequences, and explosive action scenes frequently evoke comparisons to Uncharted and Call of Duty’s biggest campaigns.

Yet despite their scale, these moments rarely feel disconnected from gameplay. Instead, they serve as rewards between the more open-ended mission sections.

The pacing is exceptional. Each chapter builds toward increasingly spectacular finales, constantly raising the stakes without feeling exhausting. There is always a sense of anticipation about what the game might do next.

World-Class Level Design

If there’s one area where IO Interactive remains unmatched, it’s level design. Every major location is packed with alternate pathways, hidden rooms, optional interactions, and environmental storytelling.

The game’s luxury casinos, political summits, private estates, and international hotspots feel authentic and lived-in. Exploration is consistently rewarded. Even after completing a mission, it feels as though you’ve only scratched the surface of what each environment contains.

This also makes replayability one of First Light’s greatest strengths. Different clues, gadgets, disguises, and approaches can dramatically alter how missions unfold. TacSim mode extends this further, allowing players to revisit missions with modifiers, additional objectives, leaderboards, and unlockable rewards.

Presentation Fit for a Bond Film

Visually, First Light is stunning.

While there are occasional moments where character models or environmental detail fall short of the very best current-generation titles, the overall presentation remains impressive throughout.

The art direction is particularly strong. Every location feels like it belongs in a Bond movie. The soundtrack deserves equal praise.

Classic Bond themes are used carefully and effectively, maximizing their emotional impact. Meanwhile, Lana Del Rey’s original theme song, First Light, ranks among the franchise’s strongest musical contributions in years.

Combined with excellent sound design and cinematic direction, the presentation consistently elevates the experience.

The Few Flaws

For all its strengths, First Light isn’t perfect.

The driving sequences are less successful than the rest of the gameplay. While they look impressive and provide exciting moments, vehicle handling lacks the polish found elsewhere.

Graphically, the game sometimes falls short of the absolute visual benchmark set by the industry’s most technically impressive releases. These issues are noticeable, but none significantly diminish the overall experience.

007 First Light accomplishes something remarkable.

Rather than simply borrowing from Hitman or attempting to imitate the films, IO Interactive has successfully translated the James Bond fantasy into a modern video game.

It captures everything fans love about the character: the charm, the danger, the gadgets, the humor, the action, the romance, and the globe-trotting adventure.

Patrick Gibson delivers a fantastic new interpretation of Bond. The supporting cast shines. The mission design is exceptional. The combat is thrilling. The stealth is flexible. The spectacle rivals the biggest games in the industry.

Most importantly, it understands what makes James Bond special.

This isn’t Hitman wearing a tuxedo. It’s James Bond brought to life in a way that feels authentic, exciting, and completely unique.

IO Interactive hasn’t just made a great James Bond game. They may have made the best James Bond game ever.