007 First Light Review (Spoiler Free)

When 007 First Light was first announced, I have to admit I wasn't that interested. I like the James Bond movies, but I’ve only watched up to Skyfall in the Daniel Craig era. While I did read the Young Bond books as a kid, I hadn't really had much interest in the character lately. Not only that, but I also saw that it was being developed by IO Interactive—the incredibly talented team behind the recent Hitman trilogy. While those games look and play amazing, they just don't interest me that much, so I never felt the need to play them.
However, I heard rumors that the new 007 game is basically "the new Uncharted," which is one of my favorite gaming franchises of all time. So, I decided to treat myself to a newly released video game and give it a shot. 

What do I have to say about a video game based on a character I previously didn't care about, made by a studio famous for a series I'm not interested in? 007 First Light might just be my Game of the Year.

Story

007 First Light follows James Bond right at the very start of his MI6 career. We see him survive an incredibly dangerous mission that goes wrong (which beautifully foreshadows the larger plot) before being recruited into the newly reformed 00 program. From there, we are taken on a journey of James training to become the ultimate spy. He also has to deal with the friction of joining the program late and carrying a reputation for breaking the rules, which causes conflict with both his fellow trainees and the head of the program, Greenway. As the story progresses and the larger plot takes hold (which I won't spoil here, but I will post a full "spoiler sauce" breakdown later), James is forced to evolve as a spy and come to terms with what it truly means to be a 00 agent. This journey takes us to incredible locations all over the world—from a tropical paradise hotel resort and an elegant chess tournament to a top-secret super-base hidden from civilization. It delivers that exact sense of grand adventure that I haven't felt since the Uncharted 2 days.

I also really like this version of James Bond. He is inexperienced when we meet him, causing him to often be reckless and easily distracted—to the point where one mission almost fails entirely because he is flirting with a woman. It is a side of him I feel we haven't really seen in the movies (with the exception of Casino Royale, which is my favorite 007 film). It's a dynamic I thoroughly enjoy; MI6 knows he is a risk-taker who likes to bend the rules, but they also know he gets the job done. This, mixed with his cheeky charm, surprisingly deep worldview, and sharp British wit, makes him—in my opinion—the most likable James Bond yet.
I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times during my 18-hour playthrough, thanks to James cracking a joke or members of the incredible supporting cast making funny side comments (the Q-Lab scientists and engineers really cracked me up). The supporting cast is phenomenal across the board and completely fleshes out the world. I loved his camaraderie with the other agents, Q, and Moneypenny, as well as his love-hate relationships with Greenway and M.

IO Interactive also does a great job of making minor background characters feel important. I had a moment with two minor side characters that felt incredibly impactful simply because I had taken the time to speak with them while walking around MI6. Each of these interactions is completely missable, but if you make the effort to explore and talk to people, the narrative becomes so much more rewarding. I love this sort of detail, where a great substory emerges just from taking your time to explore.

For me, this is one of the best stories in an action-adventure game since Uncharted 2. It features fantastic twists, epic set pieces, a plot that constantly keeps you wanting more, and an incredible finale. The rumors were right: Nathan Drake’s spirit lives on in another character, and his name is Bond… James Bond.

Gameplay

The gameplay is mainly stealth-focused. Ammo is limited, and you aren't technically allowed to kill unless the enemy shoots first (luckily, that rule doesn't seem to apply when it comes to throwing people off cliffs or dropping chandeliers on them). To navigate the different combat arenas, you have a versatile list of gadgets to bring on missions. These range from missile pens and flash grenades disguised as AirPods to a phone that fires poison darts. However, you can only bring a maximum of three gadgets per mission, and one slot is always locked to your trusty Q-Watch (this expands to four slots by the end of the game).
I personally found the most success using the laser watch strap (which can blind enemies, break locks, and cause distractions) alongside the flashbang AirPods, which allowed me to clear out entire groups of enemies at once. I had an amazing moment where a single flashbang took out a group of four—knocking two unconscious and sending the other two flying over a cliff. It was pure cinema. The poison-dart phone was also great for slipping past guards to gather intel, though it wasn't quite as useful against large crowds of enemies.

Each level is split into what I see as two distinct phases: Investigation and Infiltration.

Investigation: This usually occurs at the beginning or midpoint of a level, where you have to disguise yourself as an employee or security guard and bluff your way through an area while investigating your objective. This phase is heavily influenced by the Hitman games, and to be honest, I loved it. If a guard won't let you past to reach a target, you can sneakily steal a yoga mat and pretend to be their instructor. If you can't get into a gala, you can pickpocket a ticket while someone is distracted. Each level offers multiple paths to your objective, providing that "I wonder what would happen if I tried this" replayability factor that makes me want to dive right back in.

Infiltration: This is the more intense, "Licensed to Kill" phase (I love that they actually flash that prompt at the top of the screen when it activates—so cool). Here, you have to sneak and fight your way through areas packed with enemies that you simply cannot beat in a standard head-on gunfight. It forces you to use the environment to your advantage, utilizing your watch and gadgets to incapacitate the majority of the threats before finishing the rest off. I did find myself failing multiple times in certain encounters, but it never felt frustrating. Instead, it motivated me to find a new approach to overcome the guards (though I will admit, sometimes I just ran in and punched people, as the enemy AI can occasionally be terrible at aiming). 

Both phases complement each other perfectly; I never got bored or preferred one over the other. Instead, it felt like a natural, incredibly satisfying progression as the level unfolded.

That said, it isn't all smooth sailing. I found running into cover to be quite clunky at moments, which occasionally resulted in getting spotted by guards because Bond suddenly forgot how to hide behind a wall. I also experienced a few game crashes, which is actually the first time I've ever had a game crash on my PS5. One crash was particularly bad and corrupted my save file. Luckily, the game features an excellent load system that lets you restart from specific chapters within a level, so I only lost about five minutes of progress—but it was still a nasty surprise. Hopefully, both of these issues will be patched out soon.

I also want to quickly praise the collectibles and the TacSim (Tactical Simulation) mode, both of which add tons of replay value. Each level holds multiple collectibles to find, which you can view in a sleek hub area. Some even provide extra lore for the characters and locations, which is a nice touch. Meanwhile, the TacSim allows you to test your infiltration skills. You either replay specific areas, or revisit maps from the investigation phase that have been redesigned purely for combat and stealth. It strongly reminds me of the Batman: Arkham challenge maps and is an incredibly fun feature to play around with.

 

Voice Acting & Writing

I have to admit, when I first saw that Patrick Gibson was cast as James Bond, I couldn't really picture it. I only knew him from his role in the Shadow and Bone TV series; he was good in it, but I just didn't think he looked or felt like Bond. He completely proved me wrong. He manages to ooze the exact charm and charisma we expect from the character, and the character model based on his likeness really looked the part by the end. He did a great job of giving Bond an authoritative presence while balancing it with the youthful cheekiness he displays throughout the story. I loved every aspect of his performance, to the point where I could easily see a gaming award coming his way this year.

Lennie James also provides his likeness and voice talents as Greenway, making the old-school 00 operative an absolute badass. He brings a strict, surprisingly deep tone to the character. My favorite interactions throughout the game were easily between Greenway and Bond; you can tell Lennie and Patrick had a blast bouncing dialogue off one another, as the banter is always sharp and witty.

My personal highlight, however, was Q, played by Alistair Mackenzie. I think he is the best version of Q I have ever seen in any James Bond media. His performance is an incredible mix of mad genius, old-school British wit, and genuine warmth, making him instantly likable. That appreciation only grows throughout the game, to the point where I was always excited to head back to the Q-Lab just to see him.

The writing also deserves a massive shoutout. Not only is the story incredibly fun and stylishly trotting the globe (yes, there are a few weird plot holes, but honestly, I don't care), but I genuinely cared about every single character. Plus, the dialogue is some of the best I’ve heard in a video game in a very long time.

 

Music

I mean, it's a James Bond game... of course the music is bloody fantastic! The score is incredibly cinematic throughout, and when that iconic Bond theme kicks in—often remixed into a massive, sweeping orchestral piece—the hairs on your arms stand up and a massive grin hits your face. I will definitely be listening to this soundtrack on repeat, and I'll absolutely pick up a vinyl version if they ever release one.

 

Conclusion

007 First Light went from a game I didn't even plan on buying to a definitive contender for my Game of the Year. It takes all the best elements of the action-adventure genre to give you an epic, cinematic experience that you won't soon forget—and one that will leave you begging for more. I haven't been this excited for a franchise since Uncharted, and I can't wait to see what IO Interactive does with the license in the future.
Until next time, Mr. Bond.