007 First Light [REVIEW] – A Licence to Thrill 

Come on, having IO Interactive – the team behind the Hitman franchise – working on a James Bond game feels like the perfect fit, right? Taking their signature open-ended level design and fusing it with the explosive energy of a blockbuster action movie, 007 First Light offers a brilliant, globe-trotting spy thriller that balances quiet espionage with massive cinematic moments. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Rather than relying on established movie lore, 007 First Light gives us a completely fresh origin story, with players introduced to a young, inexperienced, and pre-00 status James Bond. The campaign kicks off with a chaotic, botched covert operation in Iceland, where an SAS aircraft goes down and Bond has to infiltrate a mercenary-run compound to secure a mysterious asset. Surviving against the odds earns him a fast-track ticket into MI6’s newly rebooted training programme, and from there, we get a fantastic training montage set in Malta, before Bond is sent out into the wider world to unravel a global conspiracy involving a rogue former agent.  

Patrick Gibson (who you may recognise from Dexter: Original Sin) steps into the lead role and ABSOLUTELY smashes it. He doesn’t try to mimic the more prolific movie Bonds that you might be used to, but instead delivers a highly original performance that’s witty, cocky, and rough around the edges in all the right ways, making him feel genuinely likeable. The supporting cast is equally stellar, with the likes of M, Moneypenny, and Q perfectly portrayed, but those unique to the game equally impressive – particularly John Greenway and some of Bond’s 00-allies. It makes the narrative all the more engaging, and whilst it might be a bit of a cliche to say, you’ll really feel like you’re part of one of the movies. 

Of course, a great narrative is no good if the game isn’t fun to play, but 007 First Light shines there too. You are dropped into an array of stunningly intricate locations from across the globe, each of which is built around individual scenarios and set pieces that make them all the more intriguing. From here, you can climb around the outside of buildings, eavesdrop on foes (or innocent bystanders), disguise yourself to slip past security… you know, the conventional things you’d expect from a super spy that relies on subtlety and wit to get by. And, of course, you also get a brilliant arsenal of toys, including a hacking Q-Watch, a camera that stuns enemies, a fake phone that shoots poison darts, and a pen that fires mini-missiles. There are a ton of different ways to approach levels, but nothing is more satisfying than using everything at your disposal to get through via stealthy means. 

“007 First Light perfectly captures the wit, charm, and skillset of the legendary spy, all whilst offering a special gameplay experience that’ll keep players enthralled from start to end.” 

And, of course, you’ll also rely on Bond’s charm. If a guard catches you somewhere you shouldn’t be, the stealth doesn’t immediately fail – instead, Bond can literally talk his way out of trouble, bluffing his way through just about any situation in an often comical manner that’ll always bring a smile to your face. You don’t have infinite bluffs, so it’s not something you can rely on to get out of every tricky situation you find yourself in, but it’s a brilliant touch that lives up to the antics you’d have previously seen Bond get into across the movies. 

And when the talking inevitably stops? The action is fantastic. The hand-to-hand combat relies heavily on perfectly timed dodges and parries, letting you use the environment to your advantage, whilst gunfights are just as dynamic, especially thanks to a mechanic that lets you chuck your empty pistol at an enemy’s face to stun them before nicking their weapon. It’s like a blend of the Batman Arkham titles and Uncharted, and believe me, it makes for a wonderful combination. 

And sure, it isn’t completely flawless, especially in brawls with multiple enemies where the action is hard to keep up with or in shootouts where the cover system can have some fiddly moments, but for the most part, it’s really thrilling and completely complements the slicker stealth sections.  

Check out some screenshots down below: 

One thing that’s also worth noting is that there are driving sequences, because come on, it wouldn’t be a Bond experience without them, right? I’ve actually seen some mixed opinions about these online, but honestly? I was a big fan. They’re visually exciting and full of action-packed set pieces, and whilst the car handling can feel a tad floaty in places, I always looked forward to these sections. 

It’ll take around 15 hours to get through the main story, which is a decent length (and the different approaches you can take in levels make it worth playing through more than once). And for those who just want more spy action, 007 First Light also includes a separate Tactical Simulation mode to keep you busy, which offers various offline and online challenges, escalations, and repurposed maps with unique modifiers. It has its own progression loop where you earn points to unlock and upgrade gear, giving the game loads of replay value and all the more reason to keep coming back for more.  

Playing on the PlayStation Pro, the game is an absolute visual powerhouse. The environments are packed with dense details, the lighting is gorgeous, and it mostly holds a rock-solid 60fps – I did experience a few minor stutters during cutscenes, but it was nothing problematic that hindered the overall cinematic presnece. The audio design is also exceptional, heavily leaning into classic spy motifs and featuring a brilliant original theme song from Lana Del Rey that fits the mood perfectly. I love a Bond intro, and 007 First Light gets it spot on. 

Developer: IO Interactive 
Publisher: IO Interactive 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC 
Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/007-first-light/