007 First Light Review

007 First Light is an inflection point for the storied, suave spy.

Though most of us likely identify James Bond with a particular actor, he is more than just a handsome face. He embodies a mood, an attitude, a way of life. Bond is not a pencil-pushing government man. He’s the mythical ideation of a spy. He goes covertly behind enemy lines. He escapes near-death scenarios. He drives the fastest cars. He beds the loveliest women.

James Bond is a character that I’ve always had casual admiration for. Sure, I’ve been prone to the male fantasy of 007 as a teen but that was often due to the fact that Bond is more action hero than spy. His body count outside of the bedroom would terrify small armies. His unblemished skin and psyche despite coming face to face with impossible odds is awe-inspiring. But also I too would want to skydive out of a car into a plane or go to space and shoot lasers at evil villains.

The storied MI6 agent has more in common with Batman, acting as a superhero under the bidding of crown and country. And that’s always made for great entertainment.

Though one could spend days working to deconstruct the social and political machinations and issues with James Bond and his framing across decades of media, it doesn’t detract from the character’s legacy. The double-0 agent has been at the forefront of some of the most bombastic, implausible, and engaging action moments on film.

And while he got his start in books by Ian Fleming, hearing the phrase “Bond, James Bond” likely evokes a mental image of Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, or Craig.

“My” Bond was Pierce Brosnan in 1995’s GoldenEye and, by association, the classic 1997 Nintendo 64 game GoldenEye 007. My love for the film bled into my feverish excitement to being unable to sleep the night of Christmas Eve, knowing I would finally be able to play the hotly anticipated game after unwrapping it from under the tree. To ease my suffering, my grandmother who had got me the game allowed me to remove its manual and pore over it for weeks before actually putting the cartridge in the console.

I imagine many who play 007 First Light are going to have GoldenEye 007 as their gold standard for Bond games. Unlike 007 First Light releasing in 2026, GoldenEye 007 coming out in 1997 was quite the novelty. Console shooters hadn’t come into their own and many FPS titles were cast in the mold of DOOM, Wolfenstein, and Duke Nukem. The Nintendo 64’s quirky controller offered a substantially bizarre aiming methodology in its attempt to mimic a mouse and keyboard. I remember using the yellow directional C buttons or holding down the right shoulder button and using the control stick to finely point the crosshairs at a button or barrel or head.

For an 11-year-old kid, GoldenEye 007 was everything I wanted it to be. Atrociously blocky renditions of all the actors on screen aside, it replicated so many moments from the film. The music, the explosions, the gadgets. I felt like James Bond and my imagination and understanding of technology helped smooth over the rough edges.

Then why, pray tell, has no 007 game ever been able to rise above that limited standard? Licensing rights? Cash grabs? Lack of trying? Of course I understand that a number of games attempting to capture the 007 magic have wormed their way through the medium. But why has it taken almost 30 years to create another truly memorable game featuring Bond?

There is a world where 007 First Light–or any other competent James Bond game for that matter–exists without Naughty Dog’s release of Uncharted 2 in 2009. Third-person action games existed before Nathan Drake’s sophomore adventure and many were quite good. Yet nothing will shake the notion that Uncharted 2 established a cadence of future releases many developers would aspire to. In terms of sheer quality and spectacle, there was little that Naughty Dog didn’t excel at. It was an Indiana Jones or a Tomb Raider game without being ascribed those monikers. And, by extension, James Bond’s DNA shares much with those kinds of adventures.

007 First Light has Bond falling through the sky after being ejected from a runaway plane. It has car chases. It has a debonair protagonist who is a smooth talker. It has stealth. It has all hell being wrought loose on unsuspecting locales.

Uncharted wasn’t special in its ideas necessarily. It was special in its execution of those ideas.

Controlling Nathan Drake as he engaged in a proverbial cliffhanger, climbing up broken train cars in media res. Then a heist to steal a precious artifact. Later a collapsing building in a foreign city. We were enthralled by Uncharted 2 because we were playing an action film with incredible writing and top-tier visuals.

However, Naughty Dog’s secret formula was always its masterful handling of pacing. Shootouts never lingered on for too long nor were they too bunched up together. An incredible chapter devoted entirely to fighting his way through multiple train cars ultimately had Drake shooting his way out of death and hypothermia–only to then quietly walk around a Tibetan village so players could catch their breath.

IO Interactive has proven themselves to be masters of methodical pacing with 007 Last Light.

And that is a skill that doesn’t exist solely because a slew of phenomenal action games have snowballed into one another. Because it’s obvious 007 First Light wouldn’t exist were it not for IO Interactive’s devotion to Hitman.

Agent 47 and 007 share more than just a number. They are both ruthless killers who will stop at nothing to get the job done. But the bald, monotone, genetically enhanced contract killer often feels more ruthless. James Bond’s body count was always done in service of the crown, for the betterment of the United Kingdom and the world, right? Agent 47 just kills for the money, right?

Regardless of motivations, there is an efficiency to both men’s methods. Both can have dirty hands, if they choose to do so. But I think it is easy to argue that Agent 47 is certainly the more creative of the two. When IO Interactive reestablished the Hitman games–eventually dubbing it the World of Assassination trilogy–the purpose was clear: put the player in a sandbox and give them the necessary tools to execute targets. The goal was always clear. The real joy came from the numerous optional challenges IO Interactive gave players. Take out a target in a specific method, or using a certain disguise. Set off a chain reaction of death. Rush to the goal guns blazing or patiently listen around the mission for clues on how to approach.

007 First Light is a perfect marriage between Uncharted and Hitman. It is a brilliant synergy between pacing and execution, literally and figuratively.

IO Interactive deserves their success not only because of well-established games from the past but the finely-honed success with their own franchise. And when it was announced the developer would be working on a James Bond game, I was one of many who knew the pairing was a match made in heaven.

Entertainment recently has had an issue with providing too many answers and filling in too many blanks. It feels as if every major intellectual property needs to be expounded upon. Star Wars cannot escape the “Skywalker Saga” and wants to create a show or film from any conceivable avenue. How many horror movies desperately hope we care about the origin story of its killer? Did we really need this many–or any–spin-offs of The Big Bang Theory? Should we continue The Office universe with one carry-over character to keep us grounded in the past?

I will admit to having winced at IO Interactive’s proposition that its James Bond game would be an origin story.

But my god… “Earn the number” is an astonishingly good tagline.

Again, though, must we really know how James Bond became 007? Is it really a thread we need to explore? Isn’t it better for people like me who have seen about a dozen of the films to just not really be concerned about how he became a superhero spy? Sure, GoldenEye had me interested in other spies in the double-0 program and what they might be doing while James is toppling rogue governments. But I’m content to have a two-hour film do a bunch of crazy things in a contained story and move on. I don’t need to know the moment James learned how he prefers his martinis.

IO Interactive gracefully navigates this seemingly unnecessary lore and provides players a James Bond game that no one should miss. Not only is 007 First Light a phenomenal spy game, it’s an enthralling action title.

007 First Light weaves together the origins of Bond’s integration into MI6, his training for the double-0 program, and a fascinating globe-trotting trek that would have performed equally well as a high-budget miniseries. Because in every sense of the word, the game is an action film except the runtime is stretched from a traditional 2-hour structure to a 20-hour interactive epic.

The game begins with Bond as a rank-and-file Navy airman who is left as the sole survivor after an ambush during a recovery operation in Iceland. The player guides Bond through a metered introduction meant to translate the game’s emphasis on stealth mechanics and using the environment as a means of progression through challenges. What follows is Bond’s training for the newly resurrected double-0 program, spearheaded by MI6’s new “M”.

What I enjoy most about 007 First Light is that it takes time with its narrative, allowing room for the 007 universe to take hold and the player to explore the space. There is a distinct feeling of high production values that seep through every bit of the game. And this should come as no surprise to IO Interactive fans. Their levels in the Hitman games were crafted to be distinct playgrounds that had dozens of opportunity points not only for kills but for humor and exposition.

After the introductory mission, players control Bond as he walks through the MI6 headquarters and then through the Q-Labs. Should players wish, they can beeline right to Q to progress the narrative. But I certainly didn’t. Instead, I walked around the lab and lingered around as scientists talked. I pushed buttons on a few devices that created a few chuckles. I soaked up the world.

Across 007 First Light‘s numerous chapters, Bond is dropped into a living, breathing world. While it doesn’t shoot for the same intricacy as the Hitman games–which were structured somewhat loosely–it mimics the feeling. Whether it is at an elaborate chess game at a luxury hotel in Slovakia, a bustling technology gala, or a beautiful resort in Vietnam, IO Interactive creates opportunities for the player to experiment in accomplishing goals but also soak up the atmosphere. Barrel through to the end goal and that’s perfectly fine. But doing so will also cause you to miss hundreds of lines of optional dialog that exist merely to add flavor to the world.

007 First Light isn’t primarily about shooting Bond’s way out of a problem. IO Interactive subtly pushes the cloak and dagger aspect of being a spy. Often the player’s patience is rewarded with an action setpiece, whether that be a grand shootout or a car chase.

This is where the game’s pacing becomes so fundamental to the enjoyment of 007 First Light as a gaming experience.

IO Interactive provides players with an extremely capable Bond. One who can engage in fisticuffs, throw his gun at enemies, sabotage things with his Q-Watch, drive a car, smooth talk, and be an all-around badass. The various moving parts are quite complex but rather than bog players down in extensive tutorials, 007 First Light uses a training montage that blends together game mechanics in rapid succession while providing narrative progression. It’s one of the best approaches a game has used to integrate the player into its world and also uses it as a vehicle to bond with the other main characters of the game.

As 007 First Light builds a foundation, it becomes apparent that using it as Bond’s “origin” story was the most apt vessel to providing a quintessential 007 experience. IO Interactive doesn’t weigh itself down with unnecessary details but works to establish Bond as a character with a personality and a past. Hints at a life before going into service are good enough morsels to make him more complete. During his training, players get to spend time at a safe house with Bond as a civilian who grows to befriend two other potential agents. The game throws multiple dynamics at Bond because not only was he never a lone wolf, he does have a team of others he relies on, not just his own instinct.

Every detailed and gorgeous locale players are taken to feel like lived-in spaces. Nothing here is a static room or building where exposition takes place. And I’m not going to lie, 007 First Light is a truly interesting piece of spy fiction that would excel even if it wasn’t a licensed game. IO Interactive manages to address AI, using it as a key plot device in a way that makes sense for both our current era and how the franchise would potentially tackle the issue as well.

Though 007 is never really a property emphasizing twists and turns, being nestled in the spy world does provide some surprise and subterfuge. And 007 First Light has just enough unexpected moments and momentum that players are going to be compelled from beginning to end.

Mechanically, 007 First Light leapfrogs between its handful of design pillars to constantly keep the player in a state of anticipation. The portions of the game that heavily borrow from the Hitman design bible place Bond in an open-ended level with a set few tasks to take care of. A handful of end goals must be accomplished but the player is given a large amount of freedom to feel out the area and try and accomplish what needs to be done.

IO Interactive doesn’t attempt to hold the player’s hand but there are signposts that act as nudges in the proper direction. This design philosophy is crystallized in a mission about halfway through where Bond and a fellow MI6 agent are hunting down a former double-0 agent seemingly responsible for a deadly attack. The agent’s whereabouts find him holed up in a modern day pirate colony. To gain access, Bond has to work his way into an auction but must first earn the money to do so.

From this point, the player must walk around a large area and piece together opportunities to earn money. Retrieve a jewel for a shop owner by ponying up the cash to play a shell game. Have Bond fight for the money by participating in a combat ring. Infiltrate a mercenary group to steal the money. Swipe crypto from a civilian and then unlock the funds by climbing up the rickety buildings to a satellite tower.

It’s in this chapter where all the work IO Interactive has done in the Hitman franchise comes to fruition. The phenomenal way the developer pieces together hundreds of bodies and AI pathing makes these moments vibrant. It translates seamlessly between a bustling hub of illegal commerce, an elite chess match, a hotel in paradise. While these sections of 007 First Light aren’t exactly brimming with action, they capture the essence of Bond’s existence as a spy who doesn’t always have to shoot his way out of every scenario. This is where players get to feel smart and cool.

Slowing down the pace here is what allows players to appreciate when the action shifts into full throttle. The shooting in 007 First Light is beyond competent but missions will only allow Bond a license to kill when the threat is at its deadliest. IO Interactive embraces players who wish to engage with stealth mechanics by incorporating the Q-Watch into scenarios. Players will be able to see numerous points of interaction that can introduce friction into escape or problem solving.

At the onset of a mission, Bond is limited to which spy gadgets he can bring along and the game will sometimes suggest the best pairings. Smoke bombs, darts that briefly incapacitate targets, blinding ear buds, and a rocket pen are a few of the devices players can bring along. Each one has its own number of charges which can be refreshed by picking up generously placed electronics and chemicals. Radios can be remotely triggered to lure guards away. The Q-Watch laser can snap the harness from a rafter and crush guards but it can also break locks.

The number of options available are not infinite but IO Interactive borrows from Hitman‘s methods to extend the life of gameplay. Optional challenges exist that ask players to tackle chapters in various ways, primarily acting as a kind of pat on the back. While 007 First Light is a game that can be enjoyed as a chapter-by-chapter experience, these optional challenges do show how creative players can get if they choose to do so. Additionally, a “TacSim” mode exists inside the game that acts as virtual challenge courses. Again, while these aren’t as intricate as some of Hitman‘s best moments, it is a fantastic way to show off how flashy Bond can be with an expert hand.

As a game that emphasizes stealth and experimentation so heavily, a few cracks do tend to form here and there. Players can often cheese the stealth a bit by luring enemies into easy scenarios where they can be taken out a little too easily without triggering alerts. But I like how Bond’s ability to bluff and lure groups of enemies is almost comically broken, literally allowing the player to waltz into danger and hop out a window. Ultimately this is a video game with rules and it is fun to break them, even if it muddies the immersion just a bit.

IO Interactive has crafted a robust action game that almost feels like the kind of renaissance that Uncharted 2 brought about. Let me be honest, I’ve missed Uncharted as a series and 007 First Light is one of the few games that has captured Naughty Dog’s magic. But this isn’t a carbon copy of similar thrills nor is it by the numbers. 007 First Light is arguably one of the best licensed games we’ve had in years. Voice acting is off the charts, especially Patrick Gibson who nails the bravado and the youth of a burgeoning 007. Music is impactful and varied. The visuals are layered and detailed. It truly feels like IO Interactive has completely evolved as a studio in an exciting way.

The production values here are staggering and it’s obvious that IO Interactive was playing for keeps. Chapter after chapter I was shocked at where the story and the gameplay kept going. There are tiny twists and interesting moments that are used once and left behind. With each new scene players may wonder how IO Interactive will surprise them next or get their heart pumping.

007 First Light is the embodiment of the James Bond fantasy. IO Interactive has crafted an expertly paced roller coaster that is arguably one of the best interpretations of the suave spy yet across any medium. By using its pedigree in stealth, action, and creative solutions to problem solving, the developer has captured the bombast and production value of the best action films and translated it to a blockbuster game.