James Bond has been trapped for too long between the nostalgia of GoldenEye and a long list of forgettable adaptations. However, there was IO Interactive, a brilliant studio behind Hitman, but one that had to prove it could build something bigger, more cinematic, and far more emotional.
007 First Light doesn't try to reinvent the character from scratch. What it does is something far more complicated: it builds a young, imperfect, and surprisingly human version of cinema's most famous agent while mixing infiltration, action and spectacle with considerably more personality than it seemed in the trailers.
A more interesting character
Here we're not controlling the Bond who walks into a room in a perfect tuxedo and always seems to have ten plans ready. We're dealing with a young agent who's still learning to become the cold-blooded monster we know.
First Light functions almost like a covert origin story. There are chases, international conspiracies, charismatic villains, and impossible gadgets. But there's also a constant sense of learning and evolution. Bond makes mistakes, improvises, and makes impulsive decisions. Sometimes it even seems like he's surviving on pure intuition.
The script doesn't always maintain the same level. There are some predictable turns and certain secondary characters disappear from the plot too quickly, but overall it achieves something very difficult: making this new version of Bond interesting even when the explosions stop.
The roots of Hitman
Yes, Hitman's DNA is present. There are relatively open levels, multiple ways to approach goals, alternative routes, and a design that rewards observation. But First Light does not seek the almost obsessive freedom of the Agent 47 saga.
There are moments where you can analyze a situation for several minutes before acting, and others where the game throws you directly into chases, improvised infiltrations, or spectacular sequences that seem to be taken from a Hollywood blockbuster.
When a mission starts to seem too slow, An action sequence appears. When the show threatens to become a mere interactive corridor, the game gives you room to plan again.
A very well-executed fight
The confrontations combine counterattacks, dodges, and highly choreographed animationsso that they convey a constant sense of control and elegant brutality. Bond doesn't fight like a superhero, but neither does he fight like a conventional soldier.
What's interesting is how it coexists with the other available tools. You can resort to stealth, use gadgets, create distractions, or resolve certain situations directly with gunfire. None of the options seem entirely wrong.
Perhaps the shooting is the least brilliant part of the whole. It works well, it has impact and delivers during the most explosive sequences, but it rarely reaches the same level as infiltration or close combat.
It feels like IO Interactive is still more comfortable building tension than designing shootouts.
Visual conviction
Some sequences are very reminiscent of games like Uncharted 4 in their style combine action, narrative and visual spectacle. The difference is that here there is always a slight component of espionage that prevents everything from becoming a roller coaster without context.
It doesn't reach the level of madness of Naughty Dog's best scenes, but it doesn't try to compete directly with them either.
The environments are enormous, brimming with detail, and perfectly scaled to the international James Bond fantasy. From military complexes to luxury casinos and secret facilities hidden in impossible locations, the game constantly conveys a sense of a multi-million dollar production. Patrick Gibson manages to create a highly believable version of the young Bond, far removed from easy imitations and with enough charisma to carry the entire adventure. Furthermore, The overall performance is quite good on the PlayStation 5 version we tested.
But it's a strange mix; there are moments when it wants to be a leisurely spy experience, full of observation and planning. And others where it goes for pure spectacle, almost without restraint.
Editor's opinion
IO Interactive understands the character, respects his legacy, and at the same time dares to build something different. The blend of stealth, cinematic action, and narrative works. The combat has personality, the environments are excellent, and the campaign maintains a very solid pace throughout almost the entire adventure.
Not all the elements fit together with the same precision, but Precisely because it doesn't try to copy anyone, it ends up finding a very unique identity.
After so many years away, Bond returns to video games with something much more important than nostalgia: a clear direction for the future.