James Bond has a long history in video games, but his quality missions are far fewer and farther between. I’m happy to report that 007 First Light can join the ranks of successful outings, offering a new and original take on the character that is both fresh and rooted in a deep understanding of the man and the fiction. While the game mostly features enjoyable interactive ideas, its mechanics occasionally threaten to dampen the excellent cinematic flow. But even then, the charm of this spy thriller carries it forward with a can’t-put-down quality that Bond movie makers would be wise to learn from.
In this origin story, we witness Bond’s rise into his vaunted numerical designation from the relative beginning. Laying that storytelling groundwork, along with a hefty selection of player skills, takes time and makes the opening hours feel elongated. Between stealth, melee, gun combat, gadget use, driving, puzzle-solving, social encounters, and environmental traversal, there are a lot of moving parts here, and a lot of tutorials to memorize.
Thankfully, those early, slower hours also lay the groundwork for excellent storytelling. IO Interactive gets what works in the Bond mythology and nails a pitch-perfect reimagining that captures the character’s suave wit, endless double entendres with the ladies, and his uncompromising moral compass. The surrounding cast keeps pace, turning in consistently standout performances aided by a dependably clever script. It’s one of the most fun Bond narratives in memory – games or otherwise.
Gameplay rolls back and forth between slow-paced infiltration play and punctuated moments of explosive action and set-piece bombast. Many of the slower-paced sequences are a lot of fun, especially those that see Bond navigating complex social scenes with dozens of people, carefully piecing together clues or sneaking into places he shouldn’t be. Over the impressive variety of missions, some of these slower sequences feel exceedingly so, with puzzles that feel overly prescriptive, or lengthy stretches where the sense of tense spy shenanigans becomes mundane. Yet again, it’s the great performances, gorgeous visual presentation, and highly listenable music and vocal work that carry the player through and keep things moving along.
It took me some time to warm to the frenetic pacing of the faster action sequences. Whether in punchouts, in a pitched gun battle, or even in occasional driving sequences, everything is focused on constant mobility, changing tactics, and quick reactions. With time, I reveled in the speed demanded while switching weapons and charging headlong into danger. I also enjoy the increasing variety of amazing gadgets from Q that might blind foes with a laser, fire a micro-missile from a pen, or poison an unsuspecting target with a toxic phone dart. Like the best films from the canon, First Light features several memorable (if sometimes outlandish) moments of wild action; I love the way the game consistently one-ups itself as Bond’s seeming indestructibility carries him from one harrowing situation to the next.
Like many of the best spy adventures, 007 First Light keeps you guessing as you roll inexorably forward; more than once, it feels like everything is wrapping up, only for the game to unveil new twists that keep the story hurtling in a new direction. When it all finally wrapped up, the campaign left me satisfied. Players can tackle many encounters using alternative tactics or routes, adding replayability to a second playthrough. A robust selection of challenges further enhances that replayability, as does an entirely separate tactical simulation game mode. Aspiring spies shouldn’t skip that menu option, as TacSim lays out some rewarding scenarios of escalating difficulty, and an impressive array of cosmetic unlocks for your trouble.
IO Interactive swung for the fences with 007 First Light, stuffing in a ton of ideas, mechanics, and systems. And while I encountered a few notable moments of frustration navigating Bond’s new escapade, the takeaway was one of deep satisfaction; this team knows why and how this setting can be fun, and they absolutely nail the execution of that vision. First Light presents a take on James Bond that works in all the ways that matter, setting up strong potential for more sneaky infiltrations, amorous encounters, pitched battles, and world-saving fun in the future.