A mysterious killer is hunting people within a sprawling estate hidden somewhere in Europe. This calculated assassin is targeting the wealthy and powerful, and expertly eliminates those on his list. He’s incredibly difficult to catch, constantly changing his appearance and knowing the estate like the back of his hand. IO Interactive, the team behind the Hitman games, usually puts players as the assassin, but 007 First Light changes things up – you’re tasked with stopping one. This isn’t a departure from their previous work, but rather a clever twist on it. The game’s design, heavily influenced by the Hitman series, showcases IO Interactive’s skill and adaptability, making this a strong entry in the James Bond franchise.
Despite its potential, the game doesn’t start strong. The beginning is very restrictive, forcing players through a straightforward series of actions like hiding in tall grass and following on-screen instructions. It’s a letdown to see the game trade its open-ended possibilities for familiar, overused elements from other big titles – a limited open world is rarely a good sign.
Fortunately, the game gradually expands beyond its initially limited scope with a smooth, hands-on introduction that teaches players the controls as they experience the game with Bond. After a couple of hours of establishing the basics, IOI finally gives players freedom to explore and proves that First Light isn’t simply a spy-themed imitation of the Uncharted series.
Rating: 5/5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Kinetic combat loop gets players to move, shoot, punch, and improvise, resulting in a unique action movie-esque tempo | TacSim mode, while a great addition, currently lacks a decent amount of scenarios |
| The lengthy yet well-paced story provides a solid mystery and prescient commentary on current events | |
| Killer performances and snappy dialogue give each of its main characters an endearing personality and further highlight the narrative’s other strengths | |
| Campaign missions consistently move between linear set pieces and open Hitman-esque levels often enough to always stay fresh |
007 First Light Balances Its Various Tones Well
I’m absolutely loving the levels in this game! They’re huge, like that amazing European mansion from the beginning, and always bustling with people. You can overhear all sorts of funny conversations, and there are tons of rooms to search. What’s really cool is that there’s usually more than one way to tackle an objective. It really depends on how you’ve equipped your character and how well you explore. For example, you can blast open a locked door, or if you’re sneaky, disguise yourself to get past guards – it’s awesome!
Unlike recent Hitman games, First Light doesn’t offer the same level of freedom. James Bond must maintain a certain level of decorum, meaning you can’t just use any method to take out enemies or overcome obstacles. The game also constantly displays mission details and highlights objectives with on-screen icons, and unfortunately, you can’t disable these elements. However, this doesn’t make First Light a bad game; it simply feels more like a classic action-adventure title. It’s a focused, linear experience with plenty of choices, rather than a flawed attempt at a more open-ended, immersive simulation.
The seamless blend of straightforward levels and open areas is key to First Light‘s excellent pacing. The game frequently shifts between different styles and speeds – you might start with a calm scene at MI6, then move into a large, open environment with multiple objectives, followed by a close-quarters fight that turns into a stealth mission, then a car chase, and another explosive set piece. This constant variety keeps the 17-hour game consistently engaging. Even the large-scale action sequences feel fresh and cleverly utilize skills you’ve already learned. One memorable moment has you controlling a wrecking ball, while another puts you in the pilot’s seat of a falling plane, shooting enemies who didn’t think to use a parachute.
007 First Light‘s Combat Plays Out Like an Action Movie
Honestly, the environments in this game are awesome because you can actually interact with them. Unlike some games where set pieces are just for show, here everything feels usable. Cover doesn’t last long – a few shots and it’s gone – and you’re always low on ammo, so you can’t just camp. It really pushes you to keep moving. One of the coolest things is you can shoot the guns right out of enemies’ hands! They’ll dramatically drop their weapon, giving you a perfect opening for a melee attack. Plus, switching between punching and shooting is super smooth, which means I’m constantly mixing things up and not falling into the same old patterns. It’s a really dynamic experience.
What really stands out is how well both the shooting and hand-to-hand combat work. Bond is a skilled fighter, giving players plenty of ways to control the battlefield – they can push enemies into traps, knock them into each other, or quickly stun them with thrown objects. The smooth shooting controls, combined with gadgets and explosive barrels throughout the levels, make gunfights much more than just aim and shoot.
While both approaches are effective on their own, focusing on just one ruins the fun of the combat system. First Light truly shines when players are quickly moving around the battlefield and reacting to situations as they happen. For example, you could disarm an enemy, steal their weapon, land a couple of precise shots, toss the gun to a teammate to stun another enemy, take them down, use a fire extinguisher as a smokescreen, and then end it all with a spontaneous brawl. This is just a small taste of the game’s potential. First Light gives players tons of choices and creates unpredictable, exciting battles every time.
Tactical Simulator’s challenge mode lets players jump straight into combat scenarios without a story to follow. It’s great to have extra things to unlock and test the game’s mechanics, giving players something to do after finishing the main campaign. However, it’s currently held back by a limited number of scenarios and consistently slow loading times. While more content is planned, the initial offering feels a bit sparse considering how much potential the mode has.
007 First Light‘s Story Is All Too Relevant
Just because TacSim prioritizes gameplay doesn’t mean the story in First Light is weak—it’s actually quite good. The beginning starts like a standard spy thriller, centered around a mysterious agent. But things take a turn in the second act, with surprising twists that make the story much more intense and meaningful than you’d expect.
First Light explores the dangers of over-reliance on unreliable technology, the dishonesty of those who promote it, and the corruption of leaders who prioritize maintaining power over doing what’s right. Though presented as a spy story, the novel’s themes resonate strongly today, particularly as powerful individuals push artificial intelligence onto the public for personal gain – a situation made ironic by the connection to the James Bond franchise and its own exploration of AI. By addressing these current issues, First Light adds significant depth to its traditional espionage narrative.
Despite a compelling narrative, the game truly shines thanks to its characters. This new version of Bond is a refreshing take – he’s likable, morally grounded, and feels genuinely unique, avoiding tired stereotypes. His cleverness and the game’s witty dialogue strike a great balance between humor and seriousness. Just as the diverse gameplay styles complement each other, the lighthearted moments make the darker scenes even more impactful. While previous Hitman games had comedic elements, IOI has really delivered a more complete and surprisingly mature story with First Light.
The game 007 First Light repeatedly emphasizes the idea of doing the unexpected, and this theme is central to its story. This isn’t just a slogan, but a guiding principle for the entire game. Instead of simply making another Hitman game, which would have been the safe bet, the developers took a risk by creating a Bond game with a unique spin. This willingness to try something different resulted in a new and exciting 007 experience. First Light successfully blends the open-ended gameplay of the Hitman series with the thrilling, action-packed moments common in more straightforward games. The title itself is also meaningful: it’s both an origin story for this version of James Bond and a signal that IOI is aiming to redefine what a 007 game can be.
A PS5 copy of 007 First Light was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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2026-05-26 15:11