A star rating of 4 out of 5.
Do you remember the simple joy of flipping on the TV on a Sunday afternoon and stumbling upon a James Bond movie? Playing 007 First Light reminded me of those relaxed days spent watching Bond films on British television.
Each James Bond film offers a unique experience – a new lead actor, a different time period, yet they all share a special, underlying quality that makes them feel undeniably Bond.
No matter what kind of adventure Bond is having – whether it’s a super-modern, high-tech story or something that feels like an old-school classic – he’s always Bond, and that’s comforting. I always feel like I can just relax and enjoy the movie, even with all the commercials!
Whenever I began a new game mission, I remembered that feeling, and I realized 007 First Light gave off a similar sense of calm and confidence.
This new video game puts you in the shoes of James Bond, played brilliantly by Patrick Gibson, and offers a wide range of missions. No matter which adventure you choose, you’re sure to have a great time.
IO Interactive, the studio behind the new 007 game, is famous for the Hitman series. Those games let players explore open-ended levels and eliminate targets in any way they chose, and fans loved finding creative ways to complete missions. You’ll find a similar sense of freedom and experimentation in 007 First Light.
Like James Bond with his gadgets, this game offers more than one way to approach challenges. An initial mission demonstrates that sneaking around like in the Hitman series is just one of many possibilities.
The game starts with you infiltrating a luxurious hotel hosting a chess tournament. It feels similar to the Hitman series as you pursue a target, freely choosing how to overcome security, locked doors, and any other challenges that stand in your way.
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The game then dramatically shifts into exciting, movie-style action. Reaching your target doesn’t lead to a quiet takedown – instead, you’re thrown into a challenging boss battle, a thrilling car chase, and a massive action sequence I won’t reveal. Just like a classic Bond film, things quickly become chaotic, and you have to react quickly, adapt to the situation, and desperately work towards completing MI6’s mission.
I remember the first time it really clicked for me while playing – that moment when you’re sneaking around, then suddenly burst into action. It totally took me by surprise! Okay, after you’ve seen that happen a few times, it’s not as shocking, but it’s still a blast every time. It kept me hooked throughout all ten missions of the main story.
This story has a classic James Bond feel. Although it’s a fresh start for the character, it includes all the familiar elements – a memorable villain, their dangerous allies, and attractive companions – as you follow a global mystery.
Each mission takes you to a new location and introduces fresh characters, creating the feeling of watching not just one Bond movie, but an entire series of thrilling Bond adventures, like a collection of blockbuster films.
The game is fantastic in many ways, especially its music. From Lana Del Rey’s theme song to the original score by The Flight, the soundtrack is consistently excellent and perfectly captures the feeling of being James Bond.
We also want to highlight the cast of 007 First Light, and especially its cut-scene director, Martin Emborg. Pierce Brosnan was perfectly cast as Bond, delivering a fantastic blend of dry humor, playful arrogance, and genuine charm that makes you want to see him succeed. The supporting actors, including Lennie James as the mentor Greenway, did a wonderful job bringing emotional weight to the story and making the quieter moments as engaging as the action.
The game consistently looks great, but I experienced three crashes during my playthrough. Thankfully, the frequent checkpoints meant I didn’t lose much progress each time.
The game’s level design is a bit inconsistent. Some missions are really well done, while others feel rushed or unfinished – like the nighttime office infiltration, which seemed to have limited resources allocated to it.
I also wasn’t thrilled with the close-quarters combat. It tries to be similar to the dodging and parrying system in the Arkham games, but it doesn’t feel as smooth. I ended up dodging constantly, which didn’t really feel like something James Bond would do, but it did make the fights finish faster.
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Having a small number of gadgets encourages creative thinking, but it also made the game less enjoyable. I often found myself relying on the same strategies repeatedly – I especially overused poison darts during my initial playthrough.
Overall, the story works well, even if some of the surprises weren’t entirely unexpected. What really makes it enjoyable, though, is the strong writing and excellent acting, which bring every scene to life.
These are just small criticisms, and I wholeheartedly recommend this game to anyone who loves James Bond. If you’re looking for an exciting adventure that takes you around the world, with fantastic action, a talented cast, and a great soundtrack, you definitely shouldn’t miss this. It’s perfect for playing through from beginning to end.
The new James Bond game, 007 First Light, is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. We tested it on Xbox Series X, and you can purchase it today.
Read more on 007 First Light:
- How long is 007 First Light? Bond game length and time to beat
- David Arnold interview: Bond music legend talks Lana Del Rey
- 007 First Light developer teases sequels
- Is 007 First Light on Xbox Game Pass?
Authors
Rob Leane leads gaming coverage at TopMob, managing content for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile, and VR games. He creates content for the website, social media, and video platforms, and also produces the weekly gaming newsletter. Before TopMob, he worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional, and Dennis Publishing.
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2026-05-29 18:07