What to know
- 007 First Light is turning out to be the authentic James Bond game we've all been waiting for.
- Developed by Hitman developer IO Interactive, the game runs on IOI's proprietary Glacier engine that takes spy craft gaming to the next level.
- With tons of gadgets to gain, high-octane fights and car chases, and the smooth Bond talk to boot, 007 First Light delivers the essential Bond experience.
- Improved game mechanics allow players to decide how they want to fly Bond, without getting away from what makes Bond Bond.
If first impressions are anything to go by, then IO Interactive's 007 First Light is turning out to be every bit as authentic as the real James Bond experience of the silver screen. Fans of the gun toting, gadget slinging, fast-car driving, smooth talking British secret spy have waited and waited for a good ol' fashioned translation of the blockbuster Bond adventures to the gaming world. And it's finally here (almost)!
PlayStation's State of Play event gave us a good look at IO Interactive's upcoming thriller. The third person shooter looks exceptionally well done, rife with cinematic car chases, big gun fights, the spy charm, and all iconic things we've come to expect from anything James Bond.
We're as abuzz with excitement as the next Bond fan. So let's dive in and discuss what's had us shaken, and what stirred!
Glacier Engine Comes of Age in 007 First Light
Glacier Engine, IO Interactive's proprietary game engine, seems as though it's finally matured and come of age. On Hitman World of Assassination, the Glacier gaming engine felt a little undercooked. While it hasn't reached the levels of graphics boasted by top-tier gaming engines of Naughty Dog and Unreal, it has steadily improved. But Glacier's strengths lie elsewhere.
IO Interactive's Glacier excels primarily in optimization, efficiency, and - most importantly - interactivity. It's this last focus that is ideal for games like Hitman and 007 First Light where stealth movements and action take center stage. As 007 First Light's first look showed us, players can interact with way more items in the environment, allowing the MI6 spy to pick up guns off the ground in a quick kick-grab move (without having to bend down) and throw guns at assailants, giving you the ability to choose how you want your Bond to accomplish his missions.
Even the NPCs have the intelligence to get around obstacles and other interactive things in the environment. It all adds a lot of dimension to the game and the character, which, for a game about James Bond, is essential.
Hitman Meets Uncharted 4
IO Interactive has stepped up its game on several fronts. Comparisons between Hitman and Uncharted 4 are well warranted, for not only does 007 First Light give James Bond the swagger that was missing from Agent 47's stiff-as-stick gait, it also brings in high-speed car chases, last-minute sky diving bailouts, and several other high octane cinematic action sequences that made Uncharted 4.
The cumulative effects of these changes make 007 First Light a game that's aware of its source material, and opens up generously to the world of British espionage. Be it Bond's silver-tongued charm, his ability to maneuver tight situations, his stealth game, or his bombastic gun fights and car chases, IO Interactive has brought it all together for an authentic James Bond experience that builds upon the successes of Hitman while expanding it to a universe that is as exciting as it is cinematic.
Choose-Your-Own-Espionage Gameplay
An improved gaming engine and game design that begs to be explored, 007 First Light is chock full of options for how you want your favorite spy to go about his business.
All the Gadgets
Bond's gadgets are stuff of folklore and the game relies heavily on them to bring you into its universe. Be it the dart phone that can make guards ill, laser that can cut through locked doors, or smoke bombs that can cover an entire room with gas, you can choose which gadgets you take on your missions.
The same can be put to use during combat, turning otherwise boring moves into clever combinations that can turn any sequence cinematic. But gadgets, as in the real world, do not have unlimited power supply. They require batteries to recharge, which you will have to find as you explore the territory. As you go through the missions, you'll also unlock new gadgets, which should remain an entertaining side quest throughout the game.
Stealth, Sweet Talk, or Out-and-Out Warfare
Like other stealth based games, 007 First Light gives you enough options to determine how you want to play. Bond's 'instincts' are a big part of the game, allowing you to perform takedowns, sweet talk your way through gullible security guards, or even slow down time during fights (yay Max Payne!). But this super power is limited, so use it judiciously.
On the other hand, while you can go through the game all guns blazing, 007 First Light firmly places you into Bond's character. You may have the license to kill, but not all the time. Only when your cover is blown and you're compromised will you be able to unleash. Fortunately, you'll get a "License to Kill" message run across your screen when it's time to cut loose. Similarly, when things are secured, the message flashes "Situation Controlled". This ensures that things don't snowball out of control, like they do in Hitman, and there are enough ways for you to complete your objective.
Authentically Bond!
Thankfully, IO Interactive hasn't used any placeholder elements in the game. Bond's Aston Martin cars are authentically Aston Martin, down to the sound of their engine revs, and his trusty wristwatch is still Omega. It's great to see that the game goes out of its way to get these little things right. They may be small nitpicky things but they're what make a game truly great.
And finally, we have the quintessential James Bond music. Nothing adds to the cinematic experience of James Bond than the music. Even if everything else was lackluster, which it clearly isn't, the right music would have made it all right. So to have the game moments punctuated and swelled up by the iconic James Bond music is simply the cherry on top.
Now, about the new James Bond character in the game itself! While the new 007 may look like the padawan out of Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, albeit with slightly better hair, the new Bond more than fits the bill. Portrayed by Patrick Gibson, the new Bond is slick, witty, and not afraid to let it rip - everything we expect out of world's most famous spy. The character of James Bond, as in any reboot, needs to earn the number 007, which is why he may appear green in the beginning. But we've been here before.
A Holistic James Bond Experience
Set for release on March 27, 2026, there's still some time before any of us get to play 007 First Light. While we may wax lyrical about the things we are excited about, it will all come down to that fated day when we get our game face on and actually test it out to see how it plays. Until then, speculations abound, and rightly so! After all, here's a Bond that we all want to check out.
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