007 First Light is finally here after years of hype and anticipation, and there hasn't been a game that I've looked forward to so much yet simultaneously doubted. Last week, I wrote an article explaining that I was nervous about the release of the first Bond game in well over a decade and anxious about how things might go horribly wrong.
What I said in that article was that they need to nail what makes Bond, Bond. I needed them to knock it out of the park and waxed lyrical about all the pitfalls to avoid that had been keeping me up at night. As 007 fans know all too well, the games don't always hit their mark, leading to periods of drought for our favorite British spy in video game form.
In retrospect, my focus throughout that piece was highly focused on the longevity of the game, on the "what's next". I didn't take a chance to slow down and ponder what the actual main story could bring to the table. I was concentrating too much on the lack of multiplayer and on what TacSim could bring to the table to extend the game's lifespan.
I am ecstatic to say that all my fears were completely unfounded; I could not have been more wrong. Which is why I want to start this review off right by saying: 007 First Light by IO Interactive is a damn masterpiece and the best Bond video game of all time.
While I have intentionally left out key characters, locations, and plot details, some mild spoilers for the game follow.
Right from the off, IO Interactive establishes that they are charting a new era while remaining fiercely respectful of the franchise's legacy. This isn't a retread of Daniel Craig’s gritty origin story, which was all but wrapped up in Casino Royale’s opening scene. Instead, we are introduced to a Bond not yet recruited as an MI6 operative on a mission gone wrong in Iceland. Outside of the Young Bond novels and Craig’s first 10 minutes on screen, we haven’t properly seen Bond in the time before he earned his license to kill.
The story wastes no time establishing a long history of MI6 and the 00 program, which has recently reopened and is on the lookout for potential candidates. You get the feeling of a lived-in world with complex relationships and past tragedies that affect the lives of the people working there when Bond makes the cut. Not one bit of scenery or NPC for the entire campaign feels like set dressing - every character has a purpose and a past, and you as Bond must find your place and meaning in the world.
Patrick Gibson takes on the mantle of His Majesty's finest agent - James Bond. Seeing interviews and researching Patrick uncovered a likable, charming young man. Seeing him play the role in First Light was breathtaking. It may sound like a bit of a corny thing to say, but I have no other words for a performance that had the sheer cool of Connery, the vulnerability of Lazenby, the wit of Moore, the hardness of Dalton, the suavity and elegance of Brosnan, and the grit of Craig, then rolled them all into a unique portrayal that acknowledges 007's legacy and presents a Bond that feels more youthful than ever.
I think Amazon MGM would be making a huge mistake considering anyone else for the role in the movies - you already have your man. You also already have the perfect origin story in First Light that will be hard to top, but I digress. I just loved Gibson as Bond so much in this.
The whole cast was superb, aided by a phenomenal script; they have produced one of the best Bond adventures ever. Once you deploy as an agent, the game treats you to a breathtaking globetrotting tour that acts as a love letter to the different cinematic eras of Bond. One minute, you are infiltrating snowy mountains featuring a villainous lair that feels ripped right from the Roger Moore era of camp and spectacle. The next, you are thrown into gritty, high-stakes action scenes across chaotic building sites, a clear, deliberate nod to Daniel Craig's turn at the helm. When the action calms down, and you get to do "Bond stuff," Gibson pivots into smooth-talking, suave, scene-stealing moments that serve as a brilliant tip of the hat to Pierce Brosnan's effortless charm.
The standout moment for me, as hard as it is to choose one, is when Bond has to go to a luxury resort during the mid-game. This serene, zen, gorgeous level made me put my controller down, sit back, and soak it in for a good five minutes. I genuinely could have spent hours sitting staring at the panoramic views by the poolside bar; it looks that damn beautiful on the PS5 Pro. If I hadn't been pushing through to finish the story before the embargo, I would still be sitting in that area right now, marveling at a breathtaking showcase of IOI's in-game engine.
But where First Light truly triumphs is in its pacing, masterfully balancing explosive set pieces with the essential, quieter Bond stuff. The “Hitman” sections slide comfortably into the 007 aura and feel as natural as Gibson does playing Bond. It’s not quite the same as the sandbox assassinations of Agent 47, but the mechanical DNA has carried over and can be felt for sure. It almost feels like IOI has spent the last decade using their previous games to train for the exact moment they secured the Bond license.
These stealthier/investigatory segments are elevated by incredible, character-driven downtime. You will find yourself walking through a high-end nightclub or a glamorous gala event, subtly eavesdropping on conversations to gain intel, or sneaking backstage to chat up the nearest girl in a red dress. It's so deliciously Bond.
During one of the scenes at the club, you have to dynamically handle a tense argument between two women you meet, testing your dialogue choices and social grace. These are the quieter moments between the driving and action scenes that showcase Bond’s actual personality, and they are nailed with absolute perfection here by Patrick Gibson.
Visiting MI6 and Q branch between missions gives you a chance to recon for your mission by hearing what awaits from Moneypenny in her pod briefings, as well as choosing your gadgets for the next mission. I won't spoil the selection available throughout the game, but I tended to stick to the more 'explosive' natured ones. The Q watch, a lovely Omega Seamaster, serves as the "detective vision" in First Light, helping you find objectives and spot the outlines of approaching guards and environmental hazards. Using the right gadget at the right time is crucial in progressing, such as firing your dart phone at a bartender to make them feel ill when you need to pass, or hacking someone's tech to create a handy distraction. It would be hard to say more without giving things away, but I'll say fans of Bond's gadget era will be most pleased.
When it's time to change things up, if talking or gadgets won’t solve the problem, the gameplay switches gears effortlessly. The hand-to-hand combat is an absolute blast; fighting is a bit like the Arkham series meets Sleeping Dogs. The fighting feels weighty, crunchy, and distinctly Bond. It just feels right to punch your way out of trouble, frantically utilizing the environment and scattered objects in improvised ways. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when, in the middle of a brawl, I grabbed a boiling cup of coffee to throw at a guard, and Bond quips, "Careful, it’s hot".
To complement the campaign, there is also TacSim mode, separate from the main story, that features new missions and challenges for you to test your skills, learn advanced moves, and try to rank on the leaderboards. These challenges provide replayability through unlockables, such as new costumes and weapons, that carry over to future missions, and each mission has its own set of trophy-like challenges. It could expand into something like the Contracts mode in Hitman, and I say the more First Light content the better! They have already advertised on the main menu a mission with the Aston Martin Valhalla from the game, and I cannot wait to take that phenomenal machine out on the road.
Across both the main story and these extra modes, IOI just gets it. None of the Bond framing feels forced, unlike past games where the 007 license has just been slapped onto a video game that often doesn't make you feel like you are Bond at all. Every moment, every driving sequence, action section, or investigation level in First Light works hard to make you feel like you ARE Bond, not just some generic action hero. It is a game that constantly moves you forward, like the "blunt instrument" Bond is, towards your objective. The lessons taken from Hitman have been reworked so as not to be the sole focus, but a necessary part of what it means to be a 007 adventure.
The entire package is wrapped in a phenomenal musical presentation. The orchestral score is dynamically mixed, playing exactly the right motifs at the right moments to emphasize the mood, whether you are creeping through a shadowy base or escaping an exploding facility. I routinely found myself cheering loudly at the screen during the game's cinematic moments, thanks to the underlying score setting the mood. I pray that we get a full First Light soundtrack album to add to my daily rotation.
If there is any criticism to be made, it is one born out of my own impatience. I managed to finish the campaign on Easy in about 16 hours, but I painfully rushed through each level just to see where the story went. Playing on Normal or Hard at a regular pace while exploring the environments will take much longer and offer a more rewarding experience. You will want to take your time, because the narrative demands it. You genuinely feel for Bond during the heavy moments of this script; you live through the tragedies in real-time alongside him, and Gibson’s trademark swagger remarkably turns numb when the story requires emotional weight. It is a fantastic story, supported by a fantastic cast.
Out of every James Bond game since GoldenEye, only Everything or Nothing back on the PS2 has any slight (and I mean slight) similarity to the depth and scale on display here. This experience—not game, experience—has given Bond 26 a run for its money before the movie even has an official title. Patrick Gibson doesn’t just deserve to be “the next Bond.” Patrick Gibson IS Bond.
If you like Uncharted 4 or Hitman: World of Assassination, you will love First Light. However, if you are a Bond fan, you will adore, relish, and celebrate that we finally have an experience that quite literally puts us in the shoes of 007. Every single moment is cinematic. With the underlying score hitting every right note, the action and stealth striking a flawless balance, and the driving used as the perfect seasoning, the full package comes together in what is probably the best Bond moment I have experienced since Daniel Craig debuted in Casino Royale. It’s that damn good.
We live in an era of gaming defined by map-marker fatigue and massive, sprawling open worlds that often forget to tell a cohesive story. What IO Interactive has done here is a masterclass in game direction; they've delivered a laser-focused, high-octane cinematic thriller that respects your time while completely stealing your attention.
First Light is the best Bond game ever (sorry GoldenEye), and easily my game of the year (sorry GTA 6).
