007 First Light First Impressions | A Game of the Year Contender After Just 8 Hours
The Studio Behind Hitman Just Made James Bond Feel Brand New
EDITIORIALS
MattGhostie
5/28/20264 min read
IO Interactive, the studio behind the Hitman series, just made a James Bond game. That sentence alone carries weight. The Hitman games built a reputation around being incredible stealth sandboxes where you could take down targets in countless different ways, making them endlessly replayable. Add to that rumored Arkham style combat, Uncharted action set pieces, and you're essentially pitching lightning in a bottle. At this point the game basically sounds like a match made in heaven for the legend of James Bond.
And after eight hours of gameplay, I'm pleased to say they absolutely nailed it.
A Young Bond Finding His Footing
This game features a much younger James Bond on his first mission as 007. It's an origin story this time around, which is genuinely cool because you get to grow with the character from the beginning. If this becomes a larger series, starting at his origin feels like the right call and will allow anyone who’s interested to start from the very beginning.
That said, if you're hoping to dive into spy action immediately, the game doesn't do that. It's structured like a traditional spy thriller, starting slower with a training montage and simpler missions that teach you the sandbox and combat tools before really dropping you into the deep end. Some might feel it starts slow but in my opinion this build up makes the pay off all the sweeter.
This Bond is really well realized though. He's got that cool, suave attitude, quick thinking, but while still maintaining that sense of confidence and control that his older self will come to be known for. He's a little brash, a little more willing to rebel against authority and go his own way while still feeling inherently James Bond. The story takes twists and turns that demand you pay attention to what characters are saying and how events unfold. It keeps you constantly wondering what breadcrumb comes next, which is exactly what you want from a spy thriller.
Combat That's Better Than People Will Give It Credit For
The combat is excellent, but the Arkham comparison is honestly a poor one. It's not disappointing, the combat is genuinely great, it's just disingenuous to call it Arkham inspired outside of the counter parry system. This is much more Uncharted meets character action, where you chain together different moves, utilize environmental interactivity, and turn yourself into John Wick.
You're grabbing enemies and running them over tables, throwing them through objects, detonating fire extinguishers for cover and confusion. The counter system exists but it's just one tool in a much larger toolkit. Every encounter feels like an opportunity to pull off the coolest action sequence you can imagine while staying entirely in control.
There's real Watch Dogs influence here too, especially that sense of slowing time and impacting the environment while mixing in melee and gunplay. This game takes that feel and expands it into a full combat sandbox. Every time you go through an encounter you feel like there's so much potential you haven't realized yet. I’ve found myself wanting to retry these fights to do them flawlessly, to make enemies do exactly what I want, to clear a room of hostiles in the most stylish way possible. To me, that’s the mark of good combat design.
Stealth That Teaches Without Hand Holding
The stealth is set up similarly to Hitman but more pared down. You don't have as many tools or setup options, but the game does an excellent job of showing you the opportunities available in each level both in the world and via a challenge system that shows just how many things are possible.
In the first real sandbox mission, for example, you can get stamped to access a private room by eavesdropping on conversations and convincing the right person you belong there. But you don't have to do that. Other people have found different routes and accomplished the same objective in different ways. There are probably approaches you're still missing which might completely change your path next time through.
What's smart is that it never feels overwhelming. The level design is signposted in a way that you'll never feel stuck, and you always feel smart for progressing. It's a much more accessible version of Hitman's stealth which I imagine for some will be a negative but for broader audiences I expect it to be a hit.
You're constantly thinking about the possibilities. Different gadgets, limited to only two per mission. Different paths through stealth. Different social cues to exploit. Hidden paths you haven't found. All of it feeds into the fantasy of moving through the world like James Bond, quickly and smoothly, executing the pinnacle of spy thriller fantasy.
When It All Falls Apart
Here's something small that massively impacts the game: when stealth breaks down, it doesn't trigger a hard failure. Instead, the game actively encourages you to mess up and fix your own problems or minimize the damage.
Maybe you get spotted by one guard, but you can take him out quietly in a room before moving forward and no one else will know. That's so much smarter than auto fail states. It actually makes you feel like a spy thinking on your feet, trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Although there’s no quick save to encourage trying and retrying like dishonored, this feature left me feeling more like a secret agent than any amount of quick saves and loads could have.
Performance and Presentation
Performance on PS5 Pro has been solid. Zero crashes, runs flawlessly most of the time. There are a couple frame drops during intense lighting sequences or heavy combat, but they clear quickly and you won't notice unless you're actively looking for them. I can't speak to PC performance, but nothing concerning has surfaced on social media.
The acting is phenomenal. The talent brought in is fantastic, and the characters are realized incredibly well. Their facial performance is outstanding and I’ve grown to care for these characters, which I honestly wasn't expecting. Coming from games without strong character work into James Bond's world, where these characters are so recognizable, IO Interactive made them feel like the characters we want to love.
However, NPCs and background characters who don't get that same level of attention can look plastic and basic, which is the trade-off for the dense crowds in each space. If that bothers you under scrutiny it's worth noting. Otherwise, the visual fidelity is gorgeous. The lighting and color palette are satisfying, each level feels distinct and interesting, and the cinematography with the letter boxes during cool moments really sells the spy thriller fantasy.
Play or Pass
After eight hours, this is absolutely a game of the year contender. I have no reason to think it will slow down from here. If anything I've described sounds interesting, pick it up. If the aspects I mentioned that aren't quite industry leading worry you, you can always wait for a sale. But honestly, I think you should give it a shot.
