Bond is back on form with 007 First Light

It struck me the other day, when I was thinking about the Bond games, that I hadn’t played one of them in over 20 years. I immediately went to google 007: Night fireand suddenly it was as if I had opened a whole portal of closed memories, which came flooding back to me.

We were sitting on the floor at my brother’s friend’s house, PS2 controllers in hand, playing 1v1 split screen on Skyrail. Somehow, firing the Sentinel’s rocket launcher and flying guided missiles across the map, looking for each other, was mindless fun. Yes, it kept us busy, that’s for sure!

So imagine my surprise when IO Interactive invited us to check out 007 First Light in Los Angeles. It’s been 14 years since the last Bond game, so this wasn’t an opportunity I was going to pass up. And neither did I, because this experience was absolutely amazing!

A New Way

So what is this new 007 game, and what kind of experience are we all in for? Well, rather than stepping into the well-trained shoes of a skilled operative, we’re instead starting from the beginning, back when our beloved Bond was a simple military recruit.

We’re used to seeing Bond, whether in movies or video games, extremely talented and always ready for action, so it’s a breath of fresh air now to see him as a newbie, struggling to wrap his head around the world he’s about to enter.

And honestly, this serves as a clever introduction, as we feel like we’re starting this whole journey with him, rather than being a silent observer from afar. We experience a rough start, tricky training methods, until he becomes a full-time professional and earns the title he is most famous for.

And yet, every now and then, you get that campiness a little bit, but more often than not high action that made us fall in love with the character in the first place. Sprinkle in that classic British sass and sarcasm, and well, you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. And that’s not just me being British… I swear.

Being Bond

So what did I get my hands on during those last three hours with IO Interactive? Yes, it’s quite a lot, and it paints a good picture of what’s to come.

We start in Iceland. James is not yet part of MI6, and while he is capable, he lacks the training that comes with such a position. So the player, like James, has to learn on the job, as we trudge through the pouring rain, climb rugged mountains, take orders from a stranger.

Here we find a mysterious military group, uncover classified findings, and rescue hostages, with Bond’s usual disregard for orders given from above. Bond never plays by the rules, but that’s all part of his killer charm! It’s a great opening, it teaches us everything from scratch to startup. He doesn’t have a License to Kill yet, but to be honest, we don’t need one!

Time moves forward as IO Interactive opens a new chapter, set in the future, as Bond begins his training. This was a brilliant little training ground located in Malta, where you need to navigate the area to capture the flag. This gives us a taste of what is to come later.

You can barrel into the area, take out enemies with your fists like a ferocious animal, or choose a stealthy approach, crawling through the environment to your advantage. There are many routes through the training area, and it is recommended that we play this section several times to appreciate everything available.

However, those previous two parts were all training for us, making us understand the mechanics. Now, again, we jump forward in time to what I would consider to be the middle of the game.

The Real Deal

We open in Kensington, and after a wonderfully cinematic attempt at James’ life, we move on to a museum. This is where I started to see the real vision begin to come together. You find yourself in an old great hall, with people dancing, chatting, taking pictures and drinks galore.

You need to find a way up to the CCTV room, but how? Well, that’s up to you. Just as you had many ways to go to the training grounds in Malta, you have many ways to deal with this, too. I choose to pretend to be a photographer, steal another unsuspecting photographer’s camera with my Q-Watch, and lie to a reporter to get a special pass to the top. Maybe you will find another way to do it. Listening to the ear, picking the pocket, and bluffing are all powerful tools in your 007 arsenal.

From here, you sneak into dark office spaces, deal with enemy agents, meet unexpected allies, and even get involved in a boss fight, which caught me off guard. What struck me was that, even after you get your License to Kill, which allows you to take out those who wish to harm you, it’s still a good idea to steal.

You can use your gadgets to create distractions and draw attention, or make people sick while sneaking up behind them. Look for hanging chandeliers, or natural explosives, air ducts, and seek cover. While shooting is smooth, if you go guns blazing, chances are you’ll get cut. Remember, Bond is an agent, not a soldier.

The whole process was longer than I expected, yet I was hooked from start to finish. It was challenging when it needed to be, and it gave you time to breathe when the action ended. And then just when you think it’s over, suddenly you’re blasting through the narrow tunnels of London in a roaring garbage truck, blasting through cars and obstacles alike. It’s intense, it’s exciting, and all the while, you’re gripping the controller like your life is on the line. The action set pieces are fantastic, and I know this is just a glimpse of what’s to come.

Not just Character

All this before mentioning the heart that lies behind the lines of code that hold this game together. James Bond is not a perpetual killing machine; he is not Hitman. He is a human being, struggling in a world that is always trying to bring him down.

Bond goes through heartbreak, heartbreak, deception, and everything else you can imagine, but still comes out stronger. This is the person we want to focus on, the person we are learning to take care of. And in those moments, when we feel like everything is about to go wrong, it becomes clear that Bond is not a superhero. The stats feel real and earned.

So, my time playing 007 First Light came to an end. I was there until the end, and IO Interactive basically had to kick me out the door, even if I stayed to play in those Training Grounds again!

I left smiling and believing 100% in the vision the developers had. Even the little mistakes I saw, photographers with invisible cameras, little spelling mistakes, or randomly passing through enemies, seemed to drift away as I realized that none of it changed my overall enjoyment. All I know is, Bond is back, and it looks like he’s here to stay!

Released

May 27, 2026

The ESRB

Youth / Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases