‘007: First Light’ Review – A Masterful, Generational James Bond Origin Story

The Evolution of an Icon

How do you revitalize a pop-culture legend like James Bond with decades of history behind him, while keeping the core identity intact for today’s players? That’s the formidable challenge developer IO Interactive tackles head-on in 007: First Light.

Rather than handing us the keys to an already flawless, world-renowned super-spy, this game strips away the familiar polish to expose the raw origin of the legend. We are introduced to an unrefined, determined recruit scratching his way up the ranks to secure that coveted double-O status.

What we get is an exceptional action-adventure game that redefines the genre and easily ranks among the most impressive action milestones of this console generation.

Formulating the Perfect Agent

Taking on the mantle of the legendary spy is Patrick Gibson, who turns in a phenomenal performance as the youthful James Bond. Gibson effortlessly strikes a balance between a rakish, charismatic operative and a reckless asset whose overconfidence and witty barbs prove he is still a work in progress.

Channeling the gritty, high-impact physicality that Daniel Craig brought to the silver screen, this iteration of Bond functions as a devastating brawler and a ruthless marksman. He is far from the smooth archetype we expect; instead, we are witnessing the volatile birth of a trained killer and spy.

The globe-trotting adventure is supported by breathtaking, Hollywood-tier visuals. While the pacing feels masterfully cinematic, ultrawide PC users will hit a small optimization snag: Cinematic sequences awkwardly collapse into a boxed, partial-screen display, which briefly disrupts the visual flow.

Fortunately, the exceptional writing easily overshadows any minor technical gripes. The clever, sarcastic banter shared between Bond and Q (Alastair Mackenzie) gives the MI6 scenes a sharp, energetic edge. The real standout, however, is the reimagined relationship with Moneypenny (played wonderfully by Kiera Lester). Stepping out from behind a reception desk, she serves as an active field handler, tactical anchor, and trusted mentor. The undeniable friendship and chemistry between Bond and Moneypenny brings a brilliant layer of depth to every assignment.

The plot isn’t entirely immune to predictable spy formulas, though. The tension-filled dynamic between Bond and his demanding mentor, John Greenway (voiced by Lennie James), the final surviving 00 from the agency’s previous era, feels slightly formulaic at its core. Yet, thanks to superb voice acting and a tight narrative hook, the relationship develops into a deeply impactful and rewarding emotional payoff.

The Ultimate Secret-Agent Sandbox

Where 007: First Light truly separates itself from past spy games is its gameplay loop, which stands as the absolute pinnacle of the experience. Leveraging IO Interactive’s pedigree in the stealth-action genre, the freedom of approach here is astonishing.

Whether you are breaking into a secure compound, bluffing or intimidating guards, masquerading as someone else entirely, or just boldly walking through the front door as James Bond, the game rewards your creativity.

When stealth or subterfuge fails, then we experience the true star of the game, the combat. It is a brutal, beautifully orchestrated dance of mayhem, with a massive arsenal, destructive environments, and fluid hand-to-hand options.

The Gunplay: Snappy, tactile, and incredibly responsive. Multiple weapons can be equipped, ranging from pistols and rifles to shotguns and long-range precision rifles.

Hand-to-Hand: Visceral, heavy, and satisfying. Bashing an enemy’s head into a wall, remotely detonating an explosive canister, or dragging a guard into the shadows makes you feel like an incredibly elite secret agent.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Bond experience without the toys. Q-Branch hits a home run here, with the Q-Watch, laser strap, and the iconic pen rocket integrating smoothly into both stealth and combat scenarios.

Complementing the action is an audio design that absolutely blew my socks off. The game expertly triggers snippets of the classic Bond theme during high-octane moments. Crashing through the city streets in a hijacked bin lorry (garbage truck) or executing a flawless takedown on a high-value guard while those iconic horns swell adds an unforgettable layer of cinematic hype to the gameplay. Explosions are meaty, dialogue is snappy and well produced, and the whole aural experience is just a treat to experience.

The Players and the Pitfalls

A great Bond story requires a memorable supporting cast. First Light delivers a phenomenal duo of love interests who are more than a match for James. Theresa Lorca (Raquel Cipriano) is fantastic, but it’s Isola Vale (portrayed brilliantly by Noémie Nakai) who steals the show. Isola is a deeply complex, beautifully written character whose presence elevates the narrative every single time she appears on screen. She is more than a match for Bond and is steeped in mystery, making me excited to see if there is more for her in this universe.

The antagonists also provide a great balance, offering a mix of cerebral masterminds reminiscent of Tomorrow Never Dies and the physically imposing, menacing heavies that echo Mr. Hinx from Spectre or From Russia with Love‘s Donald “Red” Grant.

The game isn’t without missteps. The biggest narrative letdown is the stunt casting of Lenny Kravitz as the Pirate King, Bawma. While Kravitz has charisma to spare, the character feels incredibly underutilized and slightly lame in execution, marking one of the weakest aspects of an otherwise stellar script.

On the gameplay side, my only other minor gripe lies in the customization system. The game features a massive treasury of unlockable outfits, gadget skins, and weapon camos. Frustratingly, these are strictly locked to the Tactical Simulator and Operation Challenges modes, meaning you can’t use them in the main campaign. It feels like a massive missed opportunity not to let Bond strut through the streets of London in a gold tuxedo or Day of the Dead outfit during the story, and I desperately hope IO Interactive patches this in for a future New Game+ update.

The Verdict

007: First Light is a triumph. It delivers an extended, playable blockbuster experience where you are firmly in control of the action. Even after I had just watched the credits roll, I wanted more immediately. Thankfully, the highly replayable Tactical Simulator Escalations and free-flowing Operation Challenges will keep me coming back for a long time to come. This isn’t just a great action game; it’s the definitive Bond simulator we’ve been waiting for.

007: First Light is available right now for PC via Steam and Epic, PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S. Switch 2 version is coming later this summer.