A Cinematic Triumph for the Modern Bond Era
Alright then, it’s confession time. One of my early childhood memories was writing up my Christmas list, then heading off to Woolworths to choose which James Bond films on VHS I wanted. I did, and still do, favour Roger Moore as my favourite Bond ever. This is very unlikely to change and I will not apologise for it.
What I’m trying to say is, I’ve been a huge James Bond fan since I can remember, so I can wholly understand the pressure on the team working on this project. Think about the pressure on the 2005 reboot of Doctor Who, with such a long reaching legacy and fan base, and you’re in similar territory here. So, after a 14 year absence from the gaming sphere for the world famous franchise, how does 007 First Light stack up?
The game begins with Bond in the Royal Navy as an aircrewman on a training mission. Things quickly go wrong, and his squad comes under attack. What seems like a routine training mission in Iceland ends up being anything but that, the only upside being his talent is noticed by MI6.
The end of this prelude takes us straight into the opening credits and oh boy, the theme song here is an all-timer. First Light by Lana Del Rey is an absolute belter of a Bond song, yet something of a slow burner. It gets better and better every time you listen, until you realise it’s one of the best Bond songs there has ever been (let’s forget about Sam Smith and Madonna).
The Playable Montage
This is a bona fide origin story. You have plenty of time to connect with Bond and get to know him, living and breathing his training programme. It’s cut together like a film in parts, with the gameplay moving from one scenario to the next in a wonderfully effective playable montage. I was blown away by this method of storytelling, I can’t actually recall ever seeing it done in a game before. There’s also quick time events weaved into the cut scenes which further add to the immersion.
Some players may not be expecting such a long prologue or opening act, perhaps instead itching to get into the action. However, this is Bond from the very beginning, so it’s absolutely the right decision and 007 First Light is a much better game for it. I won’t spoil anything here, but the storyline is gripping, well written, and capable of shocking you several times over.
The cast in 007 First Light is a mightily impressive one, giving the game real gravitas. Starring as the main man himself is Patrick Gibson, supported by Lennie James (John Greenway), Priyanga Burford (M), Kiera Lester (Monenypenny) and many others. The keen-eyed Bond fans out there will also spot a character from the novels.
I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between Bond and Greenway, as the rookie spy clashes with the experienced serviceman. Another highlight for me was Alastair Mackenzie as Q, whose performance is a rather beautiful blend of Desmond Llewelyn and Ben Wishaw’s incarnations of the character. Without spoiling anything, I would have liked to see more of Lenny Kravitz’s Bawma, who was a very interesting character but felt underused.
Patrick Gibson puts in a frankly superb performance as Bond. This may be Bond in the early days, but he still displays the traits we’ve come to know and love. There’s plenty of one liners and quips, the majority of which land perfectly and will elicit laughs in all the right places. The one main difference, perhaps, is that Bond isn’t quite as hardened to life as a spy at this point in his life, allowing Gibson to tap into a more emotive side of the character.
The Glacier Engine
007 First Light looks absolutely brilliant too. IO’s Glacier engine is on top form, and the use of motion capture elevates the look and feel of the game. The Bond films are all about exotic locations, but here whether it’s Vietnam or London, each has been wonderfully realised. One slightly odd thing (which I didn’t quite understand) was the saving icon having a habit of popping up continuously during cutscenes which was a little bit distracting, even if it’s just a very small complaint of mine.
Anyhow, out in the field there are numerous ways Bond can approach his main objective, often either by brute force or by other, more subtle means. It wouldn’t be Bond without the gadgets, and thankfully Q has been a busy man. The Q-Lens allows Bond to track enemy movements and hack devices to cause distractions or deal fatal damage. His Q-Watch (a rather beautiful Omega designed especially for the game) can do lots of other neat tricks too, such as shoot lasers.
These two gadgets are standard issue for Bond, however there are lots of other toys that Q Branch provides as you progress through the game. Whether it’s a cleverly disguised compact dart gun, a camera capable of blinding enemies, or my personal favourite, the missile pen, these gadgets provide plenty of creative ways to progress through missions via the stealth approach. What shattered the illusion somewhat for me was, on several occasions, being able to stun an enemy at point blank range, in front of others, and they didn’t even flinch.
You are able to choose Bond’s gadget load out before each mission, depending on your preferences and how you like to approach your objectives. The gadgets use a combination of batteries and chemicals to function, meaning you’ll have to make sure to keep them topped up with what you find in the field. If you prefer going back to basics, Bond can also lure enemies with his voice, before executing a stealthy takedown or avoiding a fight by bluffing his way out of the conversation if spotted. There are limits however, as these spycraft elements require the instinct resource to execute and certain characters cannot be fooled.
When it comes to the missions in 007 First Light, your main objectives are clear but often the path to them isn’t. This requires you to explore the area and find “opportunities” which then usually kick off a sub-objective chain, leading you back to your main goal. This can be done by eavesdropping on conversations, and when Bond is covertly listening he dons a cheeky grin which feels authentically Bond. It’s here where the gameplay opens up, because there are several opportunities meaning you can take different paths to your main objective, adding some replay value to the missions.
License to Kill
Perhaps unavoidably, since the project was announced many have expected similarities to the Hitman games in 007 First Light. The biggest parallel can be drawn with the use of restricted areas, which feel very “Hitman” but make perfect sense and work well in the Bond universe. Getting discovered whilst trespassing can lead to a state of alert, with enemies calling for reinforcements unless you act quickly to contain the situation. Bond’s License to Kill kicks in when an enemy shows lethal intent, clearing the way for Bond to shoot on sight.
The environments in 007 First Light are open most of the time, apart from the high octane action sequences, with collectibles to be found. Some of these provide nostalgic throwbacks to the films whilst others add background context to the story and characters. There isn’t much else to be gleaned from exploring, apart from taking in the beauty of it all. Again, I think this is another good decision by IO, to keep the player focused on the story and characters. The open world areas are juxtaposed with action sequences, so the balance is well struck. The story moves along at pace, sometimes at a breakneck speed, not grounding you in one location for too long, exactly as you would expect from one of the films. Despite what many people may be expecting, this is not a Hitman game with a Bond skin on. Far from it.
007 First Light doesn’t settle into a predictable routine either. Certain mechanics will pop up for one part of the game only, such as hacking the controls of a plane and having control of making it bank left and right, adding to that sense that Bond is an opportunist who will think on his feet and make use of his surroundings to survive.
Rather interestingly, there is no map in 007 First Light. Normally I would take issue with this, but here it actively adds to the immersion, complementing the fact you need to go and seek out those opportunities. It isn’t really needed either as you won’t be juggling a large inventory of items or be required to go off on drawn out fetch and find missions.
As you would expect, Bond is handy with his fists and this is very much the case in 007 First Light. He is more than capable of throwing a punch, but taking out many of his opponents will require a more intelligent approach. Markers will appear as enemies make their move, requiring Bond to parry or sidestep out of the way completely. He is able to charge enemies and once they have taken enough damage, perform some wonderfully animated finishing moves. Depending on the location, it’s perfectly possible to take enemies out in other ways such by pushing them over railings where they take a tumble, for example.
I must admit, at first I struggled with melee combat when there was more than one opponent to fight. However, after a little while it clicked when I properly balanced my attack and defence moves. It’s also important to recognise when it’s time to run away and take a breath, as your screen will gradually darken and redden as Bond takes damage.
When Bond’s License to Kill kicks in, so does ranged combat. This isn’t as often as you may expect, and signals how 007 First Light should be played. Brute force is the last resort. However, when it does, this is when Bond can make use of firearms. It’s no surprise he is an excellent marksman, but he can also target specific body parts to slow enemies down or kill them in one shot, as well as throw his gun at them when he’s out of ammo to buy some time.
Ammo seems plentiful but depletes quickly, as Bond’s enemies can take a few bullets unless you pull off a headshot. Bond can use his instinct resource to focus for a short time, slow things down and line up the shot. This isn’t always easy, as some will be wearing headgear for protection. On these occasions explosive scenery and other environmental hazards can prove very useful indeed. You’ll need to scavenge weapons on the go, as staying still for too long will trigger grenades to be thrown your way to flush you out.
Again, it took me a little while to get used to the gunplay in 007 First Light (reloading being assigned to the B not X button really threw me off), but much like the melee it clicked after a little while. There’s a modest but unspectacular array of weapons at Bond’s disposal, but again this is because 007 First Light is not a game designed for you to simply shoot your way through.
There are also several boss fights in 007 First Light, as you face off against main characters throughout the campaign. These usually require Bond to think tactically and outsmart his opponents, rather than try to tackle them head on.
High-Speed Assets
Another staple of the Bond franchise are vehicles, and you won’t be disappointed in 007 First Light. There’s British icons such as Aston Martin and Land Rover in the mix, as well as some others that you may not be expecting. A real highlight for me was a brilliant segment towards the end of the game which reminded me of a moment at the beginning of No Time to Die. I’ll say no more here.
If I’m being honest I wouldn’t class 007 First Light as a difficult game, although I played on the default setting so there is the option to dial things up. However, I did die a fair few times during combat, usually shortly after being discovered. Once I adapted my playstyle, death became much less frequent. During the platforming sections in 007 First Light, the way forward is always clear, sometimes offensively so. I know the use of colours and objects signposting the way to go is commonplace these days, but I still don’t see the need for it, especially when it’s so explicit. It’s a trend I’m not a fan of, so an option to switch off the visual aids would have been welcome.
007 First Light is a single player experience which will take approximately 15-20hrs to complete (perhaps we can have multiplayer in the future pretty please) but there’s more to do after the credits roll. Namely, the Tactical Simulation mode. If you’ve seen Die Another Day or even the latest Johnny English film, you’ll have a good idea of how this works.
Here you can embark on escalations and operations which are short mission segments where game modifiers (for example no ammo drops) are in play. Escalations get gradually more challenging, whereas operations focus on Bond’s adaptability in the field. Each mission contains numerous challenges and awards XP, which levels Bond up and unlocks new weapons and gadgets. High scores can then be posted on global leaderboards to earn those bragging rights. The Tacsim mode could have easily felt like an afterthought, but instead I found it surprisingly addictive, adding further replay value to the game. The fact it works so well is a testament to the game design by IO.
The Definitive James Bond Experience
For those expecting simple mission based, non-stop action, 007 First Light is not that type of Bond game. It’s more carefully considered, paced much more like one of the films complete with the superb production values. Sure, there’s plenty of action, but it’s a better game thanks to the balance struck here.
It’s clear the team at IO have a great deal of affection for the Bond franchise and wanted to do it justice. It’s jam packed with references to the films, some subtle and some wonderfully obvious, such as Bond’s undercover name “Singeon Smythe”. This is as close as we have been, and will possibly ever get, to a playable James Bond movie. So many details have been purposely finessed to this exact end and yet, despite being a more grounded story, all the key elements are there. Oh, and keep an eye on the credits until the very end.
007 First Light is a triumph. It has a legitimate claim to the best James Bond game ever, managing to reboot the series whilst cherishing what makes it so special. It’s the start of a new era for Bond, which will leave you shaken, not stirred.
Important Links
007 First Light – Bond’s New Era Starts Here – https://www.thexboxhub.com/007-first-light-bonds-new-era-starts-here/
007 First Light Gameplay Deep Dive Reveals Release Date, Mechanics, Pre-orders, Legacy Edition & New James Bond – https://www.thexboxhub.com/007-first-light-gameplay-deep-dive-reveals-release-date-mechanics-pre-orders-legacy-edition-new-james-bond/
For Your Eyes Only: IO Interactive Unveils 007 First Light, a James Bond Origin Story – https://www.thexboxhub.com/for-your-eyes-only-io-interactive-unveils-007-first-light-a-james-bond-origin-story/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/007-first-light-standard-edition/9NPF9F0DCVKS/0010
Grab the Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/007-first-light-deluxe-edition/9N7MVHHLZJWG/0010
