007 First Light

007 First Light is, ultimately, a better game for the Bond nerd than I expected it would be. The team at IO Interactive clearly love the property and have done for it what Larian Studios did for Baldur’s Gate 3; provide a level of dedication to the source material that’s so fastidious that you might argue with a decision here or there, but it’s difficult to get too cynical about a game clearly made by genuine fans of the property.

007 First Light delivers everything anyone could want from a game featuring history's most charming secret agent. Whether you're a fan of the franchise or just an action game enthusiast, there is plenty to enjoy here.

Very few fans get to play in the sandbox of their obsession like IO has here. As far as Bond video games go, nobody has done it better.

007 First Light is easily the best James Bond game since GoldenEye and is also one of the better Bond stories told in the last decade. IO Interactive has created a game that is a culmination of all of their best mechanics over the years. 007 First Light has the addicting sandbox gameplay of the Hitman franchise while also having an incredible narrative that matches the quality of Naughty Dog and Rockstar Games. James Bond is finally back and is better than he’s been in years.

007 First Light is, for me, an absolute masterpiece that shattered all pre-release anxieties and is, in fact, the greatest Bond video game of all time. IO Interactive masterfully balances explosive action with "Hitman"-inspired stealth, all brought to life by Patrick Gibson’s breathtaking, definitive performance as a young James Bond. Equal parts thrilling and cinematic, this incredible experience is a gorgeous love letter to the franchise and a sure-fire Game of the Year contender.

007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.

It would have been expected for IOI to stick to its Silverballers and immediately pump out another Hitman, yet the team swerved by making a Bond game with its own take on the classic British agent. This willingness to take a different path has led to a fresh 007 experience that beautifully marries the liberating sandbox elements of the Hitman series with explosive set pieces typically found in more linear action games.

With absolute confidence in its technical execution and in its portrayal of Bond as reckless, rebellious, and full of potential, combined with open maps packed with possibilities for improvisation, 007: First Light may not be a perfect video game (what game is?) but it is the perfect James Bond game, and the one that adds the most to the mythos.

007 First Light is all about aura. It honors James Bond's legacy by bringing everything we love about him since the 1960's movies in the ultimate 007 videogame experience. Chases, shootings, explosions, plot twists, politics, charm, Bond Girls, guns, cars, boats, Q Technologies, Moneypenny, M, iconic characters, beautiful locations... All of that with great level design, combat and exploration. The name is Bond, James Bond.

By deftly combining its stealth-sim expertise from the Hitman franchise with big-budget, blockbuster sensibilities, IO Interactive has crafted a stellar action espionage romp. Most of all, it’s a reverence for the source material, and a willingness to tell new Bond stories, that elevates 007 First Light to greatness.

007 First Light isn’t just a great Bond game – it’s one of the best action-adventure games released this decade. Witnessing the birth of the 007 legend through Bond’s eyes from the beginning is a tale that was long overdue for a video game adaptation, and IO Interactive has pulled it off flawlessly. Tie this origin story in with gameplay systems that prioritize the precision and creativity that 007 is known for, and you have what amounts to one of the best iterations of James Bond that we have seen in recent memory.

In a year where major releases often arrive broken or soulless, 007 First Light stands out for doing the basics extraordinarily well: telling a good story, introducing characters that matter, and leaving the player wanting more. If this is the beginning of a new era for Bond in games, the future looks very promising.

Bond is back and he's in fine form. 007 First Light is an excellent stealth game, and a brilliant James Bond game, offering up the best 007 experience in franchise history.

007 First Light has everything it takes to become a brilliant franchise: presence, gameplay, its own distinct style, and above all, a well-crafted narrative that elevates the James Bond iconography.

007: First Light is not just a great James Bond franchise game — it is one of the best products in the franchise's history and one of the best games of 2026. The game is fun from start to finish, with a great story, extremely charismatic characters, and action and stealth in just the right measure. Highly recommended.

With 007 First Light, IO Interactive brings James Bond back to video games with an experience that perfectly captures the fantasy of Agent 007. Its blend of cinematic storytelling, stealth, combat, and driving creates an elegant, explosive, and consistently thrilling adventure. The result is one of the strongest titles of the year, a game that modernizes the classic essence of Bond and positions itself as a serious contender for awards season.

007 First Light does something I honestly wasn’t expecting anymore: it makes James Bond feel important in video games again. Not just as another decent licensed title you finish once and forget a few months later, but as a real AAA solo blockbuster that feels ambitious, polished, cinematic, and clearly built by people who genuinely understand what makes 007 special. IO Interactive absolutely nails that balance between stealth, elegance, brutal action, espionage, gadgets, political tension, and pure spectacle without ever turning Bond into some generic action hero. He still feels like James Bond, and that’s probably the game’s biggest success…And yeah, it’s impossible not to think about Uncharted 4 while playing. The animations, pacing, set pieces, and attention to detail constantly give the game that interactive movie feeling we barely see anymore. But what really makes First Light stand out is how it mixes that cinematic approach with some lighter Hitman DNA. Missions give you freedom. You can improvise, sneak around, manipulate enemies, use gadgets creatively, or just let things spiral into chaos. IO Interactive didn’t throw away what made Hitman work. They adapted it to Bond in a really smart way. What really ties everything together though is this younger version of Bond himself. He’s less confident, more impulsive, still figuring himself out, and that origin story angle works incredibly well…Patrick Gibson absolutely crushes it in the role and honestly feels more convincing as the next Bond than half the names currently rumored for the movies. Sure, the AI can be inconsistent at times and some mechanics are simplified, but the game’s energy, variety, and overall sense of spectacle make those flaws easy to overlook. After thirteen years away, 007 honestly couldn’t have asked for a better comeback.

007: First Light is a title that fans of the 007 franchise definitely needed. It is a near-perfect simulation of a James Bond video game, complete with engaging gameplay, great presentation, and a compelling narrative that encapsulates the franchise’s identity. It is, without a doubt, the best 007 game of all time, and no other game in the franchise comes close.

007 First Light is IO Interactive at the top of its game. They needed James Bond to push them into a full-blown narrative action game. Likewise, Bond needed IO Interactive to make a triumphant return to the medium. First Light is one of the year's best action games. The wait for a sequel will be a long one.

While playing, you feel like you’re right in the middle of a Bond movie that races by at breakneck speed. One moment you’re trying to sneak through an office unnoticed, and five minutes later you’re in a thrilling car chase through London or shooting everything that moves to pieces. 007 First Light is a game that takes on a lot, but succeeds in almost every aspect. It never gets boring, though we would have liked the pace to be a bit faster in the first few hours. But once your first mission really gets going, it’s non-stop fun all the way to the finish.

After a memorable start and tutorial, the First Light desert (which, incidentally, looks a bit rough on the base PS5) left me rather cold, but from then on the game ended up seducing and winning me over, just as Bond should, thanks to its brilliant direction, its pacing and, above all, its controlled sandbox quality. For England, James, and for the fans and players, I hope to see Patrick Gibson develop this character further in a sequel.

IO Interactive already had a glowing reputation with their work on the Hitman franchise and now, they’re reaping the rewards with 007 First Light. A brilliant, heartfelt and action packed James Bond story coupled with stunning visuals, gripping gameplay and a killer soundtrack. Add in a masterful effort in voice acting and you have the modern day quintessential James Bond game. I cannot wait to see where these developers take 007 next. James Bond is back!

007 First Light brings James Bond back to the world of gaming, developed by the studio best suited for the task, and the result is a game of exceptionally high quality.

007 First Light captures the fantasy of being James Bond, blending espionage, gadgets, and explosive action into a polished cinematic adventure. IO Interactive adapts its expertise in player-driven level design to create a thrilling origin story that feels authentically Bond rather than a reskinned Hitman. With a strong narrative, excellent level design, and confident new interpretation of 007, it stands as the finest James Bond game in decades.

007 First Light is an incredibly well-executed action adventure blockbuster with a truly engrossing story, slick presentation, and layered gameplay systems. It marks a major evolution for IO Interactive, thrusting the studio into that coveted top tier of video game developers. It also has us excited for the team's future projects, whether that's more Bond or a return to Hitman at some point down the road.

James Bond's triumphant return to gaming in 007 First Light proves to be one of 2026's best titles.

IO Interactive proved to be the perfect match for adapting James Bond into a video game. While other titles have done justice to the franchise, this is the first time 007 feels so well-rounded, avoiding the one-dimensional action-hero depiction of the past. His personality is more nuanced, and the sandbox-style level design does justice to the full range of Bond's skills. Whether in stealth, fisticuffs, or gunplay, the experience excels, and the somewhat subpar driving is not enough to detract from an otherwise highly exhilarating adventure.

007 First Light is what happens when a developer isn't afraid to make a video game first and a movie adaptation second. It takes a younger, more compelling James Bond and places him at the center of an adventure that showcases the action adventure genre at its finest.

IO Interactive have delivered their vodka Martini shaken, though it causes plenty of stirs along the way. It's a rip-roaring, globe-trotting adventure that delivers thrills galore, with a shockingly good emotional core to deliver on the premise of 007's origin story. One of 2026's best games has arrived, and what a privilege it is to have James Bond back in full, unapologetic confidence.

IO Interactive’s 007 First Light is easily the best Bond game we’ve seen. Rare’s GoldenEye 007 was momentous when it launched, and it’s stuck around the zeitgeist because it was a portal into Ian Fleming’s world of shaken martinis and spy thrills we’d never seen before. What 007 First Light feels like is a playable, limited spy series that transports the player into a gripping and memorable espionage story.

While it’s impossible to argue that 007 First Light shares the seismic importance of 1997’s GoldenEye 007, it is nonetheless the best Bond game I’ve ever played. Demonstrably obsessed with bringing the Bond fantasy to life in a way no game has ever managed before, developer IO Interactive has found a highly successful home for the more curated action-stealth formula of 2012’s Hitman: Absolution. Patiently paced, First Light is brimming with Bond’s trinity of gadgets, guns, and girls in a way that feels fresh but reverent, and never like parody. The evolution of this risky, young Bond over the course of the story also feels logical and earned, to the point where the final moments before the credits left me literally cheering at the screen. Take a bow, IO, and put your clothes on – because I’m buying you all an ice cream.

Developer IO Interactive has parlayed its decades of developing Hitman games into an astonishingly fresh and satisfying James Bond adventure, adding elements of style, cinema and linear action to its trademark open-ended sneaking and espionage designs. Fun characters, diverse objectives, opulent settings and interesting spy craft enhance both the deep investigation scenarios and adrenaline-pumping shooting segments, and it's all brought together by a narrative that could easily have been taken from the super spy's next big-screen outing.

After several long decades, we finally got a James Bond game that is on par with the legendary Goldeneye 007! Made with great respect for the original novels and films, 007 First Light from IO Interactive successfully mixes the sandbox elements of the Hitman franchise with modern action sequences, dynamic characters and Naughty Dog-like adventures.

How 007 First Light performs is the main area of criticism I really have. As previously mentioned, on the whole, the game runs great, running at an upscaled 4K at 60fps (frames per second) in Quality mode...However there is a bit of clipping here and there, such as bigger weapons clipping through Bond’s clothing. There is the very occasional pop-in texture and some textures don’t render too well up close (even though they’re zoomed in on and are a focus of what’s in front of you in story missions) and looks very pixellated which does break the immersion.

007: First Light is one of the best games of the year, there's no doubt about it. While there are a couple of stumbles caused by bugs and the fact that there are some weaker moments in the adventure, it's impossible not to be amazed by the great work that IO Interactive has presented us with this time. While we don't know what will happen in the future, I hope the studio is already developing James Bond's next mission.

The James Bond saga could hardly have ended up in better hands. IO Interactive has crafted an adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of the 007 movies with an engaging story, stunning settings, and gameplay that’s polished in every detail.

007 First Light is a superb adventure game that does so much more than simply coast on the popularity of its franchise.

007 First Light is all things a Bond game should be. It’s exciting, unpredictable, and delivers a jet-setting adventure full of that hallmark intrigue. As a spy game, it’s expectedly solid. But as an action game, it’s somehow even better as IOI declare themselves the go-to for spy thrillers, and Patrick Gibson, in a time where new blood is badly required, declares himself Bond, James Bond.

IO Interactive feels like they've found a new home in the James Bond franchise. 007 First Light is a blast, with a tense and enthralling narrative that punches way higher and harder than anyone could have expected.

007 First Light understands that Bond isn’t just gadgets and gunfights. There’s a lot of charm and chaos, and an abundance of improvisation under pressure. IO Interactive captures that brilliantly, giving us a slick espionage thriller that is just as fun to explore as it is to survive, as well as an additional TacSim mode for replayability. 007 First Light is up there as one of the best Bond games of all-time.

A slow-burning and brutally elegant blend of Hitman and Batman: Arkham…First Light's Arkham-Hitman mashup evolves into a stylish, inventive and mature take on James Bond that feels meaningful and earned.

007 First Light has everything you could want from a Bond game: fist fights, shootouts, epic set-pieces, car chases, subterfuge, and more. There are some minor issues, such as the game's cover system being a little finicky at times, but on the whole this is a must-play for Bond fans as well as those who simply enjoy a good action game.

007 First Light is an exquisite taste of slick spy action and blockbuster storytelling, and is fully what a Bond game should be, but rarely is.

007 First Light has that distinct feel of a seventh-generation console action game thanks to features it borrows from other games of that era—and even some more recent ones—to create an immersive, fun, and thrilling experience that had been somewhat missing from video games.

James Bond is back, in his best, most polished, and most immersive form yet—and all without relying on an existing movie, instead rewriting his history and origins. The visual experience is mind-blowing, the game is technically top-notch, and the gameplay is so addictive that you’ll go back for more without a second thought.

Not only an extremely authentic Bond adaptation but a masterful action adventure in its own right, that manages an impressive balance of storytelling and cinematic spectacle.

007 First Light is an excellent James Bond game: varied gameplay with intelligent approach options, a story worthy of the character's films, beautiful graphics, and great technical performance. The TacSim mode is a great way to increase the title's longevity. Although the campaign features many slow-paced moments with secondary characters and combat animations that repeat frequently, it's an adventure that deserves to be checked out by any 007 fan or action game enthusiast in general.

007 First Light is brimming with trademark James Bond intrigue.

Despite its imperfections, IO Interactive’s proposal is unwavering in its ambition: to create the best James Bond game in history. This new version of 007, charismatic and authentic, stands as a worthy heir to the legacy of great cinematic portrayals such as Pierce Brosnan, although his attitude is more reminiscent of Nathan Drake. Its blend of infiltration, stealth, and action (albeit with aspects that could be improved in future installments) makes the game a more than remarkable adaptation of Ian Fleming’s work to the interactive medium.

007: First Light is a high quality experience that easily supplants GoldenEye 64 as the quintessential Bond game. Delivering every required component of the classic spy series and delivering a truly relevant storyline, it’s the very picture of what one might call a romp. Now that the origin tale’s out of the way, I’m very much looking forward to seeing more from this particular take on James Bond.

007 First Light got off to a rocky start: IO Interactive’s departure from the Hitman franchise and a lackluster marketing campaign had fueled low expectations, which were promptly dashed. The game proves to be an excellent action game and, above all, a faithful yet original portrait of a new James Bond—young, developing, and perfectly placed in the present. From a purely gameplay perspective, the blend of Hitman and Uncharted works, driven by a pace that seamlessly alternates action, stealth, and cinematic direction. A few naivetés—slow enemies, tricky mechanics—and a solid technical framework in terms of frame rate, but not up to par with the excellence of the models and animations, dampen the momentum. The result is a very successful and highly recommended title, which only needs some final polish to make the leap.

007 First Light successfully captures the essence of James Bond through a cinematic spy thriller packed with stylish infiltration, exciting action, and strong character performances. While it does not offer the same level of player freedom as Hitman, IO Interactive balances stealth, combat, and storytelling in a way that feels distinctly Bond. The campaign's impressive environments, engaging mission design, and confident presentation make it a compelling first outing for the franchise, even if some systems feel more scripted than they initially appear.

No, 007 First Light isn’t a perfect game. The AI needs a ton of work. The audio issues are hard to overlook. And the online connectivity requirements remain one of IOI’s dirty, bad habits. But when it clicks, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. The combat is fluid and hard-hitting, the gunplay is super satisfying, the level design is impeccable, and it’s all wrapped up in a fun, Bond-origin story. It feels great to be a 00 again.

It is undeniable that 007 First Light is a more than successful video game, one that blends the brilliance of this young Bond (magnificently portrayed by Patrick Gibson) with gameplay that works remarkably well, in a mix of explosive action, stealth, and swagger (in the best sense of the word). In our view, IO Interactive has won its bet: to create a cinematic, compelling video game capable of telling a solid spy story, packed with references that the most devoted fans will catch in their entirety. From a gameplay standpoint, 007 First Light adapts to the player's skill level and never feels like a prohibitively difficult experience, all the more so thanks to the difficulty selector. The time we spent in the company of James Bond was truly brilliant, despite a few minor technical imperfections that do not undermine the overall enjoyment of the game. IO Interactive's new take also opens the door to likely future installments — after all, with 007, there are plenty of stories left to tell. 007 First Light is a must-play for all fans of the franchise, but also for those who enjoy spy stories with intense action and who want to step into the shoes of a secret agent — charming and just a little reckless.

Ultimately, 007 First Light does not transcend its status as a mainstream adaptation, yet it clearly delivers on its promise. The title rigorously adheres to a well-paced script, dazzles us with its visuals, and entertains us with its sharp dialogue. Naturally, for a modern video game, we would have liked to see a bit more creative flair in terms of gameplay and a little more mechanical depth. One could legitimately criticize it for being overly linear, but in reality, we readily forgive its shortcomings. Above all, we remember having had an excellent time with controller in hand—much like watching a good 007 movie. And truly, that is neither more nor less than what we asked of it.

With this origin story, the new James has earned his number. Despite my affection for GoldenEye, the charms of this revamped spy are irresistible. First Light is the finest Bond experience ever seen in a video game—polished, true to the character's essence, modernized, and incredibly fun to play. 007 is ready for duty.

007 First Light is a perfect blend of the espionage aplomb of the Hitman series and the cinematic action of Uncharted. It pleasantly alternates between the two, catapulting the player into a myriad of situations that are always stimulating and, above all, excellently written, so well-crafted they seem to have been plucked from a good 007 movie. The new James Bond has lost none of his charm: his irresistible knowing smile, his seductive gaze, his approach that can be at times frivolous, trendy, and style-icon-like, at times profound and intelligent, almost like a philosopher in the field. With him, the cast of characters lays a solid foundation for what could be another successful franchise for IO Interactive. There are some elements that are out of place—most notably the enemy AI that's just not convincing—but when Bond enters the fray and the adrenaline rush rises, 007 First Light manages to make up for it with spectacular storytelling and an irresistible pace. A fun, incisive, and very contemporary video game. To quote a maxim from Agent 007, this series "has all the time in the world" to become perfect.

007 First Light is a true success. While not without its flaws, IO Interactive's title manages to place a bold, modern, and refreshing James Bond at the heart of a captivating adventure with perfectly controlled pacing. Halfway between Hitman and Uncharted, it delivers an experience that lives up to the expectations one would have for a James Bond film: spectacular and stylish.

007 First Light is one of the best Bond games I have ever played. The game is absolutely not perfect, but the foundation is rock solid. Hopefully IO Interactive will get to send this Bond on many more adventures.

007 First Light successfully captures everything we enjoy about James Bond, exploring both his espionage side and his thrilling shootouts. It presents a solid approach to blending both aspects of the MI6 agent, although it falls short in areas such as combat. Even so, it marks a strong return for the iconic spy to video games and could serve as the foundation for a truly definitive experience.

007 First Light reintroduces James Bond with a rock-solid experience: stylish, confident, and endlessly exciting all the way through the credits. At its best, it's the ultimate Bond experience, complete with cool gadgets and bombastic action. At its weaker moments, it calls to mind the highly competent Bond shooters that EA delivered. IO Interactive is sitting on a goldmine that, with the right refinement, could grow into a fantastic 007 game series. I therefore hope they get that chance from the license holders.

007 First Light is the game we have been waiting for from the world's most famous agent since the infamous 007 Legends. It is a title that blends the open-level design of Hitman, the frantic gameplay of Uncharted, and the 'World of Espionage' of James Bond. IOI delivers a production worthy of the character with a high level of detail and memorable nods. Although it could have been better graphically, at least it remains stable.

007 First Light is just like its protagonist: charismatic, energetic, funny, charming; as well as impetuous, exaggerated, and immature. He does what he wants to do, which is to entertain in every way possible. He completes his mission with a few lapses in style and without going unnoticed. Putting himself out there like this may not be ideal for a spy, but for a video game, it's a significant asset. The light of this new and brilliant James Bond is therefore neither dim nor dazzling. It's simply bright enough to radiate optimism about 007's video game future.

007 First Light represents IOI at its peak. While there are still some clear areas for improvement, I’m happy to report that First Light takes all of the slick charm and espionage goodness we love about the Bond movies, and successfully adapts them for the video game format.

If you have spent years waiting for a Bond game worth clearing a weekend for, 007 First Light is it. IO Interactive understood the assignment every other Bond game didn’t: the fantasy is the spycraft, not the shooting.

007 First Light is more or less exactly what I was hoping for. The characterisation of this young Bond and his associates is really strong, and the globetrotting story lets you explore some great locations. It really shines in its sandbox missions, but it weaves these together with its more linear moments in a seamless, cinematic way. Beyond some technical quibbles and uncertainty on the driving, IOI's new vision for James Bond makes a very accomplished start.

007 First Light is a great start to what will hopefully be a new series of games. There are certainly some areas to improve upon but what's here is a lot of fun and it does a great job of delivering a game that feels worthy of the franchise while setting the stage for more.

Calling this the best ever James Bond game doesn’t feel like high-enough praise. The story straddles the line between far-fetched thriller and believable spy adventure while the globe-trotting missions leave enough space for you to decide if you want to be the world’s greatest super sleuth or a swaggering bruiser. There are playful nods to 007’s long history but IO aren’t afraid to try something new with this origin tale either.

This unexpected hybrid of Hitman and Uncharted results in a fun, cinematic action-spy game. Full of charisma and worthy of its incredible legacy, 007: First Light is an exciting first step in a new series, where the good far outweighs the not-so-good.

More seasoned Hitman veterans might have seen this one coming, then – when 007: First Light builds upon the formula that IO Interactive laid out with their flagship franchise, it fires on all cylinders, offering up some of the best stealth-focused action that we’ve seen in a Bond game to date. Admittedly, it falters in some of its larger combat encounters, and its use of resource management can often feel like you’re a secret agent on a leash, but those missteps are easy to ignore when the moment-to-moment gameplay is this good

007 First Light is Bond's best game yet thanks to smart design decisions that make this a well-rounded spy thriller. Merging together moments of blockbuster spectacle with slower-paced stealth, this understands the appeal of spycraft and is able to deliver the fantasy in ways no other game can. Starring a young James Bond, this origin story can sometimes feel like just a beginning – but what a way for this spy's career to kick off.

007 First Light features a sophisticated and comprehensive infiltration system, as well as solid hand-to-hand combat mechanics. The lackluster cover system does not detract from what could mark a new era for 007 in the world of video games.

007 First Light is perhaps the closest a game has ever come to making me feel like I’m starring in a Bond film. IO Interactive takes the stealth sandbox of Hitman, the intense thrills of Uncharted, and experimental spycraft of Batman: Arkham, and reshapes them into a globe-trotting cinematic spy thriller filled with covert missions, explosive action, and cool gadgets. While the immersiveness of the campaign occasionally lags, this stylish origin story still feels like a triumphant return for the most iconic secret agent.

With 007 First Light, IO Interactive won't exactly satisfy the hunger of Hitman fans, and even less so those of Uncharted, as its nods to these series ultimately turn out to be quite superficial. However, the studio brilliantly pulls off its double wager: delivering a blockbuster capable of making waves in 2026, and bringing James Bond back to the forefront of the gaming scene after an unprecedented hiatus, all while being self-published, mind you. While the alchemy of the formula might remain a tad too cautious and predictable, the way the Danish studio has seamlessly mastered every convention of the modern AAA title commands respect, and reminds us once again why the world will never grow tired of the James Bond mythos. We missed you, James.

007 First Light is one of the more content-rich James Bond games we've ever had, and it should only get better with future updates. What's on offer at launch is a solid, polished James Bond adventure with a memorable story and exciting action that should please most fans of the franchise.

After all this lengthy analysis, the only thing that remains is that IOI has crafted an excellent action adventure, with a strong focus on stealth, which represents the perfect launchpad for a rebirth of the 007 franchise in video game format. First Light works, there's no doubt about it. The story is compelling, the new Bond characterization fits perfectly with today's audience (even if many longtime fans will surely not appreciate it), and the universe written by Ian Fleming has been treated with due respect, paying homage to it in a way that's never cloying and refreshing it where necessary. Is it the perfect game for James Bond fans? That's not for me to say; we'll leave that difficult decision to the fans. For my part, however, I can tell you that if you were looking for a very good story-driven action game, dedicated to the 007 universe, First Light will not disappoint you, even if it is undeniable that IOI could have done more in many respects, but since tomorrow never dies, we will see if in the next chapter by IOI the software house will be able to fully express its immense, and by now well-known, potential.

007 First Light is less cerebral and replayable than IO's World of Assassination trilogy, but makes up for it with excellent fistfights and oodles of charm.

007 First Light does a great job of making the player feel like they are embodying James Bond. Gadgets, shoot-outs, stealth and an amazing cast really make this stand in the hall of 007 greats.

007 First Light has plenty of hits and plenty of misses. In answer to the question earlier, there is enough in this game to give you confidence in IO Interactive and its broader vision for this style of a James Bond game, with plenty of ambition and quality oozing out of every crack. But there is clear room for improvement too, areas that would take this game from being simply an enjoyable and great action-adventure project and elevating it to be something truly unmissable. As it is, you'll enjoy 007 First Light, but it's no Uncharted 4 and it's no Hitman 3, either.

First Light occasionally stumbles in adjusting from hitman to a spy, but thanks to terrific writing and sprawling level design, this is one of the most thrilling Bond adventures to date.

There are high-tech gadgets and delightful moments in 007 First Light. But too often it becomes an action hero’s linear journey.

First Light is a solid adventure—though one shouldn't set one's expectations for the story too high. The blend of action and exploration works well, and 007 fans will delight in the abundance of tongue-in-cheek references to the films and novels. As for the Bond atmosphere, however, there is still room for improvement. Hitman fans should bear in mind that Agent 47 and Agent 007 appeal to very different audiences; those who primarily seek freedom, dark humor, replay value, and a challenge would be better off sticking with the piano wire.

If you do decide to take up First Light, I expect what you will find is a fantastic foundation for future updates and a likely sequel that will truly impress, nestled within a sincerely fun and well-designed stealth game that takes what Hitman provided and improves upon it. What you will not find is a game that is able to conceal or minimize all its flaws. It instead presents them to you fully emblazoned on its chest and at often interminable length. And all that left me shaken, not stirred.

007 First Light is the best James Bond game ever made. IO Interactive has done a commendable job adapting their Hitman formula to fit the iconic spy franchise, with stealth mechanics that feel tighter and more focused than their inspiration. The game plays it too safe, however, and 007 First Light stops just short of true greatness by not taking enough risks.