007 First Light

I did not know what to think when I first heard IOI was working on a James Bond game, but having played 007 First Light, I can think of no studio better for this. It nailed the experience and the tone, and used its expertise in a way that feels fresh, engaging and fun. The team knows what it is doing and has gone all out to build a game that is unmistakably James Bond while feeling like a natural evolution for the studio. [3-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

007: First Light is promising, though not perfect, with issues such as misaligned footstep and voice audio pointing me in the wrong direction as enemies snuck up on me -- something crucial in a stealth game that I hope gets fixed before release. Hitman fans may be split on how much of their favorite gameplay is repackaged for Bond's adventure -- a great tonal match that could still feel too familiar. Those new to IO Interactive's games will likely enjoy it. But despite how polished the stealth gameplay was, a lot hinges on the plot IO Interactive is building out, one that marks a novel departure from other Bond narratives by telling the story before the spy became super, yet one that'll be tricky to get right. [3-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

What I played left a strong impression overall. First Light already has the foundation of something confident, stylish, and occasionally very clever, even when it is still adjusting its tie in the mirror. It’s Hitman roots are clear as day, but the strong narrative pivot First Light is really diving into really kept things feel fresh throughout my session. I think fans of both Hitman and James Bond are really going to like what First Light showcases, and it could become something genuinely memorable. [4-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

Based on what I played, 007 First Light is shaping up to be a phenomenal IO Interactive game through and through. It takes everything the developer has learned from many years of creating, refining, iterating, and evolving Hitman games, and puts the pieces that make the most sense together to create a James Bond game that could end up being one of the best games of the year, and also the best James Bond game ever created. 007 First Light could be the culmination of IO Interactive's vision for modern sandbox action games, as well as a spectacular payoff for a 16-year audition to make a James Bond game. [Hands-On Impressions]

There have been some great 007 games before, but none of them have managed to capture the experience of a full Bond adventure and the way it ebbs and flows between explosive set-pieces, grounded action, and quieter moments like IO Interactive manages here. 007 First Light just gets James Bond. [Hands-On Impressions]