{"id":544520,"date":"2026-06-14T13:32:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T11:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ragequit.gr\/?p=544520"},"modified":"2026-06-14T16:01:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T14:01:32","slug":"007-first-light-pc-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ragequit.gr\/en\/reviews\/item\/007-first-light-pc-review\/","title":{"rendered":"007 FIRST LIGHT"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Bond is one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture, with decades of appearances in film, literature, and video games. Although the British agent has had a limited presence in the gaming world in recent years, the announcement of 007 First Light by IO Interactive immediately captured the public\u2019s interest. And rightly so, as the Danish development studio, known for the beloved Hitman series, has made it clear that it knows exactly how to handle games of this style, which offer, among other things, multiple options for approaching each objective.<\/p>\n

Unlike most previous productions, 007 First Light does not draw inspiration from an existing film or novel. Instead, it chooses to tell an original story, focusing on the early days of a young Bond, before he evolves into the legendary agent we all know. Although this isn\u2019t the first time we\u2019ve witnessed such a story (Casino Royale says hi), we found this choice to be a good one, and it marks a prime opportunity for a slight redefinition of the hero (something we more or less expect to happen on the big screen as well). Among other things, rewriting Bond\u2019s story from scratch allows the creators to move with greater freedom, presenting an unripe protagonist who does not yet possess the experience of a seasoned agent (and therefore makes mistakes), but clearly shows signs that he is a man born for this job.<\/p>\n

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The trip to Iceland will change James's life\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The story of 007 First Light begins with Bond not (yet) working for MI6 and taking on a seemingly simple mission in Iceland. Of course, things turn out much worse than anyone could have expected, with Bond ultimately surviving the disaster and being recruited by the Secret Intelligence Service as a promising agent. As expected, the incident in Iceland was not a coincidence, as everything is connected under a dark veil of conspiracy involving very powerful figures, beyond all suspicion. In the familiar style of James Bond films, the usual clich\u00e9s are all present: double agents, paranoid leaders, political intrigues, and dangerous paramilitary organizations operating behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

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In situations like these, we always keep our eyes and ears open.<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The script proves to be highly effective, featuring several interesting twists, and of course, it\u2019s packed with spectacular explosions, ethereal women, and thrilling chases. The screenwriters at IO Interactive have done such a great job that you feel like you\u2019re watching an epic James Bond movie, lasting about 15\u201317 hours. Sure, there was room for improvement, especially in the development of certain secondary characters who remain underutilized; nevertheless, 007 First Light is one of those single-player experiences that keeps the player engaged until the story\u2019s conclusion.<\/p>\n

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What kind of agents would we be if we didn\u2019t barge in uninvited to gather information?<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the storyline isn\u2019t the only standout feature of 007 First Light. On the contrary, IO Interactive has leveraged its experience with the Hitman series to deliver a similar style of gameplay. Most aspects of the game scream \"Hitman,\" with mission design offering multiple paths and different ways to tackle each target. Bond relies primarily on his wits and sharp tongue, whether by assuming various roles or simply bluffing, while thanks to the equipment provided by the agency, he has some very interesting gadgets in his arsenal (courtesy of Q) to help him further. The main difference from the bald agent is that Bond fares much better in close-quarters combat.<\/p>\n

In a combat system that\u2019s somewhat reminiscent of the old Batman Arkham games, as well as Naughty Dog\u2019s Uncharted series, Bond is a highly capable agent, with martial arts moves and grips that even the fittest athlete would envy. In addition, Bond has access to a wide range of weapons, with the important caveat that their use is a last resort. Consequently, Bond can only use his weapons when the \u201cLicense to Kill\u201d command appears, which happens only when his life is directly threatened by enemies who have him in their sights.<\/p>\n

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However, dry British humor doesn't always go over well\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In any case, however, the game masterfully avoids becoming a simple third-person shooter. Except for those moments when only weapons can \u201cspeak,\u201d a stealthy approach is always preferable. Consequently, we must observe the environment for any openings that will allow us to infiltrate a guarded area, gather intelligence from documents and laptops or by eavesdropping on conversations, and exploit our opponents\u2019 weaknesses \u2014or even \u201ccreate\u201d those weaknesses (thanks to our gadgets). The game doesn\u2019t penalize an \u201call-guns-blazing\u201d approach; in fact, we\u2019d say it\u2019s quite flexible in that regard (except for the limited ammo supply), however, there are many times when the number of enemies is such that it\u2019s safer to play by the rules of the \u201ccunning\u201d agent.<\/p>\n

Of course, none of this means there\u2019s a lack of action. The impressive chase scenes, the extended firefights, and the over-the-top cinematic sequences are plentiful, offering the necessary respite between the more \u201cmethodical\u201d parts of the adventure. The gamble that IO Interactive wins is that the shift in pace between action and methodical gameplay happens smoothly, without creating the sense that the game sacrifices its identity on the altar of spectacle. While most of its spectacular action sequences are largely scripted, they are so well integrated into the game\u2019s gameplay that they do not leave a negative impression.<\/p>\n

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Some people talk a lot. Take advantage of it!<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, if there\u2019s one thing that significantly undermines the game\u2019s realism, it\u2019s the enemies\u2019 AI, which\u2014whether in stealth mode or in combat\u2014is subpar. This may make things easier for the player, as it\u2019s clear that the game is primarily aimed at pure fun rather than challenging the player like a hardcore stealth game, but there are moments when this \u201csilliness\u201d becomes annoying. For example, there might be a commotion from punches and kicks in one corner of the room, yet the enemies in the opposite corner\u2014since the fighting isn\u2019t happening within their field of view\u2014don\u2019t notice a thing. Or, for example, a shelf full of metal objects crashes to the floor\u2014making a terrifying noise\u2014and the guard ten meters away completely ignores the incident. There are dozens of such instances, and these are the kinds of things we\u2019d like to see improved in a future sequel.<\/p>\n

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He wouldn't be James Bond without the right kind of women.<\/strong><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moving on to the technical aspects, we\u2019d say that 007 First Light is quite impressive. Especially in terms of environmental rendering, the game gets top marks, as it exudes the feel of a blockbuster production: from luxurious hotels and state-of-the-art facilities to isolated bases in exotic (or not-so-exotic) parts of the world. The presence of celebrities like Lenny Kravitz as Bawma and Lana Del Rey\u2019s contribution to the game\u2019s main theme show that IO Interactive left nothing to chance. The rest of the cast is definitely a plus, with Patrick Gibson as the young James Bond being a spot-on choice, as well as Kiera Lester as Moneypenny (in a very mature performance), with no one generally falling short.<\/p>\n

In summary, 007 First Light is one of the most pleasant surprises of recent years and, without a doubt, a successful return for James Bond to the gaming world. Fully aware of the weight of the name he carries, IO Interactive retains the key elements of the hero that made him famous, redefining him without undermining him, while offering compelling gameplay that will satisfy fans of action games with a strong cinematic flair.<\/p>\n