Game Systems

Stealth is at the heart of 007 First Light, carrying IO Interactive's Hitman DNA into the Bond universe. As a young Bond earning his 00 status, you'll spend much of the game sneaking through facilities, parties, and hostile compounds rather than going in guns blazing. The core stealth loop rewards patience and observation: use Bond's instinct vision to tag enemies through walls, crouch-move through shadowed corridors, duck behind cover to peek around corners, and use thrown objects or gadgets to manipulate guard positions. GameSpot's review noted the "frequency of needing to distract or sneak past guards, hang from ledges or pipes, and eavesdrop on conversations" as classic IOI design. The stealth is more guided than Hitman's open sandbox — each chapter funnels you through carefully designed encounters rather than giving you a completely open puzzle box — but the tools available (silenced weapons, dart gadgets, disguises in social settings, environmental takedowns) give you genuine choice in how to approach each situation.

The combat system in 007 First Light is a big step up from what Hitman had — this time, going loud actually feels good. It's not the deepest shooter out there, but it's solid, responsive, and most importantly, it feels like you're playing as James Bond in an action scene. The cover system works well, the weapons have weight to them, and there's just enough variety in enemy types to keep things interesting without overwhelming you. You can absolutely play most of the game stealthily if you want, but when things go sideways (and they will), the combat is there to back you up.

007 First Light marks IO Interactive's first foray into drivable vehicles, and honestly? They nailed it way better than I expected. Going into this game I thought the car sections would be glorified quick-time events — you know, press X to not crash, that kind of thing. But no, these are actual driving sequences with real handling, real physics, and actual Q Branch gadgets that you control. The Aston Martin DB5 is the star of the show, obviously — it's James Bond's iconic car and it gets a lot of screen time across the campaign. The driving model is arcade-style (thankfully — this isn't Forza), which means it's responsive, fun, and doesn't require a steering wheel to enjoy. You can shoot from the car, deploy gadgets, drift around corners — the whole nine yards. And the chase sequences are genuinely cinematic — I found myself leaning into turns like I was actually behind the wheel.

The gadget system is where 007 First Light really makes you feel like James Bond. Q Branch doesn't just hand you a gun and send you on your way — they outfit you with a toolkit that rewards creative problem-solving. The Omega Q-Watch is your constant companion, always on your wrist, always ready to hack a lock or light up a dark corridor. Beyond that, you've got throwable EMPs, a dart gun for non-lethal takedowns, a grappling hook for vertical movement, and more. What I like most is that none of these feel like throwaway filler — every gadget has real situations where it's the perfect tool for the job, and discovering those moments is a big part of the fun.