The Nintendo 64’s Goldeneye: 007 has long eclipsed a series of subpar James Bond video games released over the last thirty years.
From unsatisfactory pseudo-sequels carrying the Goldeneye title to lackluster spin-offs, the legendary British secret agent has been featured in more forgettable games than standout titles. The 2004 release Everything or Nothing stands out, providing an entertaining third-person action adventure with Willem Dafoe as the antagonist.
This leads us to 007: First Light from IO Interactive, the minds behind Hitman. It promises to deliver the most captivating virtual rendition of the MI6 agent since Goldeneye. After watching half an hour of demo footage, my enthusiasm for the game has increased, especially when compared to the initial trailer, which fell short on espionage elements.
007: First Light is akin to Hitman but features exhilarating car chases
When IO revealed their Bond title, the overall response was, “Oh, absolutely, that’s spot on.” The Hitman franchise aligns perfectly with Bond’s skills, granting players the freedom to explore vast, intricate levels populated with NPCs whose AI can be skillfully exploited.
The primary distinction is that Hitman centers on flamboyant assassinations, while Bond’s tactics are more pragmatic. The initial gameplay trailer resembled a British Uncharted, featuring various setpieces and third-person shooting mechanics.
The extensive demo I observed (though I didn’t play) validated that this is indeed a creation from the developers of Hitman. It displayed Bond infiltrating an upscale gathering at a picturesque villa, employing ingenious strategies to elude guards. Unlike Agent 47, Bond lacks the freedom to use disguises at will, making distraction essential. For instance, Bond activated a garden hose to divert a guard’s attention, grabbed a lighter to set hay on fire, causing another guard to abandon his post, which enabled Bond to slip through a window.
IO has promised a mixture of sprawling, open-ended Hitman-styled levels filled with thrilling Bond action sequences, as demonstrated in the preview. Car chases and cover-based shooting are commonplace, but there was also a moment where Bond utilized his gadget watch to hack into a cargo plane during takeoff, commandeering the aircraft while engaged in a gunfight, creating chaos in the cargo hold.
If 007: First Light effectively merges Hitman‘s stealth elements with dynamic setpieces without falling into monotony, it could emerge as the best Bond title in years. Although the rival offerings are not overwhelming, the game still confronts hurdles, including the James Bond origin narrative featuring a younger iteration of the agent. The execution of driving and shooting mechanics remains to be evaluated, as Hitman‘s gunfights were never particularly gripping.
In a scenario where Amazon possesses James Bond, which might result in substandard films cluttered with Prime Air advertisements, I’ll accept whatever comes my way.