007: First Light is the most recent video game to star Ian Fleming’s James Bond. As a long-time fan of the James Bond movies, I often wondered what a really good, modern game based on the character would be like. After the trailer and early images from 007: First Light dropped, I thought we’d all finally get our answer. The game quickly became one of the most highly-anticipated of the year; and clearly the game studio had high expectations for it, because it was widely promoted. If you followed any Playstation/video game online outlets or influencers, then you likely saw a lot of commentary about the game before its release, and it was pretty much inescapable. And most of that commentary was very positive. In addition to the strong visuals, the story also looked like a pitch-perfect take on Bond, in the form of (I suppose) a re-boot:

Follow James Bond as a young, resourceful and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training programme.

After a heroic act, young Naval air crewman Bond is offered the opportunity to join the newly revived Double 0 programme.

But when a mission to stop a rogue agent ends in tragedy, he must join forces with his reluctant mentor Greenway to expose a deep conspiracy and stop a looming coup at the heart of the State.

The trailer and early buzz suggested an action-packed gameplay experience. Unfortunately, that is not quite what this game delivers. Continue reading →