After getting both an official release window and a highly awaited gameplay trailer for007 First Light, Bond’s latest adventure will finally break the 14-year absence for the gaming franchise. Even if later entries in the007series faced mixed reception upon release, there’s no denying the massively influential effect it had on the gaming landscape over the years. Starting strong withGoldenEye007, the Bond IP inadvertently revolutionized the first-person shooter genre, becoming the gold standard for games to follow.
WithFirst Lightbeing a fresh start for the series after so long an absence,there’s been more than enough time to look back at what made the ambitious series so beloved in its prime, and which areas could use some improvements. Unfortunately,007 First Light’s biggest departure from the series is itscomplete lack of multiplayer, being a notable departure from franchise tradition. Despite some disappointment at reliving the glory days ofGoldenEye 007’s PvP in a next-generation package,007 First Lightalready seems to crank up the best aspects of the series to even greater heights.
5Breathing More Life Into 007’s Car Chases
It Wouldn’t Be Bond Without An Action-Packed Chase Sequence
Appearing in every film to date since007’s inception, it wouldn’t be a modern Bond adaptation without an action-packed chase sequence using a gorgeously classic car. Although not every game in the franchise was able to implement them successfully,the racing sequences in Bond games offer some of their most memorable missions by far. Even if we only saw a few short glimpses of the fast-paced car chases seen throughout theFirst Lightreveal trailer, it already looks like a great start for the new series.
In theFirst Lighttrailer, Bond sports the return of a classic Aston Martin DBS, much like those seen in past007films likeOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service,outfitted with a few extra gadgets a fledgling spy would need. On top of the sleek yellow body,Bond’s car seems to have a visible tire-popping cable dangling from the back in one scene,which is unlikely to be the only upgrade Q managed to fit into the classic vehicle.
Speaking of Bond’s trusted ally, the MI6 research and development lab seems to have plenty more vehicles that you might get to try out later on inFirst Light’s story, including a flame-belching dirtbike and what looks like a supercar hidden under a tarp. Given that later entries in the franchise let Bond freely enter and exit vehicles at will to progress through a mission,it would be great to see vehicles implemented more as a tool than a simple on-rails segmentfor certain missions.
4Bringing Back Iconic Weapons And Gadgets From Bond’s Past
A Familiar Arsenal For Fans Of the Series
Another vital aspect that sets the007series apart is the plethora of incredibly useful gadgets at Bond’s disposal, gifted to him by his ever-trusty Quartermaster at MI6. Unlike the films, where each of the tools presented to Bond has a specific use later in the story,the gaming franchise made gadgets feel more like a vital part of Bond’s arsenal than a one-off gimmick. Whether they’re offensive options in a firefight, tools to help with a quick getaway, or the necessities to blow up enemies like a balloon, there’s no shortage of creative gadgets forFirst Lightto incorporate.
One of the tools you’ll likely rely on the most throughout Bond’s new origin story is the undeniably classic Walther PPK pistol, with its usage tracing back to the first and last films in the series withDr. NoandNo Time To Die,respectively. Although there are plenty of flashier weapons out there to choose from, the grounded choice is integral to the history of the Bond franchise. Even if it’s hard to beat the versatility of a powerful sidearm, IO Interactive’sHitmanseries gives me hope that we’ll see moreincredibly creative gadgetsand equally powerful weapons.
3A Wholly Original Story For Bond’s New Career
The Most Memorable Bond Games Offered Fresh Narratives
One of the most common attributes of the best Bond games in the series, aside from the ever iconicGoldenEye 007, is the choice to tell an entirely original story rather than simply adapting the plotline to one of the films. There’s still plenty of enjoyment to be had in more straightforward adaptations like007: Quantum of SolaceorFrom Russia With Love, butthe virtual format has drastically more options for unique storytelling opportunities.Combined with007 First Lightoffering the youngest Bond in the series, it’s the perfect chance to explorerare territories for 007’s character.
Even if most of the Bond games are fondly remembered for their cinematic gameplay and first-person shooter action, plenty of entries in the series, like007: Everything or Nothing, offered stories that reached just as memorable heights as their film counterparts. Often being fondly referred to as the fifth Pierce Brosnan film, thanks to the star-studded cast of actors from the film franchise,First Lighthas the potential to be the spiritual successor we’ve been waiting for nearly a decade to experience.
Everything or Nothingwas also Pierce Brosnan’s last appearance as the titular character, further establishing itself as one of 007’s most iconic video game outings.
Another way thatFirst Lightsets itself apart from pre-existing characters or stories is by seemingly incorporating aspects from the novel as well as the classic film franchise.EvenFirst Light’s Bond design is a drastic departure from the films, adding the scar from the original Ian Fleming novelsthat inspired the movies. With007 First Lighttaking a stark new direction for Bond’s appearance with detailsnever seen in the films, we could get not only a deeper insight into the spy hero but also one from an entirely fresh angle.
2Giving Bond Unique Ways To Complete A Mission
Player Freedom Is Essential For A Classic Bond Experience
Another common aspect among007’s best video game adaptations is offering multiple ways to tackle a single mission, whether through bonus objectives or alternate paths to take. Even the originalGoldenEye 007incorporated these mechanics by adding additional objectives in harder difficulties.TheJames Bond 007series, starting withAgent Under Fire,took the concept of encouraging cinematic gameplay to even greater heights.
Across a plethora of Bond games, likeNightfireandEverything or Nothing,utilizing certain gadgets or finding creative ways to use each level’s environment would net you “Bond Moments”, adding to your final mission score. Rather than forcing players to utilize these aspects as a mission objective, it offered unique ways to approach each mission, incentivizing players to go back and find all the moments they missed on their first attempt. With IO Interactive boasting numerous ways players can approach each mission, it’s more than likely that a similar mechanic will appear in the full release.
007 First Lightaims to provide plenty of ways to tackle each mission.
Unlike IOI’s previous protagonist Agent 47, James Bond won’t be able to unleash theevil side of the characterto complete his objectives, but the trailer still showcases plenty of player freedom. Whether stealing between guards with high-tech gadgets, going in guns blazing, or simply walking in through the front door with all the charm in the world, 007 First Lightaims to provide plenty of ways to tackle each mission. Given the lack of multiplayer inFirst Light,the variety of options for each mission will also drastically help with replayabilityfor the future.
1Highlighting A Diverse Cast Of Memorable Characters
Helping First Lights' Story Come To Life With Higher Stakes
Another way thatFirst Lighttakes advantage of the strengths of its best gaming predecessors is by offering more focus on its supporting cast, rather than having Bond be a bullet-hungry one-man army.Even the similarly inspiredIndiana Jonesorigin story introduced several characters to flesh out the character’s backstory, withFirst Lightmore than likely to follow suit. From his fellow 00 agents and friends at MI6, all the way to its extravagant supporting cast filled with egomaniacal villains to face off against,007’s colorful cast is what makes Bond’s best outings so memorable in the first place.
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind for each Bond movie is its iconic villain, with007 First Lightalready offering a few sneak peeks at what’s to come with its heavily rumored antagonist. It hasn’t been explicitly confirmed, butthe new antagonist seems to be the past 009 agent gone rogue, acting as a dichotomy to Bond’s fresh-faced perspective on the spy industry. While there’s still room for mustache-twirling villains inFirst Light, the primary antagonist could provide a much more nuanced perspective on the series, with themes of betrayal best seen in the originalGoldenEye.
Unlike the films, the007games don’t need to rely as heavily on physical gimmicks to make an iconic antagonist being best seen in007: Everything or Nothing’s main villain, Nikolai Diavolo, played by Willem Dafoe. Regardless of the direction007 First Lighttakes with its storyline, the upcoming game already has everything it needs to be a success, with plenty offantastic features to borrowfrom iconic games of the past.
