007 First Light (2026)

This took me forever to finish because frankly, I didn't want to pick it up. I just don't understand the praise for this game, I found it to be extremely predictable, repetitive, clunky, and mind numbingly boring at times.

This was a great 007 movie, it had all of the hallmarks of a classic Bond movie, and I would absolutely go to the theater to watch this. But it made for a dull game. Every level was structured exactly the same, with minor differences in the order that you do things. You're lurking around, navigating some minor traversal puzzles figuring out where to go. Next, you're doing espionage, eavesdropping and gathering information to figure out what you need to do. You now sneak around enemies, having to incapacitate them when necessary in order to get to your objective. Now you're killing guys, full out gunfight, rushing to the exit. And usually this is where the car chase comes in, though it is rarely ever actually a car.

It just.. wasn't fun. I enjoyed it the first few times, but it literally is just the same thing with a different backdrop every level. I think the compelling story is what is supposed to keep you invested, and it is interesting. But not interesting enough to save the dull gameplay. The levels are also quite long, starting one feels like a huge commitment, which is what led me to often dropping this for days before coming back to it.

Linear games exist and they can be good games of course. But the cardinal sin of this game is that it want to convince you that you have unlimited options when it is clear that you don't. I don't like coming out of a cut scene to be automatically pointed in the direction of the open floor panel that I need to jump into, with painted lines on the wall telling me where to go. When I need to gather information, I don't like having two little blue bubbles on my HUD telling me exactly who I need to eavesdrop on in order to get the intel I need to progress the story. You've crafted a massive, intricate set piece and you are funneling me away from exploring it because you want me to pickpocket a guys phone off of him.

But what is most disappointing is that I know what IO Interactive is capable of. I know what this game could have been. I enjoy the Hitman games a lot, and I think the style of gameplay is quite conducive to a good 007 game, but they opted for a more cinematic experience on rails. Hitman is fun because it gives you a sandbox with many different toys hidden all around, breadcrumbs to achieve the goal that you need to achieve. Maybe you'll do one of the handful of wacky assassinations they have set up for you, or maybe you'll find your own way to do it. You have so many resources as your disposal. That's what this game could have been. But instead I just got the same dull gameplay loop over and over again.

I really wanted to like this, I'd like to see another Bond game by IO Interactive that is a hair less cinematic and more of a video game.

Wish there would have been more driving parts. Reminds me of Uncharted 4 where we got total driving insanity with set pieces. This game needed more of that, and less walking and running around stealth (Hitman) segments.

Combat stood out, along with voice acting, visuals and performance. The amount of NPCs in these locations was incredible.

The game was still so enjoyable. Must play 4/5 for me. Really liked it.

What a couple of great showcases the last week, with Sony State of Play and Xbox Showcase!!!! There are about 10-12 games I'm totally hyped for. Just to name some of them...

Halo Campaign Evolved, FF7 Part 3, Gears E-Day, Metro 2039, Resident Evil Veronica, Castlevania Belmont's Curse, God of War Laufey, Fable (maybe), Resonance A Plague Tale Story, Doom Dark Ages Revelations, Crazy Taxi World Tour, Clockwork Revolution, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 (Because black ops went so far down the rabbit hole I can't stand it anymore), and more!!

I guess that's more than just a few to start, lol. The two showcases were outstanding. 2026 has already been great for me, and 2027 looks to be incredible as well. What a time to live, when so many people don't like the state of gaming right now. Personally, I think it's come back HUGE!!

Oh man, is this game wonderful so far. On the 4th mission and the action and combat and driving are incredible. Of course what would an IOI game be without stealth? Also fabulous! To me, this game feels like Hitman 2.0 with better everything. It feels like Mission Impossible with over the top set pieces, mixed with Uncharted/Tomb raider style platforming. Just feels damn amazing to play.

Happy Saturday gaming and may your games be righteous!

I worry about Bond.

Not so much as a piece of media but more so that the idea of him is a bookmark. Bond and our enjoyment of him, lives in a space of unnoticeable drips turning into a textbook bullet point. He seems nestled before a chapter of history that will describe a transition of global power.

I have greatly benefited from England's Empire. A recipient of its affection, instead of its colonialist boot. Being Canadian, I've had an instillment of encouraged subservience, easily swept by English debonair and the idea of King & Country. Finery and patriotism not a uniquely English export but Bonds expression of it is part of the ideation that holds England's domain together. A Robin Hood figure of the Post Modern English Empire, working for those who play along.

First Light appeals and reminds me of these romanticized historical ties of mine. Yet, for the first time, James' youth and retelling seems slightly unfamiliar from the outside. Bond is to lean into a miasmic trust of England holding the reigns. This isn't the case anymore. A bullet point is forming.

I'm afraid the Bonds of the real world will sit in the shadows and watch as tanks begin to cross newly artificial lines.

Yeah, (not!) well done IO Interactive:

We are excited to announce that we have reached the third wishlist milestone! Wishlist now and help us reach the final wishlist milestone reward!

Of course that reward is a "secret" and of course you only will get these "rewards" (so far they are skins) if you create an IO Interactive account on top of an account from wherever you buy the game.

What's next? "Augment Your Pre-Order"? Pre-order bonuses are already there , three different versions of the game too and the iconic tuxedo is of course only available in pre-order.

They will definitely do whatever they can get away with and this time they start early and no one bats even an eye. I have no doubt this will be always online or no progress like Hitman and I hate it as much as I feel it might be again a good game in itself.

I am an old bloke and hated already horse armor, I will not get used to these things. This game doesn't need any of this, it will sell like hell without it.