For actor Patrick Gibson, 007 First Light is a unique experience, and not just due to the shock of actually playing James Bond. For someone who’s known for live-action fare like Dexter: Original Sin, this is his first experience voicing and motion-capturing a video game character.
To that end, Gibson told the BBC that the “gap between playing a game and watching a show has got smaller.” Which isn’t something you’d typically think of in IO Interactive’s new Hitman trilogy, despite the initial episodic approach. However, First Light marks a deeper narrative focus for the developer, opting for more linear sections to drive the action forward.
Narrative director Martin Emborg agreed with Gibson, noting that, “There are stories that are better served in a game. It engages you in a completely different way.”
Part of that is due to how First Light approached Bond. Compared to previous 007 titles, which Emborg described as “often more action-driven,” it focused on capturing the superspy’s “entire gamut of abilities.” “You can throw down, but you can also charm your way in. There’s a whole spy work portion of gameplay.” Besides opening more narrative avenues, it also helps distinguish the title from the Hitman franchise in numerous ways.
Whether you’re relying on gadgets, engaging in CQC, or prompting a tangible threat that requires a License to Kill to go guns blazing, 007 First Light certainly appears to succeed in portraying Bond. It’s not above showcasing a more vulnerable side to him, either, as evidenced in the first 13 minutes of gameplay recently released.
Launching on May 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC (later for Nintendo Switch 2), 007 First Light is sadly only available to preload on PlayStation. IO Interactive didn’t state why, but it could be to prevent leaks, which more and more games have suffered lately.
