As we get closer to 007: First Light‘s May 27th release date, more details about the upcoming game have been revealed thanks to a hands-on preview on PlayStation Blog. The preview focuses on how well 007: First Light combines action and stealth gameplay to create an appropriate James Bond experience.
The story of 007: First Light kicks off with Bond still serving as a crewman in the Royal Navy. During a mission, however, missiles hit Bond’s helicopters, leading to him crashing on a nearby coastline in Iceland. This instantly starts off some stealth gameplay where Bond has to sneak past hostile mercenaries.
Eventually, Bond gets contacted by an MI6 operative and is tasked with retrieving a mysterious item. To achieve this, Bond decides to disguise himself as one of the members of the mercenary crew so he can get more information. The mission wraps up with a high-intensity chase sequence, leading to Bond being pressed into training by MI6.
All in all, the preview gives us a look at three of the early missions from 007: First Light. The second one, focused purely on stealth throughout ruins, also gives us our first look at one of Bond’s many gadgets: the Q Lens. Through this, he can spot enemies through walls as well as hackable devices. Bond is also equipped with a watch that can fire a laser that can be used to cut ropes from a distance, for example.
The melee combat system is also brought up, which gives Bond plenty of room to improvise, since enemies can be bounced off hard surfaces to stun them, or be attacked with nearby throwable items. The Q Watch laser can also be used to briefly stun enemies, leaving them open for a takedown.
The third mission focused quite a bit on the social stealth aspects of 007: First Light. After a chase to catch a would-be assassin, Bond is able to track the perpetrator to a gala in London, where players can explore and charm their way to getting important information. Much like IO Interactive’s Hitman series, Bond can pretend to be a variety of characters to sneak into the gala.
After quite a few shenanigans, which include dropping a chandelier on a target in true Hitman fashion, Bond has to try to escape, which kicks off an intense gameplay section where players have to drive a garbage truck, with mercenaries in pursuit, and drive through the narrow confines of buildings.
007: First Light is being developed for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. It is worth noting that IO Interactive needed some more time for the Nintendo Switch 2 version, leading to the studio delaying the port until Summer. In the meantime, you can check out the title track, as sung by Lana Del Rey, as well as the old-fashioned Bond-style title sequence.
The title will also give players access to special outfits, tools, and weapons through the Deluxe Edition, which was showcased with a trailer in April. Also, take a look at what Lennie James, who plays Bond’s mentor John Greenway, has to say about Patrick Gibson’s performance as the protagonist.
