It turns out we're not alone here — there are only three Xbox reviews for 007 First Light on Metacritic right now, suggesting most of the early review codes were given out for PS5 and PC — but if we look at those two platforms specifically, they're both sitting on an extremely high average rating of 88 as things stand!
Let's take a glimpse at some of the reviews:
007: First Light is not only one of the best stealth-action games we've had in years, but it's also the best James Bond game we've had in decades. IO Interactive was the perfect choice to develop a Bond game in the modern era, deftly weaving its dynamic stealth gameplay expertise with cinematic vigor wholly appropriate for an authentic James Bond experience. A triumph.
007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.
Creating a new James Bond game after a 14-year hiatus was a risky endeavor by IO Interactive. This is one of the most iconic characters in all of entertainment, and doing him justice is not easy. Somehow, however, IO Interactive pulled it off and not only produced an amazing video game, but also created a story that is worthy of the Bond pantheon. With superb writing, top-notch acting, beautiful cinematography, and expressive gameplay, 007 First Light is as sleek as it is engaging. James Bond is back, baby, and he's never been this cool.
007 First Light has everything you could want from a Bond game: fist fights, shootouts, epic set-pieces, car chases, subterfuge, and more. There are some minor issues, such as the game's cover system being a little finicky at times, but on the whole this is a must-play for Bond fans as well as those who simply enjoy a good action game.
First Light isn't the Bond game that I wanted from IO Interactive. But I had a great time with it regardless. IO has proved it was the right studio to handle the license, albeit for different reasons than I expected. Amazon may not have a clue what to do with 007, but letting IO handle the whole shooting match would not be the worst idea.
007 First Light is perhaps the closest a game has ever come to making me feel like I’m starring in a Bond film. IO Interactive takes the stealth sandbox of Hitman, the intense thrills of Uncharted, and experimental spycraft of Batman: Arkham, and reshapes them into a globe-trotting cinematic spy thriller filled with covert missions, explosive action, and cool gadgets. While the immersiveness of the campaign occasionally lags, this stylish origin story still feels like a triumphant return for the most iconic secret agent.
I'm not quite finished with 007 First Light just yet, but overall I'd say it's exactly what I was hoping for. The characterisation of this young Bond and his associates is really strong, and the globetrotting story lets you explore some great locations. It really shines in its sandbox missions, but shootouts have their moments too, and the whole thing weaves together really quite nicely. I'm really interested to see how the final few missions shake out, but beyond some technical quibbles and uncertainty on the driving, I'm pretty happy with IOI's new vision for James Bond.
IGN (Review In Progress)
007 First Light has made a fabulous first impression, and I’m certainly already quite comfortable to say it’s the best Bond has been since GoldenEye. I’ll be updating this review as soon as I’ve finalised the story and experimented with TacSim mode, which allows us to replay previous missions with extra challenges to earn new rewards.
As you can see, this game is off to a fantastic start with the critics! It's also available to play today if you've pre-ordered 007 First Light already on the Xbox Store, as that version comes with a free Deluxe Edition upgrade. Alternatively, the Standard Edition will be playable tomorrow (May 27th) if you haven't pre-ordered.
So, have the reviews tempted you? Let us know in the poll below, as well as in the comments section!
Are You Buying 007 First Light? (697 votes)
- Yes, I'll be getting it at launch!36%
- Probably at some point, but not immediately34%
- I'm not sure yet to be honest11%
- I doubt it, but you never know6%
- Nah, not interested to be honest!12%
- Other1%
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