I literally have no idea what to expect from First Light. Until recently, I wouldn't have even considered playing it because I know nothing about 007 games (unlike the movies) and I'd expect a shooter at worst, an action-only game at best. Now I don't know. Story-wise, origin stories are such wild cards, could go into any direction, really. So we'll see.
They've had a bit of a funny run. For some reason, only the 007 shooters (Goldeneye and Nightfire especially) seem to have lived on in the gaming consciousness when Bond swapped to being third-person/action-adventure in the mid-2000's and pretty much stayed that way for a while with the beloved Everything Or Nothing and the From Russia With Love game and a few others that made less of a mark.
As a huge Bond fan, I have to say that I identified a lot with your post. Even your movies rank that you shared on the Notes is very close to mine (although I would put No Time to Die on the bottom of the list and move Skyfall to the top).
But what I really like about your analysis and impressions is that you made me look to things I wasn't paying attention due to my initial overly-optimistic perception of the trailer. Your concerns are valid, and I hope IO Interactive can deliver something that is less Hitman and more 007.
Anyway, it's good to have a new high profile James Bond game to wait for! Here's hoping it justifies the hype.
Skyfall is really excellent and I mulled over putting it higher myself, I just absolutely love Tomorrow Never Dies though and if I had to pick one to rewatch it would beat out Skyfall for me.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely think the trailer was very positive but the very close resemblance to Hitman dis raise my brow (Roger Moore style) but like you I'm also choosing to be hopeful and we've seen so little real gameplay that I am sort of grasping at straws.
It's been way too long! The Bond game was a staple of the 2000's library, very happy to see 007 back.
He just needs a little more edge to him. A bit of stubble or a bit of crow's feet before I can really buy him as Bond; he's 26 and we're supposed to believe he's already been in the navy and had an outstanding career.
I do really like what I've heard of the voice performance though and there are some scenes where you can tell his grin is quite fake/with a dark side which looks really good and very Fleming.
I haven't played a Bond game since The World is Not Enough for the 64, but have continued to hear great things about the PS2 games. I'll have to check them out!
I'd love to read a ranking of Bond games from you if you're willing to take on such a tremendous task!
Everything Or Nothing was arguably a better send off for Pierce Brosnan than Die Another Day was. That game has Willem Dafoe as the villain, Brosnan himself voicing Bond and the rest of the cast reprising their roles too. It's always kind of bittersweet returning to that golden era of Bond games when Pierce was the face of the franchise because he was rather unceremoniously dropped from the role by Eon and from what we know of interviews, he always loved being Bond and it still eats him up to this day.
I'm definitely going to get to the series later this year. Being in the UK and a fan of games, I was always around the Bond games as a kid but there were so many classics I've tried a lot of them but not owned or finished them.
It's obviously a decade in the rear view mirror now but it's worth pointing out that IO does have some action game chops. Hitman: Absolution is a bit of an ugly duckling within its own franchise for being too action oriented for the fanbase's tastes but it could be seen as a pretty solid template for a Bond game. I also have an odd soft spot for Kane and Lynch 2, not a "good" game per se but an interesting game. Proves IO have some odd tricks in their locker and a flair for the irregular.
I did play Absolution and Kane and Lynch back in the day, obviously not the best of reputations but not the worst games ever made either. I just hope they tighten up the controls and engine a little bit, the World of Assassination Trilogy has a lot of annoying quirks with it controls and AI that make playing it without the detective mode/spidey senses/whatever they call it nearly impossible.
The destruction of Doctor Who has been a travesty, arguably one of the very worst and saddest instances of character assassination in TV history. Retconned to death with no regard or respect for its long history or lore. It makes me sad for a series I watched for over 50 odd years.
I have some hope for Bond with Amazon, the Rings of Power lead was sacked, the Reacher series is pretty good and closer to the books so there is precedent. Bond won’t survive too much character or narrative interference and hopefully Amazon can resist going the Disney Star Wars route and launching a million sub-par spin offs, fingers crossed.
Great read! I'm also excited for what IO do with this game - they've certainly proven themselves with the Bond-esque levels in Hitman. Fingers crossed they can capture the spirit of 007 as well as the aesthetics!
I literally have no idea what to expect from First Light. Until recently, I wouldn't have even considered playing it because I know nothing about 007 games (unlike the movies) and I'd expect a shooter at worst, an action-only game at best. Now I don't know. Story-wise, origin stories are such wild cards, could go into any direction, really. So we'll see.
I hope what comes out pleases you!
They've had a bit of a funny run. For some reason, only the 007 shooters (Goldeneye and Nightfire especially) seem to have lived on in the gaming consciousness when Bond swapped to being third-person/action-adventure in the mid-2000's and pretty much stayed that way for a while with the beloved Everything Or Nothing and the From Russia With Love game and a few others that made less of a mark.
So do I!
As a huge Bond fan, I have to say that I identified a lot with your post. Even your movies rank that you shared on the Notes is very close to mine (although I would put No Time to Die on the bottom of the list and move Skyfall to the top).
But what I really like about your analysis and impressions is that you made me look to things I wasn't paying attention due to my initial overly-optimistic perception of the trailer. Your concerns are valid, and I hope IO Interactive can deliver something that is less Hitman and more 007.
Anyway, it's good to have a new high profile James Bond game to wait for! Here's hoping it justifies the hype.
Skyfall is really excellent and I mulled over putting it higher myself, I just absolutely love Tomorrow Never Dies though and if I had to pick one to rewatch it would beat out Skyfall for me.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely think the trailer was very positive but the very close resemblance to Hitman dis raise my brow (Roger Moore style) but like you I'm also choosing to be hopeful and we've seen so little real gameplay that I am sort of grasping at straws.
It's been way too long! The Bond game was a staple of the 2000's library, very happy to see 007 back.
Am looking forward to this game but do agree about the character's appearance. That first pik with the Star-Lord smirk is a little worrying.
He just needs a little more edge to him. A bit of stubble or a bit of crow's feet before I can really buy him as Bond; he's 26 and we're supposed to believe he's already been in the navy and had an outstanding career.
I do really like what I've heard of the voice performance though and there are some scenes where you can tell his grin is quite fake/with a dark side which looks really good and very Fleming.
I haven't played a Bond game since The World is Not Enough for the 64, but have continued to hear great things about the PS2 games. I'll have to check them out!
I'd love to read a ranking of Bond games from you if you're willing to take on such a tremendous task!
Everything Or Nothing was arguably a better send off for Pierce Brosnan than Die Another Day was. That game has Willem Dafoe as the villain, Brosnan himself voicing Bond and the rest of the cast reprising their roles too. It's always kind of bittersweet returning to that golden era of Bond games when Pierce was the face of the franchise because he was rather unceremoniously dropped from the role by Eon and from what we know of interviews, he always loved being Bond and it still eats him up to this day.
I'm definitely going to get to the series later this year. Being in the UK and a fan of games, I was always around the Bond games as a kid but there were so many classics I've tried a lot of them but not owned or finished them.
It's obviously a decade in the rear view mirror now but it's worth pointing out that IO does have some action game chops. Hitman: Absolution is a bit of an ugly duckling within its own franchise for being too action oriented for the fanbase's tastes but it could be seen as a pretty solid template for a Bond game. I also have an odd soft spot for Kane and Lynch 2, not a "good" game per se but an interesting game. Proves IO have some odd tricks in their locker and a flair for the irregular.
I did play Absolution and Kane and Lynch back in the day, obviously not the best of reputations but not the worst games ever made either. I just hope they tighten up the controls and engine a little bit, the World of Assassination Trilogy has a lot of annoying quirks with it controls and AI that make playing it without the detective mode/spidey senses/whatever they call it nearly impossible.
The destruction of Doctor Who has been a travesty, arguably one of the very worst and saddest instances of character assassination in TV history. Retconned to death with no regard or respect for its long history or lore. It makes me sad for a series I watched for over 50 odd years.
I have some hope for Bond with Amazon, the Rings of Power lead was sacked, the Reacher series is pretty good and closer to the books so there is precedent. Bond won’t survive too much character or narrative interference and hopefully Amazon can resist going the Disney Star Wars route and launching a million sub-par spin offs, fingers crossed.
Great read! I'm also excited for what IO do with this game - they've certainly proven themselves with the Bond-esque levels in Hitman. Fingers crossed they can capture the spirit of 007 as well as the aesthetics!