I Played 007 First Light Early And...

TL;DR

007 First Light impressively blends Hitman-style sandbox gameplay with Uncharted-style cinematic action, genuinely capturing the Bond spirit after 3.5 hours hands-on.

Key Points

• 1.007 First Light feels like a hybrid of Hitman and Uncharted. It alternates between linear cinematic setpiece-driven gameplay and open sandbox levels, with IO Interactive's Hitman DNA clearly present but distinctly Bond-flavored.
• 2.The prologue establishes strong Bond atmosphere from the start. Set during Bond's soldier days, it teaches stealth, melee, climbing, and combat mechanics, and transitions seamlessly into a classic 007 title sequence.
• 3.The gadget system centers on a multifunctional watch. It can blind enemies, break padlocks with a laser, short-circuit electronics, and fire stun darts — each ability consuming resources replenished from environmental objects.
• 4.The gala mission is the standout showstopper, showcasing true sandbox depth. Bond infiltrates by pickpocketing passes, impersonating a journalist, and bluffing guards using an 'Instinct' resource — all without Hitman-style disguise mechanics, staying true to Bond's charming, self-reliant style.
• 5.Combat feels fluid and viable alongside stealth, unlike Hitman's stealth-first design. Melee combines dodging, parrying, and environmental interactions; gadgets work mid-combat; and a focus mode slows time for precision — compared by the reviewer to MGS5's dual stealth-action balance.
• 6.Replayability and post-launch content are confirmed features. Multiple difficulty modes, gadget upgrades, mission replays, leaderboards, and ongoing new missions mirror IO Interactive's Hitman live-service approach, with devs still actively taking feedback from preview events.