Spoilers James Bond: First Light

[Morrus]

I very rarely play video games but I bought this one on the PS5 (which largely sits unused for months at a time). I'm really enjoying it. It's a mix of stealth and action and is an origin story (boo!) for Bond. He's not a 00 yet, just a recruit. I'm told it's similar to Hitman (which I have not played) but with more action. More like those Jedi Knight games but with gadgets instead of force powers, and (limited) sandboxy environments which allow you to figure out different ways to approach missions

Anyone else playing it? I've just got to the bit where I'm trying to stop the plane with 009 from taking off and battling a small army on the runway. Apparently the French agent is going to 'flank' them, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of her since we left the car.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I've started this week-end, but too early to tell. Generally the type of gameplay it's supposed to have with sneaking around and solving missions/killing enemies sounds fun, but I also haven't played Hitman. Cyberpunk 2077 and the later Deux Ex games is what I've played and allow a play-style in a similar direction, but they have more RPG elements (in that your character can be specialized and built for different things.)

 

[Morrus]

I’m about halfway through now.

 

[The Soloist]

Can you please put the PS5 tag at the beginning of the title thread so I stop thinking it's news from the new Villeneuve/Bond movie. My heart stops every time. Thank you!

 

[Morrus]

Can you please put the PS5 tag at the beginning of the title thread so I stop thinking it's news from the new Villeneuve/Bond movie. My heart stops every time. Thank you!

Every time? I’m not sure what’s worse, your heart problems or your memory problems!

 

[Retros_x]

I am almost in the end (I think). I really like it, its a great Bond installment. The gameplay is a bit too clunky and stiff sometimes, the hitman formula makes more fun if the levels are actually playgrounds. In this game its too linear and focused and feels weird. I have the most fun in the action scenes, the combat is really fun. It took me a bit time to get used to it and find out what works and what not, but now its great fun.

I also like how it progresses:

Spoiler: Story and Vibes

It starts with more grounded action and goals, more like Daniel Craigs Bond, but in the end it becomes complete Brosnan gonzo, destroying robot armies with a robot wrecking ball

 

[Morrus]

I find Bond’s variable toughness a little frustrating. One minute it takes me 12 tries to beat a janitor in a fistfight, next minute I’m unarmed vs. 12 armed assailants and laying them out left right and centre like bowling pins, next minute I’m jumped by 3 goons who beat me to a pulp and I can’t seem to lay a finger on them and I’m not allowed draw my gun, next minute I’m mowing down 40 gunmen and absorbing gunfire alike I’m Superman.

I'm on chapter 6(?)--the one where you infliltrate Webb's offices and open lots of doors with cleaning robots.

One thing I loved was the tutorial/training sequence at the beginning, which took the form of a montage, usually with snippets beginning in media res. On second you're climbing, then you're shooitng, then you're driving, then you're using the Q-watch, then you're driving again, then you're sneaking, then you're driving. It worked really well and stopped me becoming bored, which tutorial levels usually do.

The Hitman comparisons aren't really particularly apt, I don't think. Your room for choice is pretty limited, often just "sneak past the guards or fight them". One of the earlier missions at the chess tournament felt quite open, but it really was a disguised railroad with a couple of choices along the way, and other missions are very, very linear. Also a lot of things happen in cutscenes which I feel like I should have done myself, including the offing of one of the blond assassins who got impaled on a statue thing.

But, gripes aside, I'm enjoying it. Like I said before, I rarely play video games, and this one is actually holding my attention.

Also my algorithm is trying to sell me the watch, which Omega has simultaneously released. Needless to say, it costs a hell of a lot more than the game! I prefer the No Time to Die watch, though. That thing is pretty!