007 First Light got off to a rocky start: IO Interactive's departure from the Hitman franchise and a lackluster marketing campaign had fueled low expectations, which were promptly dashed. The game proves to be an excellent action game and, above all, a faithful yet original portrait of a new James Bond—young, developing, and perfectly placed in the present. From a purely gameplay perspective, the blend of Hitman and Uncharted works, driven by a pace that seamlessly alternates action, stealth, and cinematic direction. A few naivetés—slow enemies, tricky mechanics—and a solid technical framework in terms of frame rate, but not up to par with the excellence of the models and animations, dampen the momentum. The result is a very successful and highly recommended title, which only needs some final polish to make the leap.
