IO Interactive developed a James Bond game after five years, leveraging its Hitman experience and Glacier Engine. The game adapts sandbox environments and large NPC populations to a Bond setting, emphasizing character through an engine overhaul that enables detailed facial expressions. A hands-off Gamescom demo presented a grand mountain chateau mission where Bond appears as a young MI6 recruit working as a chauffeur during a 'black tag' operation to find Agent 009. The demo mixed Hitman-like sandbox exploration with charismatic portrayal of Bond, contrasting Agent 47's blending-in approach with Bond's suave presence. The mission showcased cinematic action and character-driven visuals.
But an assassin and a spy are very different occupations, and on closer reflection, I'm not sure if the slow sandbox nature of Agent 47's most recent iterations necessarily translates to the kind of blockbuster action you might expect for the iconic British agent. But I shouldn't have worried because my first look at 007 First Light at Gamescom completely blew me away.
That's not too surprising, given that First Light is also developed with IO's proprietary Glacier Engine, which powered the last three Hitman games. But while there are similarities, notably having a fairly large sandbox environment you can explore - in this case, a grand chateau in the mountains - that's also populated with an impressive mass of NPCs, what sets it apart is character.
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