Few things in entertainment hit as hard as the announcement of a new James Bond. It’s a name that carries a lot of weight both commercially and culturally, and depending on the casting, it’s one that can leave a lasting impact on movies, TV, video games, and literature.
Daniel Craig’s take on the character showed us that, even if you’re playing a larger-than-life superspy wrapped up head to toe in plot armor, there is still room for emotion and depth and for meaningful storytelling that doesn’t just focus on the explosions and hot women. Sure, those are fun to watch and talk about, but they’re not the only things in the world. Well, at least not for the majority of people.
IO Interactive’s Bond in 007 First Light offers one such take, with Patrick Gibson giving us a look at a younger, less experienced Bond who is yet to grow into the cutthroat spy-assassin that we know and love. There’s a lot of traditional Bond in there, but it’s also a refreshing, different outlook on an established persona, one that definitely, much like Craig, provides that recognizable template with a much-needed emotional side.
