007 First Light: Why players rarely rely on stealth in the new James Bond game

As the term “secret agent” suggests, James Bond is expected to operate covertly. He usually prefers to slip past enemies rather than leave a trail of bodies behind. Players can take that approach in the new Bond game 007 First Light as well. In practice, however, stealth rarely seems to last for long. As Reddit user u/TitleSuccessful7393 reports, he really does try to proceed as quietly and inconspicuously as possible. But in 90% of cases, a room ends up looking “like this” after he leaves it – with a screenshot showing Bond in front of a glass door and, behind it, a room full of downed enemies. Many players admit that their own missions tend to play out in much the same way.

Why players rarely use stealth in 007 First Light

The Reddit discussion reveals several reasons why players often prefer to solve problems with fists or firearms. The main one is simple: melee combat and shootouts are fun – and the game apparently allows players to punch or shoot their way through most situations without much punishment. One player writes, for example, that after a failed stealth attempt, he simply beat up every enemy in the area without feeling penalized for it. Apart from special challenges such as “Pacifist” or “Ghost,” the game does not seem to strongly reward stealth.

Comparisons with the Hitman series, also developed by IO Interactive, come up frequently. Unlike the studio’s assassin simulation, 007 First Light apparently does not turn a failed stealth attempt into a major problem. Once discovered, players can usually still complete the mission successfully. For many, that is exactly the Bond factor: James Bond may begin by sneaking elegantly through enemy territory, but sooner or later he often has to escape using his fists, gadgets or firepower.

The fact that players cannot hide bodies is even seen by some as a sign that full stealth was never the real goal. In short, 007 First Light (PS5 version currently available on Amazon for around $70) is not a classic stealth shooter. Apart from a few story passages, stealth is more of an option than a requirement – and most players seem perfectly fine with that so far.