Since the 1950s, the 007 franchise has been a staple of popular culture, with its legacy spreading across dozens of films and video games, providing a treasure trove of characters, locations, and gadgets to inspire the crafting of Easter Eggs and hidden references.
It’s customary for developers to plant clever hints and nods to past entries in the franchise within their new games, and 007 First Light is no exception. Hidden throughout its corridors and worlds are details that reward observant players and evoke unforgettable moments from the history of the iconic agent.
You’ll encounter nods ranging from knife-equipped shoes at the forefront to the iconic Aston Martin car, alongside references to several classic James Bond works, and even glimpses inspired by other franchises outside of the 007 universe.
After completing the basic training, you find yourself in an apartment shared with Monroe and Cressida. As you start settling in, you’re asked to choose the artwork you’d like to hang on the wall: a sleek professional painting or a massive movie poster.
If you pick the poster named The Street Brawler and feel that it hints at a classic martial arts film, your instinct is spot on. The poster serves as a direct reference to the film The Street Fighter released in 1974 by Toei, starring the renowned actor Sonny Chiba, even though the game changes his name to Sonny Fang. The design of the poster itself mirrors the original remarkably with some slight modifications.
Over the decades, the James Bond franchise has delivered a colossal array of timeless films, including highlights like The World Is Not Enough, From Russia with Love, and No Time to Die. Thus, players won’t take long to discover that many of the game’s achievements and trophies are merely direct nods to past 007 works.
Achievements bearing names like Casino Royale, Skyfall, and For Your Eyes Only draw inspiration from the titles of Bond's most famous films, while the achievement From Malta with Love serves as a clever linguistic play that mimics the name of the classic film From Russia with Love.
The nods don’t stop at film titles, as the game also includes references to the iconic phrase that has been associated with James Bond for decades: “Shaken, not stirred,” along with a nod to the 1986 novel Nobody Lives Forever, in touches that seasoned fans of the franchise will appreciate.
While it may not be officially confirmed, it's one of the more intriguing details that has sparked curiosity among players. In chapter three, many feel that a chase scene bears a distinct fingerprint from the Hitman universe and the famous agent Agent 47.
After stealthily infiltrating the hotel, you are tasked with tracking down a blonde-haired man. True, Agent 47 is not blonde, but the style of executing the mission strongly recalls the vibes of Hitman games, a sentiment shared by many players.
During the chase, the man keeps disappearing only to reappear suddenly in another location wearing different clothes, to the point that Bond himself remarks in astonishment wondering how he can change outfits so quickly, in a scene that seems to be a tongue-in-cheek nod to Agent 47’s disguising abilities.
Game developers have always loved to include famous characters within their works, a tradition that Bond films have also recognized with short appearances from names like Madonna and Richard Branson in minor roles.
So it’s not surprising that 007 First Light is brimming with fleeting appearances by celebrities that may go unnoticed by most players. In chapter two, content creator Jacksepticeye appears at the coat check section in the pub, while Khaby Lame later pops up to point Bond to clear directions in his signature humorous style.
The game also features more known faces, such as Shroud and the duo Chase & Status, where one can be encountered after the fight club in chapter four, while the duo appears within the night club, in a string of appearances that add a lighthearted touch filled with surprises.
You can’t talk about James Bond without mentioning the “Q” lab, the birthplace of the most famous innovations and spy gadgets in the franchise's history. In 007 First Light, players…