007 First Lightis the first video game outing for James Bond in quite some time, and while developer IO Interactive has created its own version of the iconic spy, it’s still taking cues from the franchise’s notable hallmarks. IOI’s take on the character is theyoungest James Bond we’ve ever seen, but that doesn’t mean the young chap won’t be a decidedly faithful adaptation of the character. Early impressions of007 First Lightpeg it as a bona fideJames Bondentry, even down to some of the smaller details.
Despite a heritage that includes beloved multiplayer experiences inGoldenEye 007andJames Bond 007: Nightfire,First Lightis entirely single-player, with IOI opting to focus on the franchise’s narrative elements. While each Bond actor’s myriad films have been at least loosely connected, it wasn’t until Daniel Craig’s era that there was a concerted effort to give the character a meaningful arc throughout the saga. IOI has already voiced hopes that007 First Lightwill start a trilogy, andone specific callback shows that it may be taking significant inspiration from Craig’s stint.
007 First Light Shows Off Omega Watches For Its James Bond
Retrofitted By Q, Of Course
In the reveal trailer for007 First Light, thenew James Bondis shown taking a tour of Q Branch. At one point,he grabs an Omega watch from a case filled with identical timepieces. Pressing a button on the watch causes a nearby dirt bike to emit flames from its exhaust. Omega is a real luxury watch brand, and it would seem IO Interactive and007 First Lighthave partnered with the manufacturer to bring a bit of authenticity to the game.
Bond typically consorts with the highest circles of British society (and the wealthy, albeit morally bankrupt, socialites of the world) as a high-ranking member of MI6, andOmega is a fitting brand for such occasions. On theOmegawebsite, the cheapest watch you’re able to purchase will cost you $2,900. Most are significantly more expensive, though, with Omega’s most illustrious timepieces exceeding half a million dollars in price.
Omega Watches Were Famously A Part Of Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale
Bond’s Brand Of Choice In The Latest Film Era
The007 First Lighttrailer shot directly highlighting Omega’s logo on the watch box is reminiscent of a key scene inCasino Royale, Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond. When he first meets Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd on board a train on his way to Montenegro, she thoroughly debunks Bond’s exceptionalism by scathingly analyzing his personality after he does the same to her. Near the end of the exchange,Lynd notes Bond’s proclivity for “expensive watches.” “Rolex?” she asks. “Omega,” Bond says.
Omega watches became a staple of Craig’s wardrobe throughout his five Bond films; in fact,he never wears a watch that isn’t an Omega. While this scene ensured Omega became inextricably linked to 007, Pierce Brosnan’s stint as the MI6 agent was dominated by Omega watches as well. Brosnan only wore two separate models across four films, but the iconic laser watch fromGoldenEyewas an Omega, and it receives a very generous close-up while it’s in action.
Bond’s Omega watches, in both Brosnan’s and Craig’s films, are most commonly from the Seamaster line – diving watches.This was a purposeful choice, reflecting Bond’s time in the Royal Navybefore being recruited for the 00 program. Diving watches are a tradition that dates back to the very earliest iterations of the character. Sean Connery’s Bond famously and frequently wore a Rolex Submariner (Vesper Lynd was in the right ballpark), and the Bond of Ian Fleming’s novels wore a Rolex from the company’s Oyster Perpetual line.
Roger Moore’s Bond wore a lot of Seiko watches, but the films prior toCasino Royaletended not to draw direct attention to the timepieces, let alone explicitly mention which brand.007 First Lightis then in rare company withCasino Royalein making the brand of its featured watches unmistakable. While the Rolex Submariner is generally considered the original James Bond watch, Omega has thoroughly taken over as the modern incarnation, carrying on from its iconic scene inCasino Royaleto once again appearing in Q Branch in007 First Light.
