Razer just made me James Bond through their gear

I guess I might as well join MI6. Razer has been on a roll this year with a ton of stellar releases, but one of the biggest and best might be software-related. Synapse is an incredible tool that elevates your Razer gear, and now with 007 First Light, you have the opportunity to step behind the suit, tie, and martini via Sensa HD Haptics and Chroma lighting. Now that I’ve gotten to see it in action, there is plenty of immersion to go around – should you accept the mission. There are a lot of gadgets the gear maker has to offer, but they ultimately support putting you behind the eyes of our favorite spy.

You should also check out Editor Joe Morgan’s spectacular and Editor’s Choice Award-ed review of the game, which I've handily bookmarked below.

Sensa HD Haptics

If I had to describe Razer’s implementation of Sensa HD in one word, it would be subtle. The best haptics aren’t the ones that knock your socks off – they’re the ones that smoothly draw you further into the world you’re virtually exploring. That’s not to say 007 First Light doesn’t have bombastic uses for them, but I do appreciate the detail over volume. I say the same thing about headsets all the time; making things louder doesn't matter if you can’t truly hear anything.

007 First Light supports three main devices for Sensa HD: the Wolverine V3 Pro controller, the Kraken V4 Pro headset, and the Freyja haptic cushion. While one of these things is all about the haptics, it’s amazing to feel the gear work together in harmony to achieve an orchestra of immersion. Sometimes, the Wolverine V3 Pro adds a buzz to remind me of a nearby happening, in others, the Frejya dominates my sense of feel. No matter which device is providing feedback, it doesn’t seem like a gimmick. Each does its part when it should, just as the strings section makes way for the brass, or the percussion for the woodwinds.

The Kraken V4 Pro has been the most interesting of the three, especially as I don’t know that it’s gotten the same level of programming in other Sensa HD-supported games. Here, when Bond takes a big blow, I’ve felt the impact in the haptic ear cups. It’s shocking the first time, and engrossing each time after. There are many other ways it reacts to what you’re doing, but at any rate, the way it does it in tandem with its brethren is outstanding.

Razer’s Freyja is also impressive. I absolutely love the design for it, handling the more “heavy-duty” impacts. The Freyja roars along with your vehicle's engine as you punch the gas (heck, your car idling is even uniquely delivered), reacts to gunfire and explosions, and adds the thump to your landing after you drop from a ledge. It deals in the subtle areas, too, however, even giving small ticks when you interact with an object or crouch. The delicate touches surrounding the more vivacious haptics are pure Bond – charming and soft until it's time to get violent.

As for the Wolverine V3 Pro, this is simply a standout controller in general. While the haptics do what they should, I’m not sure it's on the level of the other haptic devices – they’re more of a backup singer. That said, Bond moves in flow because of the incredible precision offered by this controller. Adding in the back buttons is a treat, as several inputs aren’t as intuitive if you aren’t used to them. The back buttons make up for that, allowing me to sprint and crouch more easily due to their accessible orientation.

My only qualm might be the haptics omitted from full CGI cutscenes. There are several extravagant scenes that Sensa HD would enhance, but as it's relegated largely to the gameplay (with a bit of reaction to certain in-game non-gameplay scenes), you can feel the omission. It’s no dealbreaker, but I’d have loved to have indulged in the raucous nature of certain “commotions”.

Chroma RGB Lighting

While Chroma isn’t always as impactful, 007 First Light does it right. No matter what you’re doing, from the start of the game, it sparkles with the gold of the cover art, pulling you a bit closer to the action. It doesn't reach the heights of the haptics, but it's a nice ancillary bonus.

Things get a little more intense as you engage with 007 First Light. Low health or death gets the color red blinking across your gear. If you're driving, landing the vehicle viciously results in a discombobulated flicker of white. One of the coolest functions is when using the shockwave camera, as a blue explosion ripples out alongside what's happening in the game. It's supplementary, but it's dope – just like those Govee backing lights on a television.

This lighting is available on pretty much every Razer device you have, so it spreads pretty far. I couldn't see it without taking them off, but the Kraken V4 Pro’s ear cups are supported. As someone who has a 20th Anniversary Boomslang mouse, it's awesome to see 007 First Light triggering both the underglow of the mouse and the special Mouse Dock Pro. The pièce de résistance has to be the keyboard, and the Huntsman V3 Pro 8KHz looks downright sexy adorned with the custom lighting effects. It probably looks even better on the full-size or BlackWidow. That's not even bringing up [REDACTED]. I'll talk more about that last one soon.

There are so many products Razer has to offer that elevate your performance. But it's amazing to see form and function go even further than just basic operation. 007 First Light would be great just using your Razer gear to play the game. However, Sensa HD and Chroma RGB made your experience with James Bond more intimate; you might as well be earning that 00 status yourself.

With over one hundred and sixty curated effects between both Sensa HD and Chroma RGB, there's a wealth of immersion to be had. Pick up select devices, and also get the exclusive Espresso Command Suit to style James Bond up in 007 First Light even more!