CS [old review found]
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:22 am
A review I wrote some time ago for a defunct French AW site, Thought I could post those ol'things here.
Counter Strike +CS source
=======================
Counter Strike
Publisher : Sierra Online Inc.
Developer : Valve Corporation
Platform : Windows, XBox
Released : 2000
=======================
CS Source
Publisher : Valve Corporation
Developer : Valve Corporation
Platform : Windows
Released : 2004
=======================
The base of all CS games is Half-Life for CS and Half-life2 for CS source. You can't run CS without HL installed as it is a mod (modification). All about terrorist actions and the counter strike on those. You can choose what side you join, different sides also means different weaponry, main weapon for the counter forces is the M4A1, the terrorist main weapon is the AK-47. Beside those two main weapons there is a wide variation of weaponry: pistols, sniper rifles, grenades, demolition devices, shotguns. There are different game modes such as : assassination, bomb defusing, hostage rescue, terrorist escape, etc.
Probably one of the most played games on the internet, any time of day you can find something as 15-20 000 servers on air. Impressive numbers. Whole clans are created who means serious business. They don't laugh if you join a game and fool around a bit, you are banned extremely fast by the server admin. Most servers uses VAC shield, a good program that detect cheat attempts, cheating can't be done on those. Try cheating and you are immediately banned. This is really serious matter, sometimes it is a bit too serious, they seem to forget it's a game.
The original CS was about gathering hit points, raising rank, killing the terrorists, defuse the bomb, protecting the hostages, a whole assignment. To accomplish in a restricted time window, no hiding here, no cowards, you will have to fight for what's you are worth. Teamwork, that is the key here to succeed, teamwork, without it you are dead. You have to cover eachother, helping eachother out. The commentaries are usually not suitable for minors, the swearing is all around, but evenso the laughs. Dialogues varies from .... no, I won't give examples, they can be really vulgar. You have to see and hear it to believe what those youngsters scream at eachother.
The game doesn't has so many original maps, but there are plenty self made, good ones. Sounds in game are good, sometimes servers uses mods on their commentaries, clean language is not always used in those.
Released as a 'reality' game, no , really no real things in this game. I have done my military service, and had weapons training, you can NOT run around shooting with a heavy gun and hit something. Forget it. That is something from the movies, where heroes run around as crazy and are able to hit target after target with a clean shot. Forget it, it's a joke. Anyone who had such an arm in his hands can tell you it's impossible. Of course it's a game, so remind it when playing it, don't take yourself too serious.
Graphical the game is OK, nice graphics, well builded maps. The second release as CS source is even better, highest resolutions, good colors , extended effects. When fighting bots (extra mod) you will see that the AI is good, they fight back, even ambush you if they can.
How good is this game? Good, even better. Addicting stuff. You are hooked on it fastly. This game gives satisfaction, gameplay is great. The time restricted bomb defusing is not for the nervous gamers, you gonna end screaming and frustrated behind your keyboard. The same goes in fact for all the game modes, the tension is rising high in this game. You better don't expect going in as new player and be able to compete with the more seasoned onces, forget it, they blast you away in no time. Give yourself some time to learn the maps, the used tactics and teamplay. Use the spectator mode to learn those. And above all: join a clan.
How good is this game compared to the usual multiplay games ?
How distinctive is CS regarding other fps multiplay games ? There exist a wide variation fps multiplayer games, but only one CS.
First of all: the game divides the players into two camps: terrorist and counter-terrorist. What one team want to achieve, the other team want to obstruct, rivals from the first second till the last shot is fired.
No respawn in the same game when you die, you have to sit down as non-existent spectator, suffering bitter regret regarding your team go on without you, lacking your support in need, you must wait for the next round to be back in business. This is a great difference regarding the usual deathmatches where you respawn as you wish. You are much more careful to remain alive, and still has to fight, sit back and your team looses for sure.
Take a look at some of the the different game modes:
Time limit. If the bomb is fused, the terrorist want it to explode, the counter-terrorist team must defuse it in a limited timewindow, nerve wrecking, believe me, you can NOT stay inactive, you MUST go in. The terrorist can not sit back and await the CS team, they will be killed as sitting ducks, the terrorist MUST attack the CS team.
Hostage liberation. You as counter-terrorist must free them, protect them. As terrorist you want to keep hold on them, or otherwise eliminate them.
Assassination. Terrorist side want to assassinate a 'target' mostly a VIP, the counters must protect the 'target' at all cost (or otherwise).
Escape. The ones want to escape from a guarded area, the others are the guards.
The maps are well designed for this kind of games, plenty routes, corners and whatnot. The game and level design gives a unseen balance between stealth fighting and frenzied action.
You and your adversaries are vulnerable, some good aimed rounds with the heavier weapons kills you, no endless health or armor goodies here.
I can't think of another multiplay fps game who ask more from you, your nerve tension is intense the whole game through.
Is it all good then, don't know, honestly, I can't say something really negative about it. Even the lack of reality doesn't bother me, it's a game.
My personal quote for this CS can only be a A+
Regarding CS source, you will need STEAM to install-play the game, you can read my opinion about this steam shit in the HL2 review. I won't repeat myself here.
==================================
System requirements Counter Strike
Half-life installed (some retail versions are stand alone)
Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP
Minimum
Intel Penitum® 233 or AMD K6-2
32 MB RAM
400 MB HD Space
2x CD ROM Drive
SVGA
Win-compatible Soundcard
28.8+ modem or LAN
Recommended:
Intel Penitum® 233 or AMD K6-2
48 MB RAM
3D Accelerator card (OpenGL or Direct3D)
56K modem, Broadband, LAN.
==================================
System requirements Counter Strike source
Half-life 2 installed.
Steam installed.
Steam account.
Same system requirements as HL2.
=================================
Some screenshots taken in spectator mode:
(seems I was to busy when I joined to take some .......)
Counter Strike +CS source
=======================
Counter Strike
Publisher : Sierra Online Inc.
Developer : Valve Corporation
Platform : Windows, XBox
Released : 2000
=======================
CS Source
Publisher : Valve Corporation
Developer : Valve Corporation
Platform : Windows
Released : 2004
=======================
The base of all CS games is Half-Life for CS and Half-life2 for CS source. You can't run CS without HL installed as it is a mod (modification). All about terrorist actions and the counter strike on those. You can choose what side you join, different sides also means different weaponry, main weapon for the counter forces is the M4A1, the terrorist main weapon is the AK-47. Beside those two main weapons there is a wide variation of weaponry: pistols, sniper rifles, grenades, demolition devices, shotguns. There are different game modes such as : assassination, bomb defusing, hostage rescue, terrorist escape, etc.
Probably one of the most played games on the internet, any time of day you can find something as 15-20 000 servers on air. Impressive numbers. Whole clans are created who means serious business. They don't laugh if you join a game and fool around a bit, you are banned extremely fast by the server admin. Most servers uses VAC shield, a good program that detect cheat attempts, cheating can't be done on those. Try cheating and you are immediately banned. This is really serious matter, sometimes it is a bit too serious, they seem to forget it's a game.
The original CS was about gathering hit points, raising rank, killing the terrorists, defuse the bomb, protecting the hostages, a whole assignment. To accomplish in a restricted time window, no hiding here, no cowards, you will have to fight for what's you are worth. Teamwork, that is the key here to succeed, teamwork, without it you are dead. You have to cover eachother, helping eachother out. The commentaries are usually not suitable for minors, the swearing is all around, but evenso the laughs. Dialogues varies from .... no, I won't give examples, they can be really vulgar. You have to see and hear it to believe what those youngsters scream at eachother.
The game doesn't has so many original maps, but there are plenty self made, good ones. Sounds in game are good, sometimes servers uses mods on their commentaries, clean language is not always used in those.
Released as a 'reality' game, no , really no real things in this game. I have done my military service, and had weapons training, you can NOT run around shooting with a heavy gun and hit something. Forget it. That is something from the movies, where heroes run around as crazy and are able to hit target after target with a clean shot. Forget it, it's a joke. Anyone who had such an arm in his hands can tell you it's impossible. Of course it's a game, so remind it when playing it, don't take yourself too serious.
Graphical the game is OK, nice graphics, well builded maps. The second release as CS source is even better, highest resolutions, good colors , extended effects. When fighting bots (extra mod) you will see that the AI is good, they fight back, even ambush you if they can.
How good is this game? Good, even better. Addicting stuff. You are hooked on it fastly. This game gives satisfaction, gameplay is great. The time restricted bomb defusing is not for the nervous gamers, you gonna end screaming and frustrated behind your keyboard. The same goes in fact for all the game modes, the tension is rising high in this game. You better don't expect going in as new player and be able to compete with the more seasoned onces, forget it, they blast you away in no time. Give yourself some time to learn the maps, the used tactics and teamplay. Use the spectator mode to learn those. And above all: join a clan.
How good is this game compared to the usual multiplay games ?
How distinctive is CS regarding other fps multiplay games ? There exist a wide variation fps multiplayer games, but only one CS.
First of all: the game divides the players into two camps: terrorist and counter-terrorist. What one team want to achieve, the other team want to obstruct, rivals from the first second till the last shot is fired.
No respawn in the same game when you die, you have to sit down as non-existent spectator, suffering bitter regret regarding your team go on without you, lacking your support in need, you must wait for the next round to be back in business. This is a great difference regarding the usual deathmatches where you respawn as you wish. You are much more careful to remain alive, and still has to fight, sit back and your team looses for sure.
Take a look at some of the the different game modes:
Time limit. If the bomb is fused, the terrorist want it to explode, the counter-terrorist team must defuse it in a limited timewindow, nerve wrecking, believe me, you can NOT stay inactive, you MUST go in. The terrorist can not sit back and await the CS team, they will be killed as sitting ducks, the terrorist MUST attack the CS team.
Hostage liberation. You as counter-terrorist must free them, protect them. As terrorist you want to keep hold on them, or otherwise eliminate them.
Assassination. Terrorist side want to assassinate a 'target' mostly a VIP, the counters must protect the 'target' at all cost (or otherwise).
Escape. The ones want to escape from a guarded area, the others are the guards.
The maps are well designed for this kind of games, plenty routes, corners and whatnot. The game and level design gives a unseen balance between stealth fighting and frenzied action.
You and your adversaries are vulnerable, some good aimed rounds with the heavier weapons kills you, no endless health or armor goodies here.
I can't think of another multiplay fps game who ask more from you, your nerve tension is intense the whole game through.
Is it all good then, don't know, honestly, I can't say something really negative about it. Even the lack of reality doesn't bother me, it's a game.
My personal quote for this CS can only be a A+
Regarding CS source, you will need STEAM to install-play the game, you can read my opinion about this steam shit in the HL2 review. I won't repeat myself here.
==================================
System requirements Counter Strike
Half-life installed (some retail versions are stand alone)
Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP
Minimum
Intel Penitum® 233 or AMD K6-2
32 MB RAM
400 MB HD Space
2x CD ROM Drive
SVGA
Win-compatible Soundcard
28.8+ modem or LAN
Recommended:
Intel Penitum® 233 or AMD K6-2
48 MB RAM
3D Accelerator card (OpenGL or Direct3D)
56K modem, Broadband, LAN.
==================================
System requirements Counter Strike source
Half-life 2 installed.
Steam installed.
Steam account.
Same system requirements as HL2.
=================================
Some screenshots taken in spectator mode:
(seems I was to busy when I joined to take some .......)