Genre: Half-Life Mod
Developed by: "Gooseman & Co."
Published by: (free)

I'm happy I can write a review about one of the most popular first-person shooters at this moment. Counter-Strike isn't a stand-alone game but it's a mod (=modification) of Half-Life (yeah, the game where you play 'nerd' Gordon Freeman). Counter-Strike was in bètastage until a year ago. When it finally entered the final stage then only it became reallpy popular.

Half-Life itself was based for 30% on the Quake2-engine and the presently popular Counter-Strike uses that engine too. Perhaps you hear me coming but yes, the graphics aren't the state-of-the-art. Don't get me wrong, it still looks very fine and they've really used all possibilities of the graphics engine but I can imagine that real hardcore gamers prefer Unreal because its graphics are more satisfying. Nevertheless I wasn't disappointed by the graphics at all. The somewhat outdated graphics engine has also a big advantage. You don't need a 2000€ computer to run the game smoothly. From what I've seen on other computers it isn't choppy at all on a PII350 with 256mb ram and a Voodoo Banshee, even at 1024*768…

Now, what about the gameplay? Well, you pick a server (yes, there's no single player). When you're logged in you get to chose. Will you be an 'evil' Terrorist or a 'good' Counter-Terrorist (or CT in the CS-slang)? When you have chosen you can chose from 4 models (so there are 8 different models). When you have chosen a model and a new round is starting you get money -how much depends on the success of your team- to buy weapons. Logically when you only have enough money to buy a pistol your chances to survive this round are limited but I can assure you you're very fierced with an Sg-552.
Other well-known weapons included are the M4A1,P-90, AK-47. Okay, you've got your arms now it's war time !!

There are three type of maps: de-maps: where the Terrorists have to plant a bomb which the CT's have to defuse, cs-maps: where CT's have to rescue hostages held by the Terrorists and as-maps or assassination maps where the Terrorists have to assassinate a VIP. Unlike other FPS teamplay is (or is supposed to be) vital in playing the game. To improve teamplay you can use short radio commands such as 'Cover me', 'Enemy Spotted', 'Stick together, team' If you don't stick with your other teammates and hope to get some cheap kills you don't stand a chance when you are playing against a team that does play together. Even the best CS-player is dead in a second when he encounters three other mediocre players together.

Sound was one of the best qualities of Half-Life single player. How is sound in Counter-Strike ?
It simply rocks, especially when you have EAX. When you're hiding behind a wall (not camping of course…) and you hear the footsteps of an approaching enemy your heartbeat will increase rapidly !

Another aspect of Counter-Strike is it was the beginning of another cyberculture. Friends or just people you meet on public servers have teamed up and have formed a "clan" that plays clanwars against other clans. I guess it fulfils an emotional need to 'be part of something'. Of course that clan needs an own tag, site, tactics,..
Counter-Strike definitely isn't an arcade game. Three bullets of an AK-47 are enough to kill your adversary. So any UT/Q3A-player that wants to play CS will have a hard time adapting the changes the game offers.

Pros and Cons

+ Addictive gameplay
+ Realism
+ Excellent netcode
- Sometimes: 10 seconds of action, 2 minutes of waiting
- Easy to cheat

EP sez:

Counter-Strike is a well-balanced, classic mod with graphics that are satisfying and excellent sound and gameplay.

© 2001 Erwin's Pages
Paul "Spetsnaz" Praet

Score

Gameplay: 9,5
Graphics: 8
Sound & Music: 9,5
Addictiviness: 10

Overall: 93%

Links:

> Official Counter-Strike Site
> Belgian Dare Devils