This is what multiplayer was meant to be.
Written: Jun 19 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: You can get it for free! Ultra-realistic but easy to learn, unlimited replay value
Cons: Updates required often
The Bottom Line: Unbelievable... a rich, gratifying, and overall near-perfect multiplayer experience.
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| dpk325's Full Review: Half-Life: Counterstrike For Windows |
Ever since the release of Half-Life, God's gift to action gamers, the internet world has been ablaze with first-person shooter combat. And for good reason. Half-Life and its mods provide some of the most solid, and most importantly fun, gaming available. But what is most amazing: many of these mods are available for free. And Counter-Strike is the best of the best.
If you have a fast internet connection, and obviously you do, or you wouldn't be interested in a completely-multiplayer game, the full version of Counter-Strike is available for free at www.counter-strike.com. But here is a secret you might not know: even if you don't have high speed internet access, you can download bot programs online for free. These programs generate bots, or computer players, which allow you to play offline against them. Try searching online for "podbot", the most user-friendly.
But on to the details. Counter-Strike is based completely on the Half-Life engine, and as they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. For one, the graphics, animations, and textures are directly taken from Half-Life. But in my opinion, it is fine to borrow as long as you borrow from the best. These elements of Half-Life are tried and true and work excellently in C-Strike. Even though the Half-Life graphics engine is nearing its third year, I still find them amazing. The controls are standard Half-Life as well: fluid, seamless, and simplified.
But the fact that it is free and technically-solid does not make a game great. I have been playing Counter-Strike for a year and a half - yes, that's 18 months - and have not yet begun to tire of it. If I want a multiplayer experience, I am playing C-Strike. What makes this game so amazing?
I'll start with the basics. Counter-Strike is a game of police tactics. You can play either side of a high-profile terrorist conflict, taking the role of either an elite police commando or a high-level terrorist. Both sides are a blast to play, offering different tactics and strategies. But more on that later. The game is based on rounds: if you die, you are out till the next round, which is usually 3 minutes or until one team completes their objective. This adds a touch of realism to the game: no more gung-ho Quake-style running and gunning. This game is very realistic.
The missions are broken into three groups: VIP, hostage rescue, and bomb disarmament. In the VIP missions, one player will be chosen to represent a lightly armed VIP who must be escorted to a departure point. Meanwhile, the terrorists will barricade themselves along the exit path and take pot-shots at the VIP. In the bomb-disarmament missions, one terrorist team member will start the round with a bomb and then plants it on the target object. The counter-terrorists have 3 minutes to either disarm the bomb or eliminate the other team. The most common (and fun) missions are the hostage rescue. The hostages are hidden away in a specified location of a terrorist stronghold. The goal is obvious: save as many as you can, or wipe out the terrorist threat.
As you can see, these 3 mission types offer varying tactical options. What this means is massive replay value, as there are 2 sides to play on each of the 3 mission types, and multiple ways to approach each. For example, in the hostage rescue, it is more advantageous for a terrorist to "camp", or hide in the base and snipe at the CT's as they come in the doors. But this isn't to say that the terrorists have the advantage. The only way the terrorists can win is to kill each and every counter-terrorist, while the CT's can sneak in and run off with the hostages with minimal shots fired. The balance of the game is perfect.
The game is powered through monetary rewards. If a Counter-Terrorist team wins a round, each member receives a lump sum based on performance, representing a raise. The terrorists receive the same (ransom money?). This money can be used to buy body armor, 3 types of grenades, and a plethora of real-world weapons which has to be seen to be believed. You've got UZIs, assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, and 3 types of sniper rifles. Each gun is realistic in every way: damage, accuracy, and sound, which is modeled after real-life firing. Some guns are clearly superior to others, but that isn't to say that if I have an AK-47 and all you have is a 9mm pistol, you won't take me out. Afterall, this game is realistic to a tee. One shot in the head - I don't care if it is with a Civil War musket - I am dead. The game emphasizes skill and strategy over weapons collection (unlike the Quake series...e.g. quad-damage, rocket launcher, etc.).
The game is totally engrossing as well. You are given a dozen or so commands which can be issued with the strike of a key: "Cover me." "Need backup". "Go! Go! Go!". Responses are also available. "Roger that." "Negative". These quick-and-easy conversation tools create a level of team interaction never before seen in gaming. Pure and simple, this is a multiplayer strategic experience.
The only bad thing is that the game updates often. It is always small things: weapon damage levels being tweaked, etc. But you will need to update your version about three or four times a year, but the files are never over 10 MB.
If realism is your thing - if you are sick of all the fast-and-furious repetition of games such as Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament, then give this game a whirl. And even if you like UT and Q3A (I certainly do), this is a fun, unique experience. There hasn't been a game like this before, and who knows when the next one will come along. I highly recommend this game to anyone, especially if you can get it for free.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
dpk325
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Reviews written: 9
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