Counter-Strike Source Rated, Explained, Compared

Thanks to Gotfrag for its extremely comprehensive review of Valve's Counter-Strike: Source PC team-based FPS, following its recent debut for select cybercafes, and, as of Wednesday, "extended to owners of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero; and ATI Fulfillment Coupon holders." GotFrag points to physics improvements as a particular highlight ("If your teammates are dead, finding their [physics-affected limb] positions may help you understand how they died"), before concluding: "While many changes are worthless eye candy to those who play seriously, the improved graphics and game play presentation will assist Counter-Strike in becoming more spectator friendly." Eurogamer also has hands-on comments on the "subtle and generally benign" gameplay alterations.

Comments

TV Tie in

[cluke]

"If your teammates are dead, finding their [physics-affected limb] positions may help you understand how they died"

I can see the TV show now - CSI : Counter Strike!

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure this guy was shot"

Re:TV Tie in

[KDR_11k]

"This one died from an awp."
"How can you be sure?"
"He wrote 'OMFG U camping faggot!' with his own blood."
"Ah."

I saw it

[Moo Moo Cow of Death]

I saw it played last night, it had MUCH improved physics and gameplay. Previously I, along with many of my friends had put it out of mind because it was considered a "n00b" game to anyone with real gaming talent. Now it's got real recoil, a semi-interactive environment and lots of fancy effects. Even the flashbang got upgraded to a "real" flashbang, not only blinding you but also disorienting your sounds where all you hear is a ringing noise (mostly true, it disorients your senses). You can even throw crap on top of the bomb to help prevent counter terrorists from defusing it. Smoke grenades actually make people's models harder to see, not just deploy smoke in the area (think a small amount of invisibility almost), and entering the smoke not only blocks your visions slightly, the gamma lowers on your screen so it looks darker, and GRADUALLY to make it more realistic. Anyhow there was quite a bit added, it makes me drool in anticipation for HL2 :)

How can that help?

[tod_miller]

"finding their [physics-affected limb] positions may help you understand how they died"

So if I find a guy with no arms, legs or head, then I am gonna have a damned hard time trying to figure out how he was killed.. what is that noise behind me?

Re:How can that help?

[katanan]

well i think the main upside to it would be the position of the body in relation to the map, say if you see a dead teammate lying right inside the door you can be pretty sure someone is watching that door and by the way the body could be contorted by the bullet/death you can determine which way the enemy is camped. and although i have not played i'm pretty sure the limbs don't rip off, when was the last time you saw an arm get ripped off from getting shot with an mp5?

this has helped me in games like Call of Duty when you can kinda tell the direction of an enemy through how a body falls (sometimes) but the improved physics of CS:S should help in this area a great deal.

Re:So to get it...

[sevensharpnine]

Do not buy Condition Zero. The game is a terrible flop. This entire CS:Source release is just an attempt by Valve to cash in on the pre-game hype surrounding the HL2 launch (hype created, in part, by willful lies [HL2 was going to be released last year] on Valve's part). Last week, after the CS:S beta was announced for Condition Zero owners, Valve's own Steam product starting forcing users to view ads featuring Condition Zero. In a nutshell, the CS:S release is just a pathetic attempt to try and sell Condition Zero (and maybe make up for the insane prices levied to cyber cafes). The CS release is just another shameless money grab by the gaming world's newest corporate monster.

Re:So to get it...

[Khasmo]

Also, I think that this is a great way to test the Source engine. The get to distribute an early version of the game to dedicated fans and get valuable feedback to make the release of HL2 go well. In my book that's a win-win.

Now if you didn't purchase CS:CZ, you don't HAVE to participate in the beta. You'll just have to wait for the release of HL2 like everyone else.

Apologies for the double post. Damn submit button is right next to the preview button.

Re:Mirror

[YOU LIKEWISE FAIL IT]

Gone are the days of flat and scripted environments, stiff models, and half-hearted special effects

Half-Hearted? Do you remember how ga-ga the gaming press went at the visuals when HL1 was released? Frailty, thy name is the gaming press.

YLFI