"CS reborn anew!"

Counter Strike has been one, if not the most popular online game in resent history. After many updates, the original CS has lost its overall hold on many of the original players, and the players just wanted more. Well, in my opinion, Counter Strike: Source fills all the holes the original Counter Strike had.

Graphics 9 out of 10
The first time you play the new installment of Counter Strike, you are immediately blown away by the first class graphics. From the amazing use of lighting to the extreme detail put into every nook and cranny, this game glows with style and grace. If you have a high-end computer, the amazing optimization that the source code has will keep you playing at the highest frame rates at the highest settings. But if you don't have a high-end computer, you're still in luck. This game was made to run on every machine using graphics cards that are even limited to DirectX 7. The only problem with the graphics is the occasional low-resolution texture.

Game Play 9 out of 10
If you have played Counter Strike before, then you know what to expect from this game. The difference is the implement of the Source's physics engine (the Havok engine). From killing your teammate with a flying barrel to tossing a dead hostage around, this game is all about stylized death. Don't get me wrong, you will still use all the same tactics and strategies you used in CS to flush out the baddies, but now you can do it looking good. Bodies fly when a grenade explodes, and the environment gets torn up from the gunfights.

Sound 7 out of 10
This is my biggest gripe with the game. But I'll start with the good first.
The guns and impacted sounds of the bullets are all very good, if not rehashed from the first CS. Now you don't hear the AWP being fired from a crossed the map like you used to, you only hear the impacted if the gunshot is far away. This creates a much more realistic feeling than the constant level of sound in the original CS. And the 5.1 is amazing just to tell you.
The bad:
Some of the sounds are very muffled and sound the same from the first CS. The overall sound quality hasn't jumped up substantially and I was really hoping this was going to be a sound heavy experience, but it's still good for what needs to be there.

Online Play 10 out of 10
I can't stop playing this game. It has sucked me in and won't let go. If you have fun playing any FPS online, then you must at least try this game. I have had very little lag in any server and most games are very smooth.

Overall 9 out of 10
Counter Strike got to be a chore after the three years I spent playing it. With the release of Counter Strike: Source, my love for CS has been brought back to life. With further updates and implements on the horizon, the game can only try to top itself.

Should you buy? HELL YES! You get to play a sweet game while you wait for HL2! Go buy now!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/11/04