Counter-Strike: Source

"Go go go!"

Wow, so this is the long awaited Counter-Strike: Source? I can't help but notice that some of the aspects of the game are vastly improved, but then again anyone that plays this game can see that. Look below for more information.

Graphics- 8/10
The graphics aren't a major improvement on Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. The gun models are nearly the same, although there is an improvement on the way the gun works. Take the AK-47 for instance. You can clearly see the sleek wooden frame of the Soviet-made assault rifle. The ammo slide pulls back every time you fire at something, and the recoil is realistic. Then there is the flashbang grenade. Anyone that has played the Counter-Strike 1.6 will know that unless you've turned all the way around and backed away several feet that the flash completley blinds you. Source has drastically changed the way the Flashbang grenade works. You The player models are about the same as CS:CZ, but again, they are improved thanks to Valve's Source engine.

Sound: 7/10
This gets the lowest score simply because the audio isn't as near to waht it should be. Gunshots are a bit laggy, and you hear the sound a slight bit after you fire, and the "footsteps over sand" sound si the EXACT same as the sound file for CounterStrike 1.6. Combine that with pretty much the same generic audio clips (ex. "Get outta there, it's gonna blow!") from CS 1.6, and you have bland, but still great, sound.

Gameplay: 10/10
Nothing more needs to be said about the gameplay. The controls are simple, it's set up with the default, basic FPS controls (W = Walk forward, S = walk backward, A and D both strafe left and right respectively, mouse controls the aiming, left click shoots the gun you are currently holding, right click fixes a silencer on the gun or any other secondary features) but these are easily customizable. What makes this game CounterStrike is Steam. Steam allows you to choose a server on the Internet and hop right in and start playing. Valve has also added bots to the game for those who wish to play offline, but be warned in the fact that the bot AI is a bit...stupid. Unless it's a Valve approved map, the bot's AI goes haywire and does some pretty random stuff. Not to mention Steam is free in itself, and as long as you've purchased Half Life 2 (through the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Retail packages) you won't have to pay again. A slight warning (slight meaning large) that the ESRB content rating is bound to shoot through the roof depending on what server you play on. If you're in a public server and you shoot someone in a "lucky" kill, more than likely you're going to be cursed out and team killed. I would suggest finding a good clan server or private server with a competent Admin to play on.

Replay value: 11/10
Everytime you play this game, you WILL be coming back to it, providing you don't totally hate FPS games. In fact, everytime you start up CS:S you are in fact replaying the game. It is THAT addictive, and you strive to become #1 in the server's rank.

Buy or Rent?
Seeing as how you can't really rent Half Life 2/Steam, you would have to buy the game. But with a game as good as this, if you pirate it or otherwise you don't deserve to have your PC anymore. It's well worth the 55 USD for HL2 and CS:S.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/16/05