"A new source for Counter-Strike"

Well, we've all seen a Counter-Strike game at some time in the past. New gun models, character models, map updates, it seems this game re-did them all. This version, Counter-Strike Source makes all of the others LOOK obsolete, but is it more than just fun to look at?

Graphics: I love these the visuals of this game. They're realistic and are very fun to look at. Muzzle Flashes, smoke grenades, HE grenades, and flash grenades are done well. Another upside is ragdoll physics which everyone loves. If it's one thing this game does quite well, it's definately the graphics. This is what sets this FPS apart from the others.

Gameplay: Overall the gameplay is smooth, fun, and will hold your interest for quite awhile. The different game types consist of Defusing bombs, rescuing hostages and if those don't please you, you can just run around killing, although that's not the point. There are bots to play against, but the difficulty of them doesn't match to the adaptability of a real human player. Although the game isn't life-like, it's realistic to a certain extent. You can shoot through thin walls, or doors and some wooden crates. Unrealistic points are that you can run with an M4 and be accurate and jump around using a heavy machine gun. Another thing that is troublesome is the fact that when you shoot a player, shots don't register or the hitbox is lagging. It's easy to avoid once you adapt, but at first it will be frustrating when you find you have to aim 2 feet behind a play to hit him.

Variety: There's tons of variety in this game, different guns (SMG's, Shotguns, Rifles, Pistols, Machine Guns), 3 types of grenades (Flash, smoke, and explosive), and all kinds of equipment (Bomb defusal, Kevlar, or Night-vision).

Sound: The sound here is just wonderful. From bullets firing, grenades exploding, and radio commands to simple things as reloading and footsteps. Sound is great. I have no beef with the sounds, but if you want something more realistic, you could always just mod the sound files.

Balance: The damage of the guns are fairly well done. CT's have the M4 which is weaker than the T's Counterpart, the AK, but sprays more accurately. The AK is the T's generic weapon and it is quite powerful but horribly inaccurate if you spray it. The sniper rifles are what bother me. The AWM is effectively a OHKO weapon and the autosniper rifles are a nuisance when the enemy is using them. These are easily countered by the server creator just disabling the weapons.

Controls: The controls here are fully customizable, but I usually stick with the standard. If you've played any FPS, these are easy to use and are quite comfortable. There's no twisting and contorting of your hands from normal position on the keyboard.

Replay Value: Since it's online compatible, the replayability is infinate. Each game is different, and there's so many different gun and equipment combinations that you won't tire of this game for months.

This game is a necessity for any Counter-Strike or FPS fan and since it comes with HL2, it's a definate good buy. You'll have fun with this game for hours upon hours.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/28/05