Counter-Strike

"Rules of Engagement"

Perhaps the title of most played online multiplayer belongs to Counterstrike. The game was played by many PC gamers across the world. Since my PC at the time was rather slow, I never had the opportunity to play it in mass amounts. I played bits and pieces at my friend's house. To show how huge of a fan base that Counterstrike has accumulate, was when I went to China and my cousin and all his friends were playing. Simply put, Counterstrike is a worldwide phenomenon that requires plenty of skill and dedications. Now years later after the PC version has been played to death, the Xbox receives its own version. While this version is simply a stripped down version, it still retains enough quality mechanics to keep the Xbox version as a solid game. But with online titles like Rainbow Six 3 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Counterstrike feels a bit uninspired. Or at least the Xbox version does.

Those that have played the PC version should be familiar with the Xbox version, but they are also going to be in for some rude awakening. Not in a sense that the game is horrific, but compared to the PC version, there is simply no comparison. Here is where the fluidity of the mouse and keyboard work in favor for a game like Counterstrike. The controls in Counterstrike simply felt a bit sluggish and slow. Counterstrike for the most part still retains the quick gameplay mechanics. But do to the controls, the aiming feels a bit and off.

Counterstrike's main draw is its online multiplayer. The single player portion is rather forgetful. In fact, the missions were tedious and are your basic run of the mill type shooter, where you kill everything you see. There are objectives like defusing bombs or rescuing bombs (depending if you're playing as terrorists or the CT units), but after a while it loses its purpose and the game becomes a simple Rambo type game. Nevertheless the game's objectives, while a bit lackluster, does provide some variation if you decide to go that route.

Playing Counterstrike online is quite fun for the most part. One mode that I especially enjoyed was terrorist hunt. In this mode, you can a group of buddies will go around and search the terrorists out. For the most part, this mode is really a sit back and enjoys the game type mode. There really isn't much competition, but it is a mode where you kind of just play and enjoy the atmosphere of the game. For the most part, the A.I offers some competent resistance. But on the other hand, nothing beats human controlled characters.

During online play, there is plenty of strategy involved. For instance, turning corners could be a fatal mistake if you are not careful. Like most online shooters, snipers can become a bit problematic at times due to the fact that finding them can be a bit tedious. Despite that, the online portion of this game is quite engaging for the most part. However, it is hard not to get a feeling of a rushed port. The PC version flowed with fluidity, but the Xbox version felt sloppy and a bit sluggish. The same mechanics that made the PC version great is still present, but the execution felt lackluster.

During the beginning of matches, players can buy weapons. In order to buy the better weapons, you have to complete certain objectives in order to get the better guns. Like other shooters, the type of gun or weapon you are holding influences your running speed. So players will start out with their knives and get to a destination as quick as possible before pulling out the heavy hitter. Other types of weapon include grenades, which can be used as a deterrent. I found grenades to be more affective as a means of distraction rather than a useful weapon in itself.

Perhaps the biggest issue about the Xbox version of Counterstrike is that the PC version feels so much more polished. Add that to the fact that the Xbox already has a strong lineup of fps type games and Counterstrike simply gets left in the shuffle. Don't get me wrong, the online portion is still fun, but it just doesn't feel quite like the PC version. But if you have Xbox Live, then Counterstrike should still hold plenty of play time.

Perhaps the most glaring difference between the PC version and the Xbox version is its graphics. The PC version is clean, sharp and highly detailed. The Xbox version's background colors and character models feel a bit choppy. Character animation also doesn't look quite fluid. In another sense, the way characters move look quite awkward.

Counterstrike is a game that should be played by everyone. It is really that good. But the problem is you should play it on the PC. I'm not trying to knock the Xbox version, but the problem is that if you played the PC version, the Xbox version feels uninspired and lackluster. But if you never played Counterstrike before, then the Xbox version is still quite addicting. And even if you have played the PC version, the Xbox version is still quite good.

Graphics - 6/10
Gameplay - 7/10
Sound - 7/10
Value - 8/10
Presentation - 5/10
Overall - 6.5/10

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 02/16/06