Counter-Strike
Infiltrating Microsoft's console exclusively...
Tooled-up and with a place to go, out into this console shooter did I step. Only to get blown away and find myself with a case of déjà vu as I sat and stared at other people having fun while I was not. This is something that always tempered my enjoyment of the PC game as I would eventually tire of sitting around for two minutes while the anal players crept around with the caution of a blind heroin addict trying to shoot up on a roller-coaster. This is no criticism of CS on the box, but why on earth the single player game forces you to watch the AI finish a level is beyond my ken. In fact the single player game is not really much use, unless for some reason you bought Counter-Strike and don't have Live! It's basically CS with bots, and although they are not complete cretins and can provide some resistance on high difficulty settings, there really is no point playing against them when it takes about an extra two seconds to get yourself online and playing against real people. There's no story in the single player game, just the maps in rotation.
Single or online, the biggest challenge in Counter-Strike is, unsurprisingly, trying to hit anything smaller than Tony Blair's brass neck at greater than two paces. The controller setup does its very best to help you as everything becomes second nature in very short order. The problem lies in those damn analogue sticks. Trying to place your reticule on a baddy is more of an art form then anything else. Unless you are a master at other console shooters you will most likely struggle here. The trick is to find servers and players who equal your skill level and practice, practice, practice. Even if you come from the PC and know most of the maps inside out the controls will have you feeling like a 'noob' right away. And the sad thing is that these are some of the most responsive FPS controls I've tried on a console. The developers have really done their best to make it as easy as possible, but the fact remains that you just cannot get a good FPS experience without a mouse. Still, at least you can be sure that all of your opponents are having to deal with the same problems that you are, and once some semblance of mastery is had over the controls the fun that is Counter-Strike will push these snags to the back of your mind.
Counter-Strike on the Xbox is one of the very best FPS games on a console. The updating work done on the creaking engine is superb, and the attempt to make CS into an online sport has been thoroughly successful. There's even a leaderboard built into the many functions and features that conspire to make CS such a joy to play through Live! The controls are the only letdown, and as there is nothing that can be done about this my whinge is probably not a lot more then the laments of a life-long PC user. If you have an Xbox and a PC it may be wise to pass this by, unless the appeal of playing Counter-Strike while stretched out on the sofa is too much to pass over. And unfortunately almost all users of the Live! service will own a PC already. So, quite who would enjoy this is left open to the floor. Whoever you may be, if you think that you would have fun with this, you cannot blame the developers or Microsoft if that doesn't turn out to be the case.
88%
Comments
FPS's with a console gamepad is a waste of time. I don't know why they bother.
I think gamers that grew up with consoles, rather than PCs, might disagree with you there. After all, Halo is an amazing game - hugely enjoyable for both single and multi-player action even with a gamepad.
Whilst Halo is a blast - there is nothing more frustrating than playing an FPS with a gamepad. Its just not intuitive.
Consoles should stick to what their good at and not try and emulate PC games.
Wasn't Halo originally conceived for the Mac anyhow? Which has a mouse?
Halo was originally concieved as an RTS. Obviously, things change.
And I'm sick of this gamepad thing, because it's simply not true. With analogue sticks, it's just as easy as a mouse. And the buttons you need are all in one place.
So how come all the pro gaming tournaments are played on PCs, with mice? The PC user has an option to use a gamepad right? So how come they don't... the answer is obvious - its inferior!
Excellent review. I feel the game is on the VERY best of all console shooters, along with Ghost Recon series.
kanteri eshte shum i smut a se kosova kome rnua se jo si te ka te jashtit si gjemania e ameerika se te gjith po luj kanter a kosova kome rnu joms e i kta qe hekin kanterin a e mafis a per qka e ka bo mere bal a kosova eshte shtet tung
My sentiments entirely...
Nice review. My son loves this (he is 7) - even the single player......
....at least i get back on to my pc now :D
ik vindt cs kapot lijp en wanneer komt halo2 uit????? groeten from holland
ale z was idioci;d
how do i use a gamepad with the pc version
Try Hitman 2 on ps2 - major waste of time. I mean good graphics... good storyline... whoops they forgot its almost impossible to play a FPS on a console!!!
cs is the BEST game ever made.
JO ich suche Albanishe oder Kosova servers wer ein par kennt soll einfach rein schreiben BY toni kills you...
?????? ????
merddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
hey people
i want to play dis games...
but how i want to play dis games in internet games or web????
i just have a pc..
jeni shum te mir si te mundeni te me tregoni nje server per conter strick 1.6 prej kosove
Ju falimiderit mer mbajtjen/.
kanter strike je jako glupa igrica
yo yo yo......whats up.Are you want to battle with me in COUNTER STRIKE?
hi;
mubashir kese ho theek tum chating nahi karahe
kia bat haimujhe batao yar tum bohat busy ho
apsolute games
hi there can we play???
hahahahhahahhaha
kanter strike
mir