Counter-Strike’s over a decade old, yet gunmen continue to kidnap hostages and plant explosives on PCs around the world. And for good reason: it's a well-honed balance of trigger-happy action and rewarding tactical teamwork.
However, Global Offensive's simplistic core betrays its age. Retrieving captives and defusing bombs still rattles nerves, and the eight Classic-mode maps are still textbook examples of thoughtful level design. The trouble with classics is that they're just so darn familiar. Offices, dusty streets (“Dust II”!), and train yards remain fun places to run wild, and there's some new equipment to purchase between punishingly violent 5-on-5 rounds with no respawns. But it'd take more than a disappointingly minor facelift and new boom-sticks to make these stomping grounds feel fresh.
Luckily, players get more than a reverential history lesson thanks to two absorbing new modes. Arms Race engagements take place on just two small maps, but every kill causes a new weapon to materialize in your hands, and respawns are instant. Meanwhile, Demolition mode rewards murder with a new weapon only in the following round, but each of its six maps (where your side is either attacking or defending a bomb site) offers an intricate mix of long sight lines, tight passages, and plentiful pathways.
Global Offensive’s slippery Left for Dead–style movement and lack of iron-sight targeting will surely elicit some gripes. And while you can practice offline against bots, the absence of split-screen multiplayer is baffling given the outdated graphics. But Counter-Strike's latest reissue packs just enough new content to keep its legacy alive for another year or two.
PUBLISHER: Valve • DEVELOPER: Valve • ESRB: Mature • MULTIPLAYER: 10 on Xbox Live • ACHIEVEMENTS: Tough • COST: 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) • RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2012
+ Aged but winning core of demanding and dynamic team-focused tactics.
+ Exciting and fast-paced Arms Race and Demolition modes rejuvenate interest, even if underwhelming visual upgrades don't.
– Slippery movement; no local split-screen; only two Arms Race maps; no new Classic-mode maps.
? Why do so few players seem to possess headsets?
lian11a
October 03, 2012 at 4:23pm
7,5 for this game? This is too much, I would give 6,0, This is the same counter-strike as ever, they got the Source version and only changed the graphic, none new maps for the classic multiplayer. This is not worth the price of xbox live. What a pity, I was hagging so much that they finally launch something new and diferent.I belive that they are going to launch new maps, but ask for money for each of than, this is a shame. I will play Gears of Wars 3 multiplayer, it has many maps and a lot news.
MaxxSwan13
August 27, 2012 at 7:44am
Why did yu give the best multi-player shooter a 7.5? Just because it's not like COD doesn't mean you have to give it a 7.5. I'm curious why a game which is the same piece of crap every year always gets a 9.5/10. But when an original awesome FPS game comes around it gets a 7.5. WTF?!?!?! I'm glad I'm switching to PC gaming OXM.
TheDirectorChris21
August 27, 2012 at 9:42pm
You're kidding me, right? I like Counter-Strike as much as the next person but what you said doesn't make any sense at all. Let's review: CoD 4 - Campaign and Multiplayer, MW2 - New campaign, Tweaked multiplayer, and Special Ops, Black Ops - New Campaign, tweaked multiplayer (again), and Zombies mode, MW3 - New Campaign, Multiplayer, Special Ops, and Survival Mode. All of that is in five years because Cod 4 came out in 2007 but the only thing that has changed in Counter-Strike in 12 YEARS is the graphics and the guns, no campaign, no unique mode, no huge (or minor for that matter) to the game at all, absolutely nothing, just the same multiplayer suite for twelve years and you're complaining that CoD is the same, ok, that's logic for you.
The Critical Big E
August 28, 2012 at 9:53am
@TheDirectorChris21 The thing is, though, that CoD has a release every year (since 2003 I believe) and it's basically the same thing, with minor tweaks. Counter Strike has had 3 releases in 12 years, but all of the games play vastly different. Also, there's a little thing called mod support, so the game has tons of longevity due to that. Even if you bought this game on a console, it would still be fun. It's a simple formula with many strategies to learn that, its incredible balance, and the fact that you need skill to win, is what separates thi game from CoD. CoD is a fun run and gun to play with your friends, but it pales in comparison to how CS gets your blood pumping when you pull off an ace (a 1vs5 clutch).
MaxxSwan13
August 28, 2012 at 5:46am
Your stupidity amazes me. Say goodbye to Xbox 360 and Hello to Desktop.
