| INFO | |
|---|---|
| Base game | Half-Life |
| Developer(s) | Valve |
| Release date | 2000-11-09 |
Yes, it's THAT game.
In 1999, half of gamers were still loyal to brainless non-stop action FPSs, while the other half was slowly transitioning to the new wave of "tactical action" games that were on the rise. Two guys still in college took the Half-Life SDK and developed a new multiplayer mod based on a simple idea: special forces vs. terrorists, with round-based, fast-paced gameplay and a few game modes such as hostage rescue and bomb defusal. They released a beta. The idea was a hit and they ended up being hired by Valve, with their work being released in 2000 as a retail game, topping the "most played" lists for years to come.
Configure the controls, connect to a server, join a team and try to survive. Killing enemies and meeting mission objectives will earn you money, which you can spend on much needed weapons and gear. Yes, it feels too arcade today, but jumping from Quake 3 to this required a change in attitude. You can only carry two weapons, plus knife and grenades. Your aim goes away after shooting more than two rounds. Your footsteps can betray you, as can your flashlight. One properly placed shot can kill you unless you wear protection. And bullets can go through walls and doors. There are team radio commands. No, this isn't Rainbow Six or SWAT 3, but when played by connoisseurs it gets better. It's sad it got branded as a game for chavs.
Back then, you had to choose: you either got hooked on heroin, or on this game. But you can get off heroin. Because believe me, Counter-Strike was a goddamn drug. "Just one more round", you always said. It's got its faults, of course. Everything happens lightning fast and it's unforgiving for people with slow reflexes. Average players will spend a lot of time spectating. Servers eventually got ridden with outrageous mods and skins, not to mention trolls and cheaters.
The king of Internet cafés and online gaming services alike, many of us moved on, but its legacy lives on. And, we'll always go back for a match. Just one...
Playing
- You can get it on Steam. There are discounts several times per year.
- If you want to fight against bots: YaPB (Yet another PODBot), iteration of the original program.
- The retail copy included a single-player training level, never seen in the mod version. You can download it from ModDB.