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Platform: PC Genre: Shooter Publisher: Sierra Developer: Valve/Gearbox/Ritual ETA: Q2 2003
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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
I’ve never been a CS junkie. In fact, even though I loved Half Life, I never embraced the popular mod and my only encounters with it have been at my friends’ places. Why, you ask? I would have to say that it is because of my overall disdain for online games. To counteract my dislike of the focus on online play, the developers at Valve and Gearbox have read my mind and decided to incorporate a single player mode that may yet make a believer out of me. My favourite new feature by far has to be the inclusion of a single player mode. Not just a practice mode like in UT or Q3A, the single player mode will actually be a comprehensive campaign spanning 25 missions in different locales with different objectives. There will actually be a narrative story with cut scenes which is an important part of any single player game. There will also be a skirmish mode with AI bots to practice against. I’m
sure that I’m in the minority though when I’m excited about the
single player portion of the game as it seems that the rest of the
social world loves to share their gaming experience with other people
online. Those of you who
play until the wee hours of the morning will be happy to hear that there
will be a whack load of new features to spice up the multiplayer mode.
People obsessed with assault rifles, pistols, and special forces tactics scare me sometimes. I had to go hide under my bed when I noticed that I was beginning to giggle like a school girl when I heard about some of the new weapons and accessories to be included in CS:CZ. When I calmed down enough to venture out from beneath the safety of my bed, I read on |
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about how there will be a rocket launcher, a few new assault rifles, some new explosives, including a gas grenade and the complimentary gas mask. The coolest new item must be the riot shield though. Reducing a player’s sight to the slit in the shield, it will only allow a player to fire a pistol from behind it, but will provide substantial protection from a torrent of bullets. The new dynamic that this will provide the game will definitely be something unique, as counter terrorist teams will be able to use moving cover to approach their marks.
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New
character models will now include a US milita type terrorist, and a
Russian Spetz Naz elite soldier. Also,
rather than having the same type of outfit all the time, players will be
able to pick the type of camouflage based on the type of map that is
being played. The new maps
will be in a variety of locations so the type of camo worn will affect
the player’s visibility. Because
the Half Life engine is going on four years old, it needed some definite
improvements to keep it looking prettier than week old roadkill.
First of all, the development team upped the polygon count on
character models by two and a half times.
Other goodies will include weather effects, and particle effects,
such as rocket trails blowing away in the wind.
The final thing that worrying CS gamers will be happy to hear is that there will be a patch released so that the multiplayer portion of CZ will be compatible with the original game. The new items will be released for free download a couple of items at a time so that the play balance is not jolted too quickly. For my money though, the single player experience will be what is interesting. As a comprehensive package, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is sure to further assert the Counterstrike community as the premier online gaming experience. - Mark Leung (August 15, 2002) |
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