Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

What else can really be said about Counterstrike (CS)? I know girls who don’t even play the Sims who know what CS is and that says a lot about how popular the game is. It’s timeless and it’s a classic, and while it does deserve a place in every gamer’s collection, CS: Condition Zero (CSCZ) may not be the way to own it especially in today’s gaming market.

I recently saw the remake of Dawn of the Dead and absolutely loved it. While the remake will always still hold a special place in my heart (Gotta love those slow zombies!) the remake was just so over the top in every way that I feel like I could watch it 5 times in a row straight. While I’m sure that there are some CS fans out there who will own CZ regardless of its value, in today’s market, there are no less than 4 other games out there that deserve your time and money more than CZ does. This takes nothing away from CZ as a classic game, but it does take away it’s relevance in today’s market.

While slow zombies were how the full vision of the dead walking the earth began, today’s zombies are now the sprinting kind. CSCZ’s gameplay while as solid as ever, seems like yesterday’s slow zombies; classic, but lacking relevance in the modern gaming market. After having played CS to death online, why anyone would want to 

portion, you play as the commander of a squad of counter terrorism unit. There is a set environment in which the enemies are attempting to plant a bomb, or where they are holding hostages. Your objective is to rescue the hostages, defuse the bomb, or eliminate all members of the opposing team.

The primary addition to CZ over the standard CS is that you can play the game offline against bots. While the bot AI is very good, most CS players will likely find the offline experience distinctly lackluster. The AI attempts to mimic what you would most likely find in an online game. Your teammates can have different dispositions; some will follow orders, while others will be complete rogues, and there will be everything in between. As the game progresses and more missions are passed, you will be able to choose better teammates as they become available. In the offline mode, you will only be able to play as the Counter Terrorists.  There are different challenges that the single player presents to you for each level, such as completing the objective in a given amount of time, or killing a certain enemy with a certain weapon.

The real meat of the game for most will likely be in the online portion. While the community is large and there will always be someone playing, I’m sure a lot of fans are branching out to experience some of the new premium FPS games of today.

While the actual gameplay will always remain a classic, there have been many strides in the development in team based tactical shooters. Although the decision to simply refine the original CS formula will no doubt please many enthusiasts, I found the gameplay a little tired despite its finely tuned feel. With the online experience of Rainbow Six 3, the new Splinter Cell, and Unreal Tournament 2004, CZ has some stiff competition when competing for the gamer’s fifty bucks.

Contributing in a large part to the game’s tired experience are the graphics. Nothing screams out for an engine overhaul than jumping in between games of Farcry and games of Condition Zero. While the gameplay can not be faulted as it is silky smooth, the graphics by today’s standards are so bland and just plain unattractive that any criticism about the game’s engine is almost like saying hybrid cars are slow. They sure are but they give great mileage.

After all that, the game is still as addictive as ever. I found myself playing through the game offline with all the bots and still loving the experience. I’m sure that those of you who are more social gamers have felt the experience of having the sun creep between the blinds at 5 am while you say to yourself, “Just one more game.” Condition Zero still carries the Counter Strike magic. However, given its age, how much it costs and the quality of the current competition, CZ cannot honestly and should not be at the top of any FPS gamer’s list.

- Mark Leung

(April 22, 2004)