If your trigger-fingers have been itching for another one of the Valve Corporation’s signature FPS games, then the wait is over. “Counter Strike 2” is finally out, and it’s free on Steam! Was it worth the wait? Is it the best “Counter Strike” game to date? I think the more important question is: Is it really “Counter Strike 2?”
The answer is: Almost. While “Counter Strike 2” is still engaging and fun as other games in the series, it’s more of a cosmetic upgrade to “Counter Strike: Global Offensive.” That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it feels like one step in the right direction, not multiple.
Let’s get this out of the way: “Counter Strike 2” looks absolutely astonishing, and it’s because it runs on Valve’s new engine, “Source 2,” which powers Valve’s recent VR title, “Half-Life: Alyx.” Classic maps from previous games are designed like masterpieces thanks to this revolutionary technology. I was able to see my reflection in a puddle, I got to watch each individual piece of glass fall from a shattered window. Even chickens look amazing. All of that is just plain impressive. Yes, these are small details, but it makes the world feel real.
Even graphical touches of gameplay are enhanced. You’re able to see the smoke trails of a sniper rifle’s bullets; the oranges of flames look hotter all the way down to their purple roots; and shooting into a grenade’s smoke-screen slightly blows smoke aside. These are so satisfying, and it’s like turning war into art.
Speaking of gameplay, shooting still rocks. Every gun has sailed over into “Counter Strike 2” along with any skins, stickers, sprays, or soundtracks you had in “CS:GO,” but there’s something that you should know: There’s a loadout system.
The buy menu is now condensed into one on-screen menu instead of having you flip through categories in order to save time. However, every weapon isn’t at your disposal like the other games. You have to swap in what five guns you want in your three categories, which can be done anytime. Even though the guns are pretty much the same, the heavy weapons and SMG categories are combined into the “mid-tier” category. The overall system is kind of redundant if you can replace buyable weapons anytime, but it could hint towards future difficulty involving specialization in certain weapons.
Nothing has really changed what “Counter Strike” is all about, though. Counter-terrorists attempt to seize the terrorist’s objective while terrorists prevent them from doing so, or either team can eliminate the opposition. It’s a slow, methodical game that’s about knowing when to stop or shoot. Every casualty is a lesson, not a failure.
Although “Counter Strike 2” isn’t just an update to “CS:GO,” it feels like part of one. If this is supposed to be a more beautiful “CS:GO,” it’s missing some content, which irked me, and might irk you, too. You can’t buy riot shields; all achievements are replaced by one earned by loading the game; the innovative battle royale “Danger Zone” and bite-sized defusal mode “Demolition” aren’t here; and neither are most of the maps, which is probably the biggest drawback.
Geographical knowledge is important in “Counter Strike” games. You must know locations, hiding spots, and objective sites so your communication skills are sharper and traversal becomes engraved in your mind. Less maps equal less challenge.
“Counter Strike 2” has ten maps. For Bomb Defusal, there’s Mirage, Overpass, Vertigo, Ancient, Nuke, Inferno, Anubis, and everybody’s favorite, Dust II. Unfortunately for Hostage Rescue, there’s only Office and Italy. While these are some of the best that “Counter Strike” has ever seen, some powerful additions are absent, like Cache and its high vantage points or Militia’s winding paths to its central farmhouse.
Regardless, “Counter Strike 2” is still a great addition to the series but not a fully-fledged sequel. I’m not saying to boycott it and play “CS:GO” instead because really the game has completely replaced “CS:GO” in your Steam library, so it’s a take-it-or-leave-it scenario.
This series is a staple in the tactical-shooter genre, and if Valve continues down the road it is on, there might not be a reason to make a third game if “Counter Strike 2” hits perfection. In a way, that’s good, because I’m pretty sure fans like me know how Valve is with releasing games with a “3” in the title.
