Gamers everywhere have that one game that got them into online gaming, and the rest is history. For me, it was a beta version of Counter-Strike, arguably the most popular video game mod (or at the very least, first-person shooter mod) in the history of online gaming. Originally a mod of the popular first-person shooter (FPS) Half-Life, it became a runaway hit in the early 2000s and continues to be popular to this very day. With Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) dropping on September 27, 2023, people wondered whether it would continue to garner attention with shooter games such as Valorant, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and more on the scene. Can Counter-Strike 2 capture a whole new generation of gamers?
While not much has changed from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) in terms of gameplay, there are major graphical updates to the game, such as updated textures and light reflections and support for ray-tracing technology. In addition, smokes are volumetric and now interact with the environment, which makes using smoke grenades riskier than in previous installments of the game. Firing bullets and even HE grenades can affect smoke, which changes how players should approach using smoke grenades, as smoke grenade spam can be effectively countered through these tactics.
All weapons and equipment from CS:GO return, in addition to classic game modes such as Bomb Scenario, where the Terrorist team has to plant a bomb at a bomb site, and Counter-Terrorists have to defuse them; Hostage Scenario, where Counter-Terrorists must rescue the hostages from Terrorists; and Wingman, a 2v2 mode in smaller bomb defusal maps. Just want to frag others for bragging rights? Classic Team Deathmatch mode is also available, and future modes will be available in more updates to the game.
As for the maps? Fan favorites such as Dust II and Mirage return, while Italy and Overpass have been completely reworked with the new Source 2 tools and rendering features. At the time of this writing, other fan favorites are in the process of returning, including one of my favorite Hostage Scenario maps, Assault. While no new maps were released with CS2, it is possible that some new maps could make its way into the game in the future.
One of the best aspects about Counter-Strike 2 is that it’s free-to-play, but that also means lots and lots of microtransactions. Want that cool skin for your collection? It’s going to cost some money. Before, skins have gone for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on its rarity, but one of the big additions is CS2 Prime, which costs USD15. It gives you access to the ranked queue, Prime-exclusive souvenir items, item drops, and weapon cases. Buying CS2 Prime has its ups and downs. Just like in any other online game, there can be cheaters who are using multiple accounts, but the chances of encountering them as a CS2 Prime player is drastically lower than in the free version.
If you choose to play competitively, you’ll get a CS Rating instead of a rank. You can view your rating among your friends, in your region, and globally. You’ll also get a ranking on the specific maps you play. That means people who have been playing Counter-Strike regularly over the past 20+ years may have a much higher rating on Dust II as opposed to maps such as Vertigo, as Dust II is one of the oldest and most popular maps in the game.
For the truly battle-tested, one can play in Premier Mode, where players can vote on which active-duty maps are banned before the match even starts. That means completely removing popular maps like Dust II from being played and forcing players to play obscure maps like Ancient or Vertigo. This may even level the playing field because the map may be unfamiliar to both teams. Your individual and team performance factors into your CS Rating, so you know where you stand after each match.
Can CS2 take its place in today’s FPS landscape? There is no doubt that there is potential due to Valve’s graphical overhaul of the franchise and the inclusion of new features. However, it will take time for it to catch on. If you’re younger, you might prefer other FPS games, but for millennials who grew up playing the game online and in Internet cafes, CS2 will always be a favorite, although younger players should give the game a try to get a glimpse into the beginnings of online multiplayer FPS games. For me, nothing beats setting up in Dust II at long A with the AWP and picking off enemies one by one.
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Platform(s): PC, Linux
Words by Jose Alvarez
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE October 2023 Issue