Hands On Preview of Counter-Strike: Source

Chris D

Chris D

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Last Friday, HalfLife2.net finally got to play the Counter-Strike: Source press beta, after being invited to do so by Doug Lombardi. Get the low down on the latest incarnation of Counter-Strike written by myself, with comments from Pi Mu Rho, simmo, Hot Soup, Farrowlesparrow, Onions, SpuD and SidewinderX.[br]
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You can read the preview in our reviews section or by clicking here.[br]Here's a snip:
When Doug Lombardi told me HalfLife2.net was in the cyber-café and press beta I was ecstatic. I had recently just got back into playing Counter-Strike again and after seeing the footage of CS: Source I was so psyched up by the whole thing and I haven’t been let down. I have personally been playing Counter-Strike for just over five years and I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of it, especially not now it looks exciting and not just plays exciting. Not only that but it also sounds exciting.
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Additionally, today is the day that all you ATI voucher holders and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero owners will be able pre-load CS:S to be playable on Wednesday 18th August.[br]
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If you haven't already done so, I strongly recommend that you buy Counter-Strike: Condition Zero. It has some great features, and it gets you into the CS:S beta too, which is worth it in itself!
 
Plays better on dial-up than CS 1.6 you say?... Maybe I should give this thing a try.

Great review, well writen and enjoyable. Nice work to all you guys! :thumbs:

/me joins in group hug.
 
Look's excellent, I can't wait to play it. *searche's for coupon*
 
Bah, I already knew...Chris told me not to say anything ;)

Anyways, I'm going to have to [personally] disagree with you on the:

Naturally that’s not a bad thing for me as I enjoy the game, but there are people out there that just simply do not like the Counter-Strike game play so for most of you I don’t expect will have a change of heart but I do urge you to try it – if for nothing else just to see what the Source engine actually performs like.
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I had a change of heart, I honestly didn't enjoy CS when I played it. The CS:S beta has changed my perception of CS...I actually played more hours in the beta than I did CS or CZ. I know you said "most", but I want to drive the point home...CS:S is so amazing it's converted me :p

Valve did an amazing, spectacular, terrific job with the port, managing to get me converted. :D
 
The Mullinator said:
Plays better on dial-up than CS 1.6 you say?... Maybe I should give this thing a try.

Great review, well writen and enjoyable. Nice work to all you guys! :thumbs:

/me joins in group hug.
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That's just my personal experience Mullinator. However, I learnt today that if it does lag out, you'll bloody know about it!

I actually could move around and shoot, but people disappeared from the scoreboard, terrorists were showing as counter-terrorists (which resulted in me TK'ing someone who then told me to "**** halflife2.net" - so apologies to him), and people generally disappeared from the game leaving a floating gun flying around :eek: So when it lags, it lags.

But yeah, IMHO I believe the network code is better than 1.6.
 
SubKamran said:
Bah, I already knew...Chris told me not to say anything ;)

Anyways, I'm going to have to [personally] disagree with you on the:



I had a change of heart, I honestly didn't enjoy CS when I played it. The CS:S beta has changed my perception of CS...I actually played more hours in the beta than I did CS or CZ. I know you said "most", but I want to drive the point home...CS:S is so amazing it's converted me :p

Valve did an amazing, spectacular, terrific job with the port, managing to get me converted. :D
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It's had a similar effect on HotSoup as you can see from his comments in the preview.

It's also had a similar effect on The Dark Elf, but he hasn't dared to admit it yet. He won't accept what he's become... poor boy. Just let it out mate ;)
 
Hot Soup: Well honestly I've never been a great fan of CS in the past, it just seemed to be lacking something to draw me in. But playing it on Source I just hate to admit it - but I enjoyed myself. It's fun. There's lot's of little touches, the way the bullets zing about, playing with some of the physics objects just the whole feel of it. It just works for me. Personally I thought it felt a little unfinished as well. There are a few things that need fixed but assuming that gets done it's safe to say that I'll probably end up playing the final version and anything else that gets released on the Source engine.
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See, my "subtleties" theory (in my "mini" review in my sig) holds true. That's what drew me in.

I also just realized what would own the whole game:

Flammable barrels
 
Chris_D said:
That's just my personal experience Mullinator. However, I learnt today that if it does lag out, you'll bloody know about it!

I actually could move around and shoot, but people disappeared from the scoreboard, terrorists were showing as counter-terrorists (which resulted in me TK'ing someone who then told me to "**** halflife2.net" - so apologies to him), and people generally disappeared from the game leaving a floating gun flying around :eek: So when it lags, it lags.

But yeah, IMHO I believe the network code is better than 1.6.
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Oh well, I guess I can wait until I get highspeed when I move into university residence. :bounce:
 
Thanks for the nice review. Can't wait to see if the netcode is better.
 
Too bad I'm not gonna get to play the buggy beta. Not enough dough to buy Condition Zero and I got my Radeon 9700 a year and a half ago (Wow, that totally rhymed). I'm using my cash for Doom 3 (have done so already) and Half-Life 2 baby (Again!).
 
Chris, Excellent review. Defnetly buying HL2 CE to get this game bundled with it. ;)
 
Yup even I have to admit it was fun. But dear god the errors with it.. I doubt you'll be seeing the full thing released for some time.

It was fun though..
 
I think its a bad idea to tell people to buy CZ, Chris... Its going to be outdated in a month or two and the CS:S beta is only going to last a few weeks (2 or 3 probably).
 
The Dark Elf said:
Yup even I have to admit it was fun. But dear god the errors with it.. I doubt you'll be seeing the full thing released for some time.

It was fun though..
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Most of the bugs I've come across don't affect gameplay majorly...except a few.
 
"I strongly recommend that you buy Counter-Strike: Condition Zero"

I hate you
 
klevo said:
"I strongly recommend that you buy Counter-Strike: Condition Zero"

I hate you
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Thanks! :D

I'd like to add that that comment isn't necessarily the opinion of HalfLife2.net, but instead my own personal opinion as I do actually quite like the game and think it's worth buying anyway.
 
SubKamran said:
Bah, I already knew...Chris told me not to say anything ;)

Anyways, I'm going to have to [personally] disagree with you on the:



I had a change of heart, I honestly didn't enjoy CS when I played it. The CS:S beta has changed my perception of CS...I actually played more hours in the beta than I did CS or CZ. I know you said "most", but I want to drive the point home...CS:S is so amazing it's converted me :p

Valve did an amazing, spectacular, terrific job with the port, managing to get me converted. :D
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quoted for emphasis, I feel the same.
 
Why buying CZ if the game (CSS) is already cracked and also its been patched by the same cracker so it can run with all the official severs around the world which run PROTOCOL NUMBER 3 the newest. 2 days ago it was impossible to join an official server CAfe servers but yesterday the patch has changed that. :)

I am not saying not to buy the game.........Go and buy it I don't care but my point is cz £20 vs 2 weeks of css beta just not worth it
 
I have one of the ATI HL2 coupons made an account with the key on it. Ran Steam just now and it doesn't show anything about preloading CS:S anyone else in the same situation???
 
SeaTech20 said:
I have one of the ATI HL2 coupons made an account with the key on it. Ran Steam just now and it doesn't show anything about preloading CS:S anyone else in the same situation???
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We will notify everybody on HalfLife2.net when it becomes available. As yet, it is still due today.
 
Gorgon said:
Why buying CZ if the game (CSS) is already cracked and also its been patched by the same cracker so it can run with all the official severs around the world which run PROTOCOL NUMBER 3 the newest. 2 days ago it was impossible to join an official server CAfe servers but yesterday the patch has changed that. :)

I am not saying not to buy the game.........Go and buy it I don't care but my point is cz £20 vs 2 weeks of css beta just not worth it
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Because Valve deserves some $$$ for what they've done so far. I don't care, go pirate EA games, but don't pirate Valve games...

Second, Valve is on Emporio's ass...it's not hard to find him since there's only 7 servers with players :p Every time I've played I've seen him join...never played though, probably checking if his cracked version works.
 
Gorgon said:
Chris, Excellent review. Defnetly buying HL2 CE to get this game bundled with it. ;)
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Perhaps I missed something, but i was under the impression that the SP/MP SKU would be including CS:S as well as the rest of the source games. If you're right gorgon, then i need to go change my preorder. Can someone please clarify?
 
N0N1337H41 said:
Perhaps I missed something, but i was under the impression that the SP/MP SKU would be including CS:S as well as the rest of the source games. If you're right gorgon, then i need to go change my preorder. Can someone please clarify?
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It will be bundled with all versions of HL2.

There are now only two versions. SP & MP version and the CE version.
 
nice read.

who thinks they should rename it to Counter-Strike: Barrel Simulator 2004 :p
 
I'd just like to point out some of the negative here - CS:S isn't a gift from God himself.

To date, I have uninstalled/reinstalled Steam over 5 times, and even done a clean format to try and get CS:S to work. It doesn't - it just crashes to desktop when you launch it.

I finally made it work through my own devious means (which I won't share here), but I suspect that this problem will show up a lot more now that more members of the public are in the beta. Valve - fix it.
 
Indeed as I mentioned in my comment there are things that need fixed .. for example bouncing off a barrel when you bump into it , there are numerous small graphical glitches ...

It's good - not brilliant - but it's good and rather than pay money for cz I'd say to people just to wait :)
 
I'm the CT on the far right looking at chris on the final shot :D, take a gander! \o/
 
Pi Mu Rho said:
I'd just like to point out some of the negative here - CS:S isn't a gift from God himself.

To date, I have uninstalled/reinstalled Steam over 5 times, and even done a clean format to try and get CS:S to work. It doesn't - it just crashes to desktop when you launch it.

I finally made it work through my own devious means (which I won't share here), but I suspect that this problem will show up a lot more now that more members of the public are in the beta. Valve - fix it.
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Was it a driver/hardware issue? It worked for me the first time...but then again, every computer is different. Sometimes it crashes though :(
 
Hot Soup said:
Indeed as I mentioned in my comment there are things that need fixed .. for example bouncing off a barrel when you bump into it , there are numerous small graphical glitches ...
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That's not a bug, that's how the physics in the game work. they see you as {X} force hitting {Y} object. {Y} object exerts {Z} force back onto you, and you "bounce" back some.


That's not how it happen irl, as we can "absorb" some of the shock, but that's how the engine probably sees it.
 
yep i played with spud yesterday lol i remember casue his name was halflife2.ne spud.!!!
 
Does Steam has to be installed inorder for CS:S to work ? or can it work without Steam being installed ?
 
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