Counter-Strike: Condition Zero review
This game needs no introduction to Boomtown readers... but does it need a lick of paint?
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| Some of these terrorists are trying to get into the vent. Some are trying to get out. None are getting anywhere. |
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It occurred to me, whilst playing Condition Zero, that the guy who announces "the bomb has been planted" probably never realised how many billions of times his voice sample would be heard. It must be *the* cultural sound bite of the early 21st century. A massive fan base and no official release for many years meant Counter-Strike was able to grow and grow, quite possibly causing some infuriated management type somewhere to tear his hair out over a missed opportunity. If Counter-Strike had been signed up as an official add-on, like Opposing Force, the profits could've been astronomical. Of course, it's just as likely that such inorganic development would have stunted the mod's growth. After all, it did have the advantage of being play-tested by millions.
But that's all conjecture. The fact is, every Half-Life user with an Internet connection was eligible for the free gift of the year and Counter-Strike was soon bundled with retail copies of Half-Life. Condition Zero has an enormous legacy to fulfil and it had better be damn impressive if it expects us to open our wallets. The prognosis is not good as it has already changed developer once and 'finished code', which surfaced some time ago for select review, was critically panned.
Enemy spotted...
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| Pick your own team, but don't expect to be able to manage them as efficiently as you'd like. |
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|
Condition Zero comes in two parts, the first being the main game and the second being the optional 'Deleted Scenes'. The latter appear to be the content originally offered up for review and thoroughly deserves a panning. A selection of single-player missions tied together with a counter-terrorism theme, they vary between mediocre and truly awful. Several attempt to introduce various tools to your inventory, such as a cutting torch or radio, but each of these items can only be used at specific points on each level. For every air vent you're allowed to cut open or ever wall you can blow apart with a shaped charge, there's a dozen more you cannot. Their application is illogical and random, much like the team-mates who occasionally accompany you. Most of the missions see you as a lone wolf but, when companions accompany you as anything more than scripted interludes, they're of little real help.
In short, the Deleted Scenes are terrible. The map design is unremarkable at best, their execution is inconsistent - you can pick up weapons scattered about, but not the weapons of your enemies, oddly enough - and when you see terrorists spawning right in front of you it somewhat spoils the magic. Thankfully, the main game is better but the only reason for this is that the main game is Counter-Strike. Counter-Strike for just one person. Counter-Strike with a lick of paint. Counter-Strike with bots.
Stick together team!
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| Congratulations, commander! Have the crappest medal ever! |
|
|
This is as odd as it sounds. Each Counter-Strike map, plus a few extra that have been added to the mix, forms the basis for an anti-terrorist assignment with you as a team commander. Completion of each of these gains you reputation points, with which you can purchase more effective team-mates, each of which is a bot rated on their ability, their bravery and their willingness to co-operate with you. To complete the various missions, you must beat the terrorist team by a set margin of rounds and also fulfil various secondary objectives, such as chalking up a certain number of kills with a particular gun, or personally rescuing half a dozen hostages. Although your bots are independent and compliant to various degrees, they tend to defer to you or follow your lead.
The bots do some great things. They are concise and helpful with their voice commands, calling out targets, talking over their plans ("I'm going to guard bomb site B”, “I'm going to wait here", etc), they know the levels and the more co-operative ones do what you tell them to. However, the bots also have a number of problems. They are somewhat lacking in three-dimensional awareness, to various degrees depending on each map, they lack initiative and, most critically, there's no way you can get them to do the more important things in the game.
Taking fire, need assistance!
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| The extra maps are well designed, but that hardly justifies the cover price. |
|
|
You have no new radio commands with which to order them about, so traditional ones such as "Go, go, go!" and "Cover me!" are of little use without context. You need specifics and, without them, you are never able to have any real control over your team. Simple extras such as "Camp at the bomb sites" or (oh please God) "Defuse the bomb!" would've been most welcome. The latter especially so as, unless you're dead, your team will doggedly insist that you defuse the bomb, no matter how far away you may be from the site or whether you have a kit or not. You cannot direct individual team members either, so any command you issue is general, something that is absolutely no use throughout the majority of the game.
The bots do a reasonable job of imitating human behaviour, at least the human behaviour we too often find online anyway. They often make irrational decisions, camp in useless positions or just get in your way. At other times they back each other up, prove to be fine marksmen (at higher levels) and keep each other, and you, well informed of what's going on. Bot team-mates are a mixed bag at best.
Get out of there, it's gonna blow!
|
| You know what CS looks like, in all it's floating-dead-body glory. |
|
|
And so you work your way through each level, defusing bombs, rescuing hostages and gunning down increasingly dangerous men in balaclavas and, to be fair, it does feel quite like an online Counter-Strike experience. The rather random and unpredictable behaviour of both sides reflects a typically disorganised public server without the constant accusations of homosexuality or cheating and nobody seems to actually learn from their mistakes. Now, call me naive if you wish, but I thought these missions served as an introduction to Counter-Strike, given that each of them tasks you to master a different weapon and learn another map. I thought there would be something more once I had conquered them all but, disappointingly, there is not.
If you have never played Counter-Strike before then Condition Zero is a decent introduction, demanding you become proficient in a variety of weapons and taking you through each map one by one. It gives you a pretty good idea of what Counter-Strike is all about and, although I'm sure it didn't intend to do this, also teaches you that relying solely on your team-mates is probably not the best idea. However, if you're one of the millions who has already played Counter-Strike online then there is little extra here bar a few new maps and some tarted-up old ones - nothing more than you'd get out of a map pack, really. It's funny, I had a feeling all that development time would've given us something more.
Channels
Counter-Strike: Source beta imminent
Now you have to pay about 39 $ for this...
Instead of makin money with CZ, the valve guys should take action against the hords of cheaters who destroy the community and the great game CS.
Why do we have cheaters? Coz' of the leaked source-code of Valve? :D
Anyway, i allready bought CZ, for the offline mode, but still playing 1.6 online.
I must also say that Counter Strike: Condition Zero should have been brought out before Counter Strike. Not only does it include a single player mode (which is needed for training - for the n00bs (not meant as an insult)) but it also it also includes BOT support.
When I first purchased CZ I was pleasantly surprised to find much the old style CS user interface... I don't think you can get much simpler than that... but as I say, it proved more of a training ground for me than an actual game. The bots showed much the same skill as Public server players (as you said). I must say, I was however narked when I was shot in the head by a bot that wasn't watching where it was going... but I guess thats part of the game experience... Can't wait for more multiplayer servers to come online...
I again, must agree with StoneColdCrazy and say that Counter Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes is utter bull (said in the nicest possible way). I know for a fact everyone has played those old games where you can only follow one path. Well, this is one of those games... in my view, this game (addon) is not even worth the time downloading (from STEAM) or buying.
My View... CZ = 8/10 - CZ:DS 2/10
----Edited by user 23/04-2004 17:08
But that's all conjecture. The fact is, every Half-Life user with an Internet connection was eligible for the free gift of the year and Counter-Strike was soon bundled with retail copies of Half-Life. Condition Zero has an enormous legacy to fulfil and it had better be damn impressive if it expects us to open our wallets. The prognosis is not good as it has already changed developer once and 'finished code', which surfaced some time ago for select review, was critically panned.
Enemy spotted...
Pick your own team, but don't expect to be able to manage them as efficiently as you'd like.
Condition Zero comes in two parts, the first being the main game and the second being the optional 'Deleted Scenes'. The latter appear to be the content originally offered up for review and thoroughly deserves a panning. A selection of single-player missions tied together with a counter-terrorism theme, they vary between mediocre and truly awful. Several attempt to introduce various tools to your inventory, such as a cutting torch or radio, but each of these items can only be used at specific points on each level. For every air vent you're allowed to cut open or ever wall you can blow apart with a shaped charge, there's a dozen more you cannot. Their application is illogical and random, much like the team-mates who occasionally accompany you. Most of the missions see you as a lone wolf but, when companions accompany you as anything more than scripted interludes, they're of little real help.
In short, the Deleted Scenes are terrible. The map design is unremarkable at best, their execution is inconsistent - you can pick up weapons scattered about, but not the weapons of your enemies, oddly enough - and when you see terrorists spawning right in front of you it somewhat spoils the magic. Thankfully, the main game is better but the only reason for this is that the main game is Counter-Strike. Counter-Strike for just one person. Counter-Strike with a lick of paint. Counter-Strike with bots.
Stick together team!
Congratulations, commander! Have the crappest medal ever!
This is as odd as it sounds. Each Counter-Strike map, plus a few extra that have been added to the mix, forms the basis for an anti-terrorist assignment with you as a team commander. Completion of each of these gains you reputation points, with which you can purchase more effective team-mates, each of which is a bot rated on their ability, their bravery and their willingness to co-operate with you. To complete the various missions, you must beat the terrorist team by a set margin of rounds and also fulfil various secondary objectives, such as chalking up a certain number of kills with a particular gun, or personally rescuing half a dozen hostages. Although your bots are independent and compliant to various degrees, they tend to defer to you or follow your lead.
The bots do some great things. They are concise and helpful with their voice commands, calling out targets, talking over their plans ("I'm going to guard bomb site B”, “I'm going to wait here", etc), they know the levels and the more co-operative ones do what you tell them to. However, the bots also have a number of problems. They are somewhat lacking in three-dimensional awareness, to various degrees depending on each map, they lack initiative and, most critically, there's no way you can get them to do the more important things in the game.
Taking fire, need assistance!
The extra maps are well designed, but that hardly justifies the cover price.
You have no new radio commands with which to order them about, so traditional ones such as "Go, go, go!" and "Cover me!" are of little use without context. You need specifics and, without them, you are never able to have any real control over your team. Simple extras such as "Camp at the bomb sites" or (oh please God) "Defuse the bomb!" would've been most welcome. The latter especially so as, unless you're dead, your team will doggedly insist that you defuse the bomb, no matter how far away you may be from the site or whether you have a kit or not. You cannot direct individual team members either, so any command you issue is general, something that is absolutely no use throughout the majority of the game.
The bots do a reasonable job of imitating human behaviour, at least the human behaviour we too often find online anyway. They often make irrational decisions, camp in useless positions or just get in your way. At other times they back each other up, prove to be fine marksmen (at higher levels) and keep each other, and you, well informed of what's going on. Bot team-mates are a mixed bag at best.
Get out of there, it's gonna blow!
You know what CS looks like, in all it's floating-dead-body glory.
And so you work your way through each level, defusing bombs, rescuing hostages and gunning down increasingly dangerous men in balaclavas and, to be fair, it does feel quite like an online Counter-Strike experience. The rather random and unpredictable behaviour of both sides reflects a typically disorganised public server without the constant accusations of homosexuality or cheating and nobody seems to actually learn from their mistakes. Now, call me naive if you wish, but I thought these missions served as an introduction to Counter-Strike, given that each of them tasks you to master a different weapon and learn another map. I thought there would be something more once I had conquered them all but, disappointingly, there is not.
If you have never played Counter-Strike before then Condition Zero is a decent introduction, demanding you become proficient in a variety of weapons and taking you through each map one by one. It gives you a pretty good idea of what Counter-Strike is all about and, although I'm sure it didn't intend to do this, also teaches you that relying solely on your team-mates is probably not the best idea. However, if you're one of the millions who has already played Counter-Strike online then there is little extra here bar a few new maps and some tarted-up old ones - nothing more than you'd get out of a map pack, really. It's funny, I had a feeling all that development time would've given us something more.
Ratings
Graphics:
The levels have a welcome lick of paint, but the engine isn't getting any younger. 6 Durability:
You'll have played most of the levels before. There's hardly anything new here. 5
Sound:
It's Counter-Strike, authentic weapons sounds is where it's at. 7 Gameplay:
Counter-Strike may be great, but Condition Zero is not - a handful of functional but unremarkable extras. 5
Overall rating: 5
Ratings:
PIII 500MHz, 96Mb RAM, 16Mb 3D Card
Publisher:
Vivendi
Comments
#1 - 19/04 @ 20:12 : m4t3nIn my opinion CZ is a bad copy of counter-strike and I will never pay for software, which i played years before valve even had the idea of makin' money with a game that was free of charge...
Now you have to pay about 39 $ for this...
Instead of makin money with CZ, the valve guys should take action against the hords of cheaters who destroy the community and the great game CS.
Why do we have cheaters? Coz' of the leaked source-code of Valve? :D
#2 - 23/04 @ 15:13 : cachirroI must agree with you m4t3n in that cheater's stuff, they keep groing unfortunaly, and it pisses me off, that nothing (or close to nothing) is officially done to NUKE those bastards.
Anyway, i allready bought CZ, for the offline mode, but still playing 1.6 online.
#3 - 23/04 @ 17:00 : EarthwormI must agree also on the cheaters stuff.
I must also say that Counter Strike: Condition Zero should have been brought out before Counter Strike. Not only does it include a single player mode (which is needed for training - for the n00bs (not meant as an insult)) but it also it also includes BOT support.
When I first purchased CZ I was pleasantly surprised to find much the old style CS user interface... I don't think you can get much simpler than that... but as I say, it proved more of a training ground for me than an actual game. The bots showed much the same skill as Public server players (as you said). I must say, I was however narked when I was shot in the head by a bot that wasn't watching where it was going... but I guess thats part of the game experience... Can't wait for more multiplayer servers to come online...
I again, must agree with StoneColdCrazy and say that Counter Strike: Condition Zero Deleted Scenes is utter bull (said in the nicest possible way). I know for a fact everyone has played those old games where you can only follow one path. Well, this is one of those games... in my view, this game (addon) is not even worth the time downloading (from STEAM) or buying.
My View... CZ = 8/10 - CZ:DS 2/10
----Edited by user 23/04-2004 17:08
#4 - 25/04 @ 18:20 : rajjefro [edit]D FFF
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