Counter-Strike is an online game that has passed the test of time in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), released all the way back in 2012 by Valve, is the fourth instalment in the series, and the biggest FPS esports title to date. The gameplay is simple, a round-based Terrorists vs. Counter-Terrorists bomb-defusing scenario. There are plenty of other game modes available, yet the original mode is still garnering the most attention. Almost a decade later, CS: GO is still a dominant esports title with an established competitive scene and plenty of betting markets.
Gameplay
Counter-Strike has been continuing with the same gameplay since it was first released in 1999. However, the mechanics have certainly improved with each update. You choose to be either in the terrorist squad or the counter-terrorist squad. You can purchase weapons with the money earned after killings or use the ones you start with.
If chosen to be in the terrorist squad, you plant the bomb and protect it until it explodes. If chosen to be in the counter-terrorist squad, you must stop the terrorists from succeeding in their mission and save hostages while at it.
Modes
The three basic gameplays are Offline with Bots (the computer), a Weapons Course, which is a tutorial, and Online. Beyond that, there are three modes, namely Arms Mode, Demolition, and Flying Scout.
Arms Race stands out from these three modes, featuring fast respawns and a structure that encourages players to work less as a team and more as independent agents. Every kill you make gives you awards, such as a new weapon, and winning requires you to kill someone with every single one. It’s a lot of fun, despite the extremely limited variety of weapons available.
The second new mode, Demolition mode, feels a bit like the quintessential Counter-Strike. Players engage in the classic scenario of trying terrorists: counter-terrorists, i.e., to diffuse or plant a bomb, and manage to kill others in the process, which awards you new weapons.
Unlike the Arms Race, these weapons decline in quality as you go. If you play well, you’ll eventually be the sole guy on the premises rocking a basic pistol while everyone else has AK-47s in tow.
The third is the Flying Scoutsman game mode, which is featured in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive under the War Games category. It was added initially as part of Operation Hydra on May 23, 2017, and was moved to the War Games category permanently in the November 2017 update.
Players are restricted to only the SSG 08 and the Knife in this game mode. Gravity has been reduced and midair acceleration has been increased, which allows players to fly and strafe in the air easily. Accuracy penalties in midair have been removed entirely, allowing players to easily move and shoot each other with SSG 08 midair.
Graphics
When it comes to graphics and presentation, Counter-Strike is not the most impressive game, as graphics were never their main focus. Instead, you have controls and maps that stand the test of time. You either play in areas that have been around since the first Counter-Strike or on maps that were made by players, which can add some variety since you’ve never seen these new maps before.
The popular maps are obviously classic and fun and look better than their older counterparts. Yet, they are still the same, down to the positions of boxes, holes to shoot from, and more.
Also, in regards to graphics, a lot depends on your system. You can crank up the resolution and frames if you like. However, CS: GO does not have a music setup, and you won’t hear any unless you are in the main menu to choose your settings and game mode.
However, there is a hack. Start your playlist on iTunes, Spotify, or whichever programme you prefer, and then start the game. It helps the mood and keeps your mind a little at ease instead of worrying if someone is behind a corner.
Maps
With the inclusion of new game modes, such as Arms Race, Flying Scout, and Demolition, smaller maps were also added to the game. As of September 2020, there are a total of 27 maps that can be found across each game mode. Mirage is currently the most popular CS: GO map in the year 2022. While the old classics were still enjoyed by fans of the series, newer maps quickly became favorites. Recently, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of CS: GO, Valve brought back one of the popular maps, Tuscan, from the older segments of the game.
Weapons of Choice
One of the biggest iterations of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was to add more variety to the choice of weapons in the game. Veteran players will tell you that the only weapons worth buying in the original Counter-Strike, as well as Counter-Strike: Source, were the M4A1 Assault Rifle, the AK-47, the Desert Eagle pistol, or the AWP Sniper Rifle. However, CS: GO’s Developer Hidden Path, has set out to change that with new additions and more viable weapons.
Skins
CS: GO has introduced the skins feature. Skins also referred to as finishes, are a feature exclusive to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, introduced in the Arms Deal update. They are weapons with different textures and colours that can be equipped in-game.
They are entirely cosmetic and have no effect whatsoever on the gameplay functionality. Many skins also have unique descriptions and provide extra flavour text for their weapon descriptions. A number of them reference characters in CS: GO campaigns. Players use it to identify as one group, for tournaments, and for their own pleasure.
Esports
After CS: GO was released back in 2012, players were critical of the game, having grown accustomed to Counter-Strike 1.6. However, players started to pick up the game more and more. But it wasn’t until April of 2020 that the game peaked in players.
The ESports scenario has been booming, and many people have started to pick up on that and have started offering various Counter-Strike tournaments and services. When CS: GO was released, it was averaging around 900 players during the first months, but it picked up traction quite quickly, and recently it touched 1,039, 889 concurrent players on August 17.
CS: GO is also one of the professional esports games. It is a part of the ESL Pro League, and some of the biggest esports teams and players participate in international tournaments. Counter-Strike is closely followed by League of Legends in terms of the prize pool, with a 2 million USD reward prize.
CS: GO is just doing its own thing and has been for years. CS: GO is definitely a game that will go down in history because of its success over the years, despite facing some criticism with some previous versions.