[h1] The better forgotten CS 1.6 [/h1]
It feels better, it looks better, it plays better. I would even dare to say it's like if 1.6 got a final 2.0 update. A good game that unfortunately was released way too late at a very bad time after a complicated development. It deserved much more attention and appreciation. It still does today. Take AI for example, in a moment I literally forgot I was playing a 2004 game because of how complex bots act on maps in a certain situations compared to many modern titles. Being the commander I can order teammates what strategy we choose while approaching and searching for the enemies. All the radio communications between the whole team is such a nice touch that gives you that special operation feeling you're in. That is the reason I had plenty of fun playing the Tour of Duty against the bots on quite interesting and unique maps, many of which I've never seen in any future game in that series.
Now let's talk about Deleted Scenes with which I fell in deep love with. I want to focus on that mode since it is the main reason this game stands out. To describe it as simple as possible, it feels like a good old MoH or CoD just without complex storyline, memorable characters and betrayals. Here we have 19 mid-length levels with one main objective, 6 of which are only available via World Map for some strange reason and one is a training which is usual for HL spin-offs. None of them are connected to each other and you just experience separate events and prevent the worst terroristic outcome as an operative of a given CT organization. It has its own charm and atmosphere, looks and action. It gives that amazing special agent feeling, like Splinter Cell does, but with a classic CS shooting and movement (which I honestly consider a great combination). There are plenty of stealth and explosive action almost each level you play. Some may say it is the same shooting range as CoD, which I might agree with at some degree, yet it still feels different. Yes, you're mostly a one man army (even though there are many times you fight alongside your teammates), but somehow I still feel like it's more tactical and mundane, if it makes any sense. I love how it goes around the world as you also play for different organizations and their respective operatives as if they were fighting together against one evil at the same time. Kinda giving me that Rainbow Six vibes.
I liked all of the levels, but I had an absolute blast playing Russian campaign, and considering it's surprising to see Spetsnaz in Counter-Strike game on its own already felt heartwarming and in some sense even heroic (play Secret War and you'll get what I mean). Sure, I might sound bias, but man, the Russians which are not portrayed as stereotypical bad guys but actual operatives which are fighting against terrorism for 3 separate levels in such a game? That's something I truly appreciate. The only thing that somehow annoyed me there was Hankagai level set in Japan. I loved every Japanese part of this campaign, but in that specific level I was struggling to find the right path of where I actually need to go to proceed further. I think I spent more time on it than 2 levels I played before combined. Sometimes you just have to go back where you came from, and sometimes you have to find some sort of a vent or a climbing structure that is not that obvious to spot. And then Miami Heat. Oh boy, there is something wrong with the starting sewer part of that one. Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed "puzzles" in the tradition of the original Half-Life, and I believe it actually diversifies the gameplay, making it not tedious and monotonous. But I was genuenly confused what else should I do to approach the next area which was blocked by a big immovable metal cube. At first I thought, since it was too heavy, I should probably make the water hit upper level to be able to move it forward (at least that's how I know an object can be moved a bit easier). And the hint for that seemed to be the same cube I was able to move just before entering the pipe with that blocking thing. But there was nothing helpful to rise the water level, as I already used all the valves. I kid you not, I spent good 20 minutes walking back all the areas I've been at, looking for something I missed. And then when my patience expired, I came back to that cube and started grabbing it in a different directions. Guess what happened when I started to spam different buttons? It actually moved. Belive it or not, the way I was able to do so was grabbing it with "E", holding it with "W" and then spamming "F" which is a toggle for night vision. Is there anything that can explain why does it work this way? Absolutely not and that's frustrating af. I actually decided to check YT for that mission and seems like I'm not the only one who got stuck there. The only difference is that it wasn't moving for me at all until I started mashing "F". But besides all that the rest of the level is pretty good.
It's pretty short, but hella fun and entertaining. And for those people who claim no one needs and cares about single player CS, that's where you mistaken a lot. You got your beloved not always fair PvP since 1999 which no one ever tried to take away from you (except CS:GO, but that's a different story now). But do you seriously want to push all that huge potential and the basis for the plot component of that series away just because it is most famous for its multiplayer? I understand that it's not very correct to give examples of a more modern while speaking about retro-ish games, but take Titanfall 2 for example, was it a bad idea to make a campaign for a sequel when the prequel never had it in the first place? I like Battlefield 3 for its single-player campaign and the emotions it conveys, did making it somehow take anything from the multiplayer? Both had enjoyable single player and a great multiplayer people still remember to this day. Or take Rainbow Six Siege (years 1-3), who wouldn't want to play a full-fledged campaign in that setting with those characters? And speaking of which, there was meant to be a campaign mode that sadly got cancelled. That would be awesome, and you know it if you ever played any single player Rainbow Six game. I'm gonna express a very controversial thought, but in my honest opinion Condition Zero Deleted Scenes is a more Counter-Strike than GO/2 could've ever become. The whole anti-terrorist fight for the better safe future feeling is there and I doubt any of the modern game can achieve the same level. The story is always appreciated and that's why a high percent of people prefer single player over a multiplayer with a not always necessary grind/overcoming. And considering the new operations (which was AT LEAST SOMETHING lore wise) are not coming to 2, it is even more valuable to try today.
You might be questioning, why I haven't said anything about the backbone of the series, the multiplayer itself. The thing is, as of today there are very little count of servers you can play on (such as a zombie mod), but I don't see many people play CZ. I haven't seen at least one server with more than 10 people at a time, even though steam shows ~200+ online. I guess those who wanted something from early 2000 picked 1.6 or Source for a more defined experience. Or maybe some servers are hidden for me, I don't know.
[h3] In conclusion: [/h3]
The multiplayer is mostly dead last time I checked. If you hop in on time, you may find a full server where you can have plenty of fun for a few hours.
The Tour of Duty is nice to give yourself a little bit of a challenge if you got used to play classic bomb/hostage mode. Just a bit tedious to my taste if you really want to get all 4 medals.
Deleted Scenes campaign is great! Ritual Entertainment has earned my respect. They did a magnificent job on it. Its length is around 6-8h but that's more than enough to get the joy and entertain yourself.
