Counter-Strike: Source Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 9421 Ratings

  • Summary: Valve has taken a large selection of the maps from Counter-Strike 1.6 - Office, Havana, Italy, Aztec, Chateau, Cobble, Piranesi and of course eternal favourites Dust and Dust 2, and recreated them for the source engine. This means all new textures and major aesthetic changes with more complex buildings and scenery. In addition, the levels are scattered with objects that react realistically with the Source engine's physics engine. [GamersEurope.com] The game is available through Valve's Steam downloading service and is distributed with "Half-Life 2." Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 92
    A fantastic conversion of a timeless classic and it has stolen the hearts of the online community once again.
  2. This update has refreshed our love of the game, bringing a new physicality and violence to online shooters. CS:Source is essential. [PC Gamer UK]
  3. Counter-Strike: Source is, once you've gained a knack for it, the most consistently rewarding and surprising team-based shoot-'em-up available on the PC today. It's been dressed up nicely for its relaunch in 2004, but it wasn't broken, and Valve hasn't fixed it.
  4. As used in CS: Source, that ground breaking physics engine is just gimmickry. Likewise, no attempt has been made to make the robotic hostages lifelike. So much for "HL2's" ground-breaking AI. But we have a confession: we just can't stop playing it. [Dec 2004, p.85]

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Amazing game and lots of fun but if you have little or moderate experience with shooters be warned. I have played this game on and off for years, used to be in a bunch of clans which added to the fun. Especially doing scrims against other clans. I would not recommend for the faint of heart due to its competitiveness and the fact that you will get killed alot if your reflexes/hand eye coordination is average. Expand
  2. An ultimate shooter. How you play is dependent *entirely* on your technique! The maps are small enough to offer dynamic, quick engagement, yet still have multiple ways to get to the objective. The Source engine provides great lightning effects and realistic physics. On top of all that, the game can be modded to no end - skins, maps, gameplay type... There's a steep learning curve in the online community, however - but once you've mastered your weapon of choice, the K/D ratio will look pleasant. Expand
  3. 6
    Hardcorest of hardcores. I don't think there's a place for new players in this game. It's a test of speed and reaction. Most of maps are really nice and easy-to-learn. But i hated this game's community. At least three curse words in every sentence. If you play too good, you are declared a cheater and get kicked out of the server, if you play bad - team yells at you. Expand
  4. NathanFreeman
    2
    A community that is a cancer to all other video game communities: rampant racism, profanity, gay-bashing, and grotesque celebration of recently aquired cursing skills all lead to a gameplay experience equivilant to riding in the back of a Jr. Highschool bus. When the 13 year olds finally decide to "branch out" into other games, they demand that it be changed to a clone of CS, most notably demanding 1 shot sniper kills on all sniper rifles. Cutting edge gameplay... from 8 years ago. Terrible balance issues. Terrible pacing issues. No iron sights. No fire and manuever game play (run and gun is NOT fire and manuever). No team work. Small levels. No room/ cover to flank. Graphics and sound are the only things that kept me from giving this scourge a 1. Expand

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