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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.9 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 33 critic reviews
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Based on 1308 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Vivendi Universal / Sierra

Developer: Ritual Entertainment

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 32

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: March 23, 2004

Summary

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (CS:CZ), a tactical action game, challenges you to compete with and against cunning AI opponents in mission-based campaigns spread across the globe. As squad leader of an elite counter-terrorist operative, use specialized maneuvers and weapon skills to complete over 20 new missions, each containing numerous objectives. Drop into challenging scenarios -- from harsh jungle environments to severe arctic terrains, from unforgiving deserts to dangerous international city streets. Rescue hostages. Escort VIPs to safety. Locate and defuse bombs. This collection of entirely new episodes challenges your ability to think quickly and strategically! CS:CZ advances the award-winning Counter-Strike series by introducing single-player action and special enhancements for online play. Powered by an enriched Half-Life engine, CS:CZ introduces new game technologies including highly-detailed models, atmospheric enhancements such as snow and rain, and many more dynamic special effects. [Sierra]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide

Also On The Web: GameSpy Preview IGN Hands-On Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Next Level Gaming

Half Life fans would love to know that there is also a Half Life 2 CD with exclusive footage. Let me say, *drool*.

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Computer and Video Games

The game we were expecting eight months ago, with bots so intelligent they make your average online player look like a baboon who's been dropped at birth. It's like playing CS in the good old days.

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Game Chronicles

If you’re not a hard-core Counter-Strike player, Condition Zero is definitely worth a look. Veterans will probably want to stick with what they've already got.

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Times Online

Once you swap AI team-mates (and enemies) for the real thing, there is no turning back, as you find yourself diligently looking out for your team-mates, with whom you will need to co-operate to sweep scenes clean of troublemakers.

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Game Informer

The problem is that neither the physics nor the graphics have aged particularly well; if you're looking for a next-gen FPS, this is not it. It is, however, a decent update to one of the best titles of yesterday. [Apr 2004, p.108]

Da Gameboyz

An essential purchase for the new Counter Strike player who wants to get a spring into the action, rather than the veteran Counter Strike player looking forward to the future of the Counter Strike family.

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GameSpy

The real crux of Condition Zero is simply that it provides a great way to enjoy Counter-Strike offline, old graphics or not. If you're perfectly happy playing the free Counter-Strike mod online, don't bother with Condition Zero.

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VideoGamesLife

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero only gets its score because of the multiplayer, and if you’re after this for anything other than a visual tweak and a disc filled with Half-Life 2 videos, you’d be best off not bothering at all.

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PC Gamer

Underlying all the advances made in bot technology and the updated maps, Condition Zero is still fundamentally a five-year-old game...but this standalone package should satisfy both the Counter-Strike-curious and the broadband impaired. [Jan 2004, p.90]

games(TM)

For what it is and on its own merits, it's the ultimate version of the world's best online game, period. However, we can't escape the fact that this is little more than Counter-Strike 1.6 with decent bots - a game we've been playing for years and for free. [May 2004, p.118]

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Computer Gaming World

The A.I. on both sides of the conflict is awesome; as the leader of the counter-terrorists, your A.I. pals will follow you and, in some cases, "take the point:" You can give them orders via the chat feature and they'll do things like camp on a bomb site or guard the bomb.

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IGN

It certainly doesn't do enough to compete with today's shooters and the fact that much of the game is already available in another format makes this version seem a bit redundant.

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Armchair Empire

Condition Zero still carries the Counter Strike magic. However, given its age, how much it costs and the quality of the current competition, CZ cannot honestly and should not be at the top of any FPS gamer’s list.

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ActionTrip

The game retails for $40, for what is essentially a rehash of the most popular maps, coupled with a few new arenas, with bots capable of making the game fun for lone wolves and LAN parties.

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Worth Playing

It’s fun, but it’s basically the same game from five or so years ago which was basically free with Half-Life – that is to say, innovation isn’t exactly seeping out of the sides of this game.

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GameZone

Still very solid, but there is nothing new to add to your gameplay. The bots are simply players that don't really exist, but boy are they skilled!

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GameSpot

Condition Zero is a product that will appeal most to those players who haven't tried CS yet (and how many of them are there?), those who don't want to deal with the hassles of playing the game online, and those who just want to have some offline practice.

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Gaming Illustrated

A slight update to an already classic game that doesn’t make you forget about the original.

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AtomicGamer

Simply put, the price tag is too high for what amounts to little more than a patch for a four-year-old game.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Achingly average in all respects, save the addition of classic multiplayer Counter-Strike. [PC Gamer UK]

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G4 TV

The updated graphics and sound effects are an improvement, but the game is still inferior to modern PC games in this regard. Not to mention, there's something to be said for the massive community that may remain loyal to the original.

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Gamer's Pulse

Brings nothing new to the table. The Deleted Scenes are a nice bonus, but the meat of the game consists of bot matches with some objectives to complete. The game as a whole appears to be rushed, as if they just wanted the ordeal to be over.

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Eurogamer

It's a strong package that suffers partly because we were promised so much in the first place, partly because so much of it is available online for free, and partly because the new stuff is exactly the sort of thing Valve would have released for free in times gone past.

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GamePro

What was supposed to be a revelation, a next generation of sorts, has become instead a disappointing follow-up to a beloved game. [Mar 2004, p.68]

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DailyGame

The dated graphics, simplistic level design and basic gameplay probably won't justify the price tag. It's most likely worth a purchase only if found in your local bargain bin.

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Adrenaline Vault

Diehards won’t find enough here to make it worth the overzealous retail price point because, while the single-player mode and the deleted scenes are a fun diversion, they’re not enough to warrant the investment listed on the price tag.

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1UP

If you play Counter-Strike, you'll find little more than a small assortment of some new laid atop a whole lot of old.

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Boomtown

It's funny, I had a feeling all that development time would've given us something more.

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Yahoo! Games

While Counter-Strike is still a popular and recommendable online shooter, this retail package offers poor value and is a huge disappointment.

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GMR Magazine

At times it's great, at other times, it's buggy and unfinished. What a waste. Condition Zero does not do the Counter-Strike name proud. [Mar 2004, p.90]

Computer Games Magazine

The overall quality of the 'bots in the standard Counter-Strike matches keeps Condition Zero from being a disaster. [May 2004, p.57]

Game Revolution

For anyone who has already played CS, it’s quite annoying having to suddenly unlock maps, especially since every one included here has been playable in CS forever. Additionally, many of the level requirements are counter-intuitive.

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PC Format

Predictably poor. Proof that every gaming franchise has its limits.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 1308 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

dreadlock gave it a10:
This game is very good, and what the others say about it being buggy and all thats just a big lie because I own the three Counter-Strikes and this one is good to be played once in a Hour, and I'm not kidding, it has bots, It has mission, it comes with the mod Delected Cenes with more missions, and if you think that the bots are dumb, thats because your playing it in easy god damm, put in expert and then you will have a great challenge and a great time it this game. Its is worth buying it, Period.

Justin D gave it a0:
Horrid, this game's single player was so terrible that it could only be successful if the setting and storyline was changed. The AI is dumb as rocks, this should be a game involving mindless zombies... wait... they made Left4Dead... I guess they just ported over the CS:CZ single player game and made it a multiplayer. Games TERRIBLE. Worst of the 3 Counter-Strikes.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
This game is pretty crappy by itself, however, the deleted scenes are amazing. The normal gameplay is absolute trash, and I have no idea why they redid the game and made the TurtleRock mode the main gameplay. All that gameplay mode requires is you play a CS map, like de_dust, and get a bunch of achievements. However, the deleted scenes are actual missions not related at all to any of the CS maps. The first level, for example, has you crash landing in a helicopter in Northern Africa, and you have to reach an evacuation point. You have to fight through a bunch of terrorists to get there, and you have to rescue your buddy that got captured by them. The deleted scenes are a bit more in-depth than that, but I can't exactly go on and explain how every single level is different. All-in-all, I hated this game until I tried the deleted scenes. After that, I thought those were amazing, and were worth the money I paid for this.

JuGGeRnAut gave it a10:
This game is better than Source. And it takes alot more strategic planning and strategy than in 1.6. 1.6 was pretty whack with its nades going through walls and unbelievable spam spots and broken graphics. The sounds in CZ are spot on. The footsteps are pin point and the use of high quality sounds compared to 1.6 is 100 times better to distinguish where enemies are coming from. Source and 1.6 have very muddy sounds when it comes to enemies running around. CZ had the perfect sound and it was really easy to know where an enemy was if he or she was making noise around the corner. This game deserves more credit. Also i would like to point out that they did use CZ in WCG 2004 but with 1.6 maps if anyone wanted to know if CZ was ever used in pro competitions.

[Anonymous] gave it a0:
This game is super buggy. I bought it for an older 1.6ghz dell. No problems with any games until I got this. I was one fo the people with the famous mouse won't work right and is erratic problems. Something they still havn't fixed. I can play this on my newer comp but still the older one same problems and none with any other game. Reformatted just no go. 1.6 works fine though.... Anyway I'm pretty dissapointed in valvles idea of gaming. Seems more like a money venture to rip us off from our trust b4 steam bought out CS.

Nikhil M. gave it an8:
I guess its awesome experience for me since I'm new to the fray,but still it lacks certain motives the other games have which is mainly the accessibility of online play!i mean I'm still configuring how to do it!someone pls help me out?

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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

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