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Counter-Strike: Source pc Game Reviews
Counter-Strike: Source
Critic Score
Metascore: 88 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.0 out of 10
based on 9 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 8079 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

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."

PUBLISHER: Vivendi Universal
DEVELOPER: Valve
GENRE(S): First-Person Shooter, Action
PLAYERS: 64
ESRB RATING: RP (Rating Pending)
RELEASE DATE: October 7, 2004

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...

92
Xequted
A fantastic conversion of a timeless classic and it has stolen the hearts of the online community once again.
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91
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
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]
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90
1UP
The game looks more beautiful than ever, with structures that feel weighty and solid and little visual touches throughout. The flash-bangs look fantastic.
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90
Eurogamer
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.
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90
GameBiz
One of the best war games to play online. With so many players and so many newbies ready to take a bullet in the head from you, your gameplay options are endless and your lastability hours are infinite.
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86
PC Format
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]
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85
Gamers Europe
Valve has done a sterling job of moving a flagship franchise over to a new engine. Whilst the gameplay guts come over correct and intact, (which may disappoint some), Counter-Strike: Source is an even more engrossing and captivating experience, capable of sapping hours of your time, and even the worst "1337 g33zers" abusing voice chat can't spoil the fun you'll have with it.
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85
eToychest
The most impressive outlet of Source’s physics engine is the most subtle, that of the corpses left after any particular round of slaughter. Bodies realistically slump into corners, drape over crates, and fall to the ground. I’m sure everyone will have a “coolest corpse” story within a week of playing.
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80
Boomtown
A technically and graphically stunning port of a game that was already pretty damn good, with the potential to deliver bigger and better things in future. And you can’t complain too much about that.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 8079 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

sam g gave it a9:
Css is a verry good and on edge game only thing i find rong with it is that fact that shot go astray some ppl that play have such bad internet or computers that shot's dont register and that ppl cheat allot on it even tho allot of ppl just say there better then you i find that vac sould find a way of stoping the cheating and put cheaters in there place of course aswell make the requierments for the game more up to date instead of letting bad computers run it thats what i think and ive played since 2006 its a verry good game but dont be saprised if some ppl ruin it for you !!!!

Vladimir M gave it a10:
I'm bored of people who stay in the past saying "1.6 is better". Its like keep using windows 3.1 or playing Fifa 96 instead Fifa 09. In fact, how u can compare a superb physics motor Havoc with a crappy old one of 90's and even say "is better". Some changes are for bad, i know, but changes in this game are not. Keep playing Age of E. Conquerors instead of Age III.

Alex S gave it a10:
This is an outstanding first person shooter that never looses its ability to keep a player on the edge of his/her seat. It's more then a game! It's beautiful graphics, the balance of the game and the physics are the very asset that makes Counter-Strike what it is - SUPERIOR!!!

Daniel N gave it a9:
I personally love the game. i have played the classic and enjoyed that too.the graphics are good running on a 24' samsung moniter on 1080p hdmi. running a nvidia pny 9600 gso 768mb graphics card and it looks amazing. just bought team fortress 2 for ten bucks and im looking forward to playing that also when it finishes updating. the gameplay is great but requires practice to really be ok at the game. i gave it a nine because they should add more weapons but not too much. maybe two more pistols and shotguns to start off with.

John H gave it a9:
Definitely among my top 3 favorite FPS games, Counter-Strike: Source delivers. Gameplay is great, except for largely overpowered weapons such as AWP Snipers. New players do not even stand a chance in an AWP server. However, CS:S is not limited to the few VALVe maps included. Thousands of community-made maps and mods keep things fresh and lively. Getting bored of Assault gameplay? Try hostage rescue. Getting bored of hostage rescue gameplay? Try surfmod. Getting bored of surfmod? Try zombiemod. The list goes on. Final rating: 9.4/10 I rounded.

Dan G gave it a6:
Been playing since 07, and the game is pretty fun, only thing is that a lot of the shots that should have landed are wayy off, and the random sprayer bullets are the ones that land headshots. Its an ok game and worth a try, but don't be surprised when that shot you made that should have been a headshot didn't land, and instead the sprayer from across the map headshots you.

pkpg gave it a9:
A very good game if you are into multiplayer. Word to the wise: BE CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING AN ONLINE SERVER! There is alot of people who enjoy ruining the experience for everyone. Even if you arn't into multiplayer, playing on an lan with bots on is pretty fun too, not to mention the differnt mods that you can get for free from websites like fpsbanana (my personal favorit is the airsoft mod that turns the blood off and makes the gun sound effects more airsoft like, along with changing the names of the guns when you are buying your weapons.) A great multiplayer game that has been unfortunantly plagued by people who enjoy making you hate the game. 9/10 ONLY BECAUSE of that.

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