Counter-Strike Sequel (And Why Hardcore Fans Will Hate It)
Posted in CS ProMod News, Counter-Strike: 1.6 News, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero News, Counter-Strike: Insurgency Mod News, Counter-Strike: Source NewsCounter-Strike co-creator Minh Le is gearing up to release his sequel, Tactical Intervention, and while that might sound like a thesaurus-based restatement of the original concept it looks like being a very different game. For one, it doesn’t involve original co-creator Jess Cliffe. For another, it seems entirely engineered to enrage CS Server players.
Image Credit: IGN. Graphics Engine Credit: Ten years ago.
Why Minh made a whole new game instead of adopting the insanely attention-grabbing title of “Counter-Strike 2″ is simple: the insane expectations associated with that attention. Minh used to work with Valve on exactly that project, but hardcore gamers respond to change like vampires react to garlic-flavored sunlight, and CS server experts are to hardcore what the BFG is to a pistol. It’s hard to express just how obsessive some players are, but when we tell you he’s still getting shit over some of the gun models having cartridge ejection ports in the wrong place a full decade later you might have some idea.
That’s why Minh broke loose and decided to make his own game (while Cliff started seeing Seattle and living with some extremely cute cats), and Tactical Intervention is the result. A result where every change, good or bad, will inevitably enrage the CS veteran.
The Good Changes
Faster Rounds
The first and most important matter Minh made an issue of was the length of CS server rounds. He’s concerned with the enjoyment of every player, and waiting in spectator for five minutes while the top-ranked players stalk each other isn’t much fun. The problem is that kind of mastery is exactly what the expert loves, viewing other players as expendable target practice, so expect world-class-whining about any changes enforcing this.
Weakened Sniping
Minh’s main complaint about his creation, just like most people who’ve played it, is how incredibly overpowered the AWP sniper rifle is. This single-shotter singlehandedly stalls the whole game as people are either too scared to move or sniped from approximately half a light year away. This results in an eternity of waiting as dead players spectate, hovering over the ghosts of teammates too terrified to step out into the open. The thing is, CS masters have spent years perfecting the ability to noscope you AWP-style with the merest mouse-twitch - any change with eliminates that advantage will be opposed.
The Bad Changes
Hostages
Go to any Counter-Strike server and see how often they play cs_office (and how instantly it empties when that cursed place appears). CS servers make middle-management at Cannibals Incorporated just before lunchtime look like Sesame Street - “ultra-competitive” doesn’t cover it simply because the phrase doesn’t involve enough swearing. Now remember any game where you lost through no fault of your own, but because some idiot AI escort mission moron didn’t know which end of a gun the bullets came out of. Now try to combine the two in your head (Warning: may cause rage-splosion).
Attack Dogs
Another addition taking any risk of your results being related to ability is the attack dog. Because we all know how popular homing missiles are in online games (here’s a fun party game: say “Blue shells are great” to a Mario Karter, just be sure to duck). Imagine in an online game, and while you’re at it, just thump yourself in the stomach a few times.
The thing is, the complaints of the obsessive aren’t exactly anything someone who plays for fun should worry about. Minh made one of the most popular games of all time, and when he releases another you can be sure we’ll be on hand to see how those servers stack up.
