IGN First Look Review for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

It’s easy to forget how unforgiving Counter-Strike can be. Valve’s competitive online shooter truly rewards the skilled and stomps all over the newcomers. There are no Call of Duty-style kill streaks, no artillery barrages to call in or packs of dogs to let loose. It’s just you, your guns, a few grenade types and your ability to react. Map knowledge, teamwork and quick reflexes are the only things that matter.

With Global Offensive (or GO), the next version of Counter-Strike,Valve isn’t trying to completely reinvent the franchise. This isn’t Counter-Strike 2, it’s more like an incremental update. Terrorists still fight Counter-Terrorists in round-based combat. You still plant bombs on Dust and rescue hostages on Office. Some maps, like Dust and Aztec, received updates while others, like Dust 2, are largely unchanged. Though the changes aren’t wild, franchise fans will find a few new interesting additions to the formula that may very well turn out to be series staples moving forward.

If you’re using GO’s matchmaking system you’ll be dumped into relatively small maps for five versus five gameplay. Valve built an ELO-based ranking system into GO to determine your skill level, so ideally you’re set up with players around your level of skill. Bots of appropriate difficulty settings will also be added in if a full game of live players can’t be put together. If the idea of a five on five match sounds too limiting, PC players will be able to set up custom matches that Valve assures will provide the same degree of flexibility as is available in Counter-Strike: Source. Console players will not have the option to set up servers, however.

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