Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

It is the inequities of the game in comparison to previous installments in the series, along with some noticeably missed opportunities, that prevent CS:GO from being truly phenomenal.

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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a popular team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game. Players join either the Terrorist or Counter-Terrorist team and complete objectives or eliminate the opposing team. CS:GO features new maps, characters, and weapons, as well as classic content from previous Counter-Strike games, providing a balanced and competitive gameplay experience.

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Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) successfully revives the classic gameplay of its predecessors while introducing new maps and game modes, providing a nostalgic experience for long-time fans.
The game is highly addictive and offers a robust online community, making it one of the best multiplayer FPS games available, with a high skill ceiling that keeps players engaged for thousands of hours.
CS:GO features improved graphics and gameplay mechanics, making it accessible to both new players and veterans, while also allowing for offline play against bots.

Purchasing the game from third-party retailers like Amazon can lead to limited access on Steam, requiring additional purchases to unlock full account features such as adding friends and trading.
The physical disc is largely useless as players must download a significant amount of data (around 6-7 GB) from Steam, which can be frustrating for those with slow internet connections.
The matchmaking system has been criticized for inefficiencies, and the presence of cheaters can detract from the overall gaming experience.

graphics
28 mentions
29 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the improved detail and overall beauty, especially given its low system requirements. While some users noted that the visuals are satisfactory for the game's price and can run smoothly on lower-end systems, others felt that they still fall short of high-end standards. Overall, the graphics are considered good enough to enhance gameplay, particularly with new maps and modes, but they may not fully satisfy hardcore sim-shooter enthusiasts.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the new maps and new game modes are extremely fun and add some variety for people who get bored doing the same thing, plus there are loads of Indian servers with low ping for that perfect experience.”
- “Game has now a lot of details and high-end graphics which is definitely going to be liked by all.”
- “Absolutely beautiful graphics.”
- “Graphics, while improved from the source engine, are nothing fancy, and neither is sound--although veteran players will be gratified to hear that many of their favorite guns' sounds are retained from earlier versions (especially the thunderous AWP).”
- “[matchmaking is not that efficient. visuals could have been better. slightly high learning curve.]”
- “Now to the game, the graphics are alright for a game of this price, and this game is playable on most PC configurations, which is the most appreciable thing about this game.”
gameplay
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of CS:GO builds on the classic mechanics of CS 1.6 while introducing new maps and game modes, such as the Arsenal mode, which adds a unique twist to the traditional shooter experience. Players appreciate the improved visuals and netcode, alongside a variety of features for customization, although concerns about hacking and map design persist. Overall, CS:GO is praised for its engaging team-based gameplay and tactical depth, making it a standout in the shooter genre.
- “Yes, the gameplay is fantastic.”
- “If you're into shooters, team-based gameplay, or just classic games that are updated well, you won't do better at the moment than CS:GO.”
- “[Classic Counter-Strike gameplay. Tons of modes, maps, weapons, and gear. Netcode is good. A lot of features to tweak the game to your liking. Offline bot support.]”
- “All in all, I still have the same gripes I did with all the previous versions; too easy for kids to master and make themselves feel like they know what Counter-Strike operations are all about. There's still way too many hackers and users of hacks created to cheat in the game, and no server-side double check to make sure that players are playing honestly. The maps aren't fully realized (as they should be), some of the props, notably the vehicles, are way too small, and ergo the maps are small as well. The source engine, or developers, seem to emphasize gameplay over some of the simulative aspects that might have otherwise been put into this game.”
- “You can't really expect too much of it on a simulation level, but on a gameplay level, it seems to satisfy.”
- “Other than that, it doesn't differ much from the two major types of maps, except these prefixed with 'as_', which is exclusively for arsenal mode for gun race type of gameplay.”