Counter-Strike Nexon
- October 7, 2014
- Valve
- 44h median play time
Counter-Strike Nexon: Studio is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online first-person shooter that offers both competitive player versus player and player versus environment modes. The game features classic Counter-Strike gameplay, as well as a variety of weapons and characters to choose from. Players can also unleash their creativity in Studio Mode, where they can create their own custom maps. This version of the game offers a special welcome gift for those who join the official Discord server.
Reviews
- graphics745 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Counter-Strike Nexon: Studio" are widely criticized for being outdated, resembling those of early 2000s games like Counter-Strike 1.6, despite its 2014 release. Many players find the visuals lack polish and detail, leading to a subpar experience compared to modern shooters. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from poor graphical fidelity and performance issues, detracting from its gameplay potential.
“The graphics, UI, and visuals are worse than CS 1.6, the framerates are comparable to Crysis.”
“Despite having older graphics, this game makes up for it with guns.”
“The graphics are old but that doesn't take away from it and gives it uniqueness.”
“The graphics are from 1999, but anyone with poor graphics can run this game with no compromises.”
“The graphics of a game released in 2014 look like the graphics of the beginning of the millennium (maybe they wanted to emulate the 1.6 old-school graphics, but they failed).”
“The graphics are terrible and the game just doesn't have any appeal to make up for its aged look.”
- gameplay507 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Counter-Strike Nexon: Studio* retains the classic mechanics of the original *Counter-Strike*, offering familiar modes like bomb defusal and hostage rescue, but it is marred by outdated graphics, unbalanced mechanics, and a pay-to-win structure that detracts from the experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and variety of game modes, including unique zombie survival options, many criticize the overall execution as lacking innovation and plagued by bugs and performance issues. Overall, the game provides a mixed experience, appealing to fans of the original while failing to meet the expectations of modern gamers.
“Counter-Strike Nexon: Studio is an interesting spin on the classic Counter-Strike formula, blending traditional gameplay with unique modes and customization options.”
“The inclusion of unique game modes, like zombie survival, adds a refreshing twist to the classic Counter-Strike gameplay.”
“At its core, Counter-Strike Nexon is still the game we know and love: quick reflexes, tight shooting mechanics, and heart-pounding team-based combat.”
“The gameplay is extremely bland and repetitive, no tutorial that I could find.”
“The gameplay is laggy and dry, half the games do not even run on any sort of zombie mode and overall this game seems like an effortless pile put together by an unskilled modder.”
“The gameplay is so chaotic you would need lightning speed reflexes to do anything and don't die in about 3 seconds from the round starting.”
- story199 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is widely criticized for being either non-existent or poorly executed, with many players noting a lack of coherent narrative and confusing plotlines, particularly in the zombie scenarios. While some users appreciate the nostalgic elements and the potential for fun in cooperative missions, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment, with many stating that the gameplay mechanics overshadow any semblance of a meaningful story. Overall, the game's narrative is often described as messy, uninspired, and overshadowed by its pay-to-win mechanics and repetitive missions.
“The plot of the zombies campaign is quite confusing to understand but will become comprehensible as each mission unravels information piece by piece.”
“This game is incredibly fun and has an interesting story to it.”
“It offers a variety of experiences ranging from crazy PvP zombie modes to story-driven scenario missions.”
“While the graphics are decent, the gameplay mechanics and story feel lackluster and uninspired.”
“The zombie scenario storyline feels messy now and completely out of place; how did we go from an infection spreading to literally traveling through space and time, killing magical-looking bosses and zombies that don't even make sense?”
“Everything in it is just so bad, the guns, the 'story', and the game modes.”
- monetization138 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The monetization model of "Counter-Strike Nexon: Zombies" has drawn significant criticism for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, which many players feel create a pay-to-win environment that undermines game balance and fairness. While the game is free-to-play, the aggressive promotion of in-game purchases and the presence of overpowered items locked behind paywalls have led to perceptions of it being a cash grab, detracting from the overall enjoyment and nostalgia associated with the Counter-Strike franchise. Players have expressed frustration over the intrusive ads and convoluted user interface, which further complicate the gaming experience.
“The game was completely balanced, although microtransactions existed.”
“Microtransactions: while the game is free-to-play, it offers microtransactions for cosmetic items and in-game currency.”
“While the microtransactions seem scummy at first, there really is no difference to what Valve has implemented, and even with that, Nexon is much nicer with giving out items than Valve.”
“You've got microtransactions shoved in your face all the time, and some of the best gear is locked behind paywalls.”
“In conclusion, this game used to be respectable and a great time with friends with a small 'fun' loot box experience which devolved into an entirely pay-to-win monetization model.”
“The user interface is all over the place and can be hard for new players to understand how to use it, and it litters you with all kinds of promotions and ads for items in the game.”
- stability103 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many users describe it as a "buggy mess," with issues ranging from laggy gameplay to broken maps and unresponsive controls. While some find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these problems, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's stability is poor and in need of substantial improvement.
“It runs great and everything works.”
“The game runs great.”
“For a game this old, it’s shocking how often it crashes and how clunky it feels to play.”
“This game is buggy; it crashed my video drivers twice and freezes.”
“The game is buggy every time they update something; other than that, it's a great game.”
- humor96 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with many players finding it both absurd and entertaining, often describing it as "so bad it's funny." Users enjoy the comedic elements of gameplay, such as overpowered weapons and quirky character designs, which lead to numerous hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends. However, some reviews indicate that the humor may not be enough to offset frustrations with game mechanics and updates.
“I almost died from laughing; I didn't breathe at all, this is hilarious.”
“Thousands and thousands of funny moments and laughs with your friends.”
“It's very funny and awesome; I like the scenario mod, it's the best!”
“Some reasons, this game is no longer funny.”
“Well, when I got back to the game many years later for nostalgic memories, I was disappointed to find that it has become a huge pay-to-win cash grab. It was not funny, and it's no longer a free-to-play friendly game.”
“0/insert unfunny meme here”
- grinding79 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's grinding aspect is heavily criticized, with many players noting that it requires an excessive amount of time to unlock decent gear, often leading to frustration and a sense of tedium. While some enjoy the grind as part of the experience, the overwhelming sentiment is that it becomes monotonous and is exacerbated by a pay-to-win model, making it less appealing for those unwilling to invest significant time or money. Overall, players recommend the game only for those who genuinely enjoy grinding and can tolerate its repetitive nature.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“The game is a grinding simulator; if you want good stuff (medals, event items, season badges, etc.), you need to grind every single day.”
“The grinding itself is boring too, as most events are just almost the same, like kill xx zombies, clear zs for xx times, etc. There's no event variety in this game, which can make people bored easily after doing events.”
“It's possible to play this game and not spend any money; however, a lot of grinding is required in order to obtain most things, just not the latest gear.”
- optimization61 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and inconsistent frame rates, even on modern systems. Many attribute these problems to the outdated GoldSrc engine, which limits graphical fidelity and overall performance. While some users note that the game can run on lower-end systems, the overall experience is marred by bugs and a lack of polish, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience.
“If you're willing to overlook the microtransactions and potential performance issues, Nexon could be a fun and rewarding experience.”
“True, it has outdated graphics, but it runs smoothly on even my crappy laptop.”
“On the other hand, the studio mode is fun and it does not lag that much because you control most of the details that affect the performance of the map like lighting, textures, etc.”
“Plus, the performance is a mixed bag, with some serious jankiness that shows its age and the limited effort put into polishing it over time.”
“Horrible optimization; when you turn on the flashlight, you drop FPS by as much as 50%.”
“The design is terrible, the performance is horrid even on modern machines, and worst of all - it's not fun.”
- music36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as loud, repetitive, and poorly integrated into the gameplay. Users have noted that the soundtrack often drowns out important sound effects, leading to a frustrating experience, and some have even likened it to "ear-rape." Overall, the music is seen as generic and unappealing, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“10/10 would listen to the soundtrack again.”
“- nicely implemented music, and ambiance (map varying)”
“The music is awful and the sound quality is barely passable.”
“The music sets the bar for being absolutely mediocre.”
“Under the audio section you have your usual sliders for sfx volume and music (music I'd recommend you turn right down, as not only is it ear-rapey on first startup, it completely overlaps in-game sfx too).”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game vary widely, with some players expressing intense fear and sadness, leading to tears and a desire for comfort, while others find joy and connection in playing with friends. Despite some negative experiences, including feelings of being overwhelmed or robbed by the game's mechanics, there are also heartfelt moments that resonate deeply, showcasing the game's ability to evoke strong emotional reactions, both positive and negative. Overall, the game elicits a complex mix of emotions, from fear and sadness to joy and nostalgia.
“U will be picked up, chewed, and spat out, and you will question your sanity every 10 minutes, but you keep coming back because you would rather feel the emotional pain than the nothingness that comes with other games.”
“It made me feel sad, it made me cry, it made me smile, and most importantly, I lost my mind.”
“Eight years on, I can still recall how profoundly that game gripped me, and I am not an overly emotional person.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some users indicating limited replay value, while others highlight it as infinitely replayable, particularly for first-person shooter (FPS) games. Overall, the consensus suggests a moderate to high replay value, especially considering the game's beta status.
“☑️ infinitely replayable”
“100/100 replay value (it's an FPS, you kind of have to replay it a lot)”
“The replay value is very high, and seeing how this is a beta, that says a lot.”
“Replayability: limited.”
“Replay value: 5/10”
“Honestly, advanced warfare is more playable than CS:GO.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive qualities, effectively blending new features with the classic feel of Counter-Strike. However, some users express a desire for more variety in the types of mutants and elements present in the environment. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a strong point that enhances the gameplay experience.
“You can play a whole ton of other things other than the ones you're used to in CS with new weapons etc. that fit into the CS atmosphere extremely well, if you ask me.”
“A good shooter immerses you into the atmosphere of the good old Counter-Strike with new features.”
“The atmosphere clashes with the plot; it feels lacking and could benefit from more variety in mutants.”
“The atmosphere is disappointing.”
“The game's atmosphere fails to engage and feels disconnected from the overall experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive design, particularly highlighting the creativity and detail of the newest characters introduced in the game.
“The character design, especially for the newest characters, is impressive.”