Recent reviews by Cobram

What is the difference between Counter Strike and Counter Strike Global Offensive? The first is a classic multiplayer tactical shooter, the latter is a store, engineered to appear as a classic multiplayer tactical shooter. I didn't pay much for it, like around $3 dollars, but I feel it was a waste of money. This should have been released as free to play. You're constantly bombarded with ads. From paid map packs, gun skins, stickers, to boxes of loot "awarded" at end of some matches- that of course require a separate purchase to "open". Thankfully, I'm a thrifty person and am highly resistant to this kind of marketing, but it doesn't change the fact that I find it highly unappealing and it distracts from this semi realistic looking world that Valve has created.

There is true craft at work in the map design, not just in the flow, but also in the small details and props found in all the maps. It's pretty impressive how good the Source engine can look after all these years. The look is pretty consistent throughout the maps. While not photo realistic, they certainly feel like a place that could exist and also aren't lacking in a little grit. I can really appreciate the aesthetics of this game and it's my favorite part of the package. If only I could have the graphics of GO and the game play of CSS.

Engine stability is good. I can't recall a single crash or lockup. Framerate is extremely steady on any graphics settings. Performance has been excellent on two different computers built ten years apart. As far as net code, it's been less stable. On more than just several occasions I would get lagged out of competitive matches and could not rejoin (I was on DSL at the time, which was more than adequate). It was somewhat common that I'd clearly make a kill shot, but it wouldn't register at all. Not even a single point of health lost by my opponent but more often than not I'd be dead meat. This is a common issue apparently, going by the compilation videos illustrating these latency bugs available on Youtube.

My major pet peeve with this game is the excessive inaccuracy of guns after the first shot. I would click the mouse, take my finger off, click again, take my finger off and click again. Yet accuracy would rapidly decline. Some knucklehead will probably come out of the woodwork to post a comment about 'git gud', and to that I say that firing semi-automatic firearms should be decently accurate, even from a novice shooter. In this game we are supposedly playing hardened military/police special forces and hardline mercenaries/militants, both of which appear by their gear and attitude to be experienced. Firing a gun should be second nature to them.
I have some real life experience with firearms. I'm an amateur, but I'd probably be a better shot than these "professional" counter-terrorists and terrorists. I live in America, a nation of citizens where firearms are a mainstay, unlike the serf populated nations of Europe and Southeast Asia where guns are more-or-less completely outlawed from ownership by the law abiding.

Some craft went into the map and art design of this game. Will I ever play this game again? Probably from time to time. I mean, this is built on the foundation of the classic gameplay of Counter Strike, it's hard to screw that up. I have a preference for Counter Strike Source. CSS was my first true experience with Counter Strike (technically my first time playing CS was that
Xbox port, against bots).

I'd recommend this game to people who like to spend money.

When I have time I'll write a more detailed recommendation for this game. I have alot more good things to say about it than bad.

Good: Legitmately immersive and scary. Story was engaging, it was hard to stop playing from being curious about what awful thing happens next. Plenty of old school puzzles to solve. Light and shadow of great importance in gameplay. Environments are detailed and very atmospFEARic. Music score is good. Sound design is great. Graphics are decent, with features like SSAO that make the shadows and lights even more realistic.

Bad: sometimes I found the spawning of monsters predictible, the graphics arent amazing, surround sound didnt work without tweaks