AttackedCamo

NOTE: This review was based on the game being played on an Xbox 360. I also played this game when it first came out on the Xbox.

As soon as you pick up the Counter Strike box for the Xbox you'll automatically notice on the back of the box "The #1 online PC action game in the world" There is good reason for this too. Counter Strike maybe a simple premise for gaming, but it involves teamwork and it brings the best of two worlds. Good VS. Evil. Which is Counter Terrorist VS. Terrorists.

Let me get this off my chest, There is no single player. The only single player there is to be had is playing VS. Bots, which can get old. But this does help you get you back on your game on an off night. There is also no split screen multiplayer. The only thing that comes close to it is the System Link. This game is meant to be played online verse others on Xbox Live. People still play this game after six years of it being out. The Xbox 360 being able to play this game helps this. Also if you're new to the Counter Strike world they have two quick tutorials. That should get you on the right track.

If you don't know how Counter Strike works this is how. "Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter in which players join either the terrorist or counter-terrorist team. Each team attempts to complete their mission objective and/or eliminate the opposing team. Each round starts with the two teams spawning simultaneously, usually at opposite ends of the map from each other. Each player generally starts with $800 (although this amount can be modified), Players are generally given a few seconds before the round begins (known as "freeze time") to prepare and buy equipment, during which they cannot attack, be attacked, or walk/move. They can return to the buy area within a set amount of time (90 seconds is the default) to buy more equipment (some neutral "buy zones" can be used by both teams). Once the round has ended, surviving players retain their equipment for use in the next round; players who were killed begin the next round with the basic default starting equipment."

You might be wondering, "How do I get money to buy my weapons?" This is how. If you kill an enemy you get $300 dollars. If you kill all enemies you get $3000 (Hostage-Rescue) or $3250 (Demolition). Got that so far? Wait there is more! Counter Terrorists get money if the do certain things like contact the hostages and such. If you contact a hostage you get $150 dollars. If you rescue a hostage you get $1000 dollars. If you rescue all hostages you get $2500 dollars. If you defuse the bomb you'll get $3250 dollars. But all this isn't limited to the Counter Terrorists. The Terrorists can also get money for doing stuff like detonating the bomb. If you stop a hostage rescue you get $2000 dollars. If you detonate a bomb you'll get $3500 dollars. If you're on either side you need to make sure you don't shoot the hostages. If you shoot the hostages you'll lose a chunk of your money.

The controls are quite simple. The left analog stick makes you move. It also brings up your buy menu. You bring up you buy menu by clicking the left analog stick in. The right analog stick lets you look around. The left trigger makes you crouch. The right trigger makes you fire your weapon. The X button makes you reload. The X button also lets you set up the bomb and defuse the bomb and such. The Y button is to cycle through your weapons. The B button is for alternative fire. This ranges from you changing your weapon to burst fire or some weapons come with silencers, which can be applied, to your weapon with the B button. The A button is to jump. If you jump and crouch at the same time you'll do a crouch jump that'll make you jump higher. If you click in the left analog stick you can look around faster. The term used with it is "Fast look". The Black button lets you cycle through grenades. (The black button on the Xbox 360 controller is the right bumper.) The White button lets you drop your weapon for a quick pick up. (The White button on the Xbox 360 controller is the left bumper). The Start button is for the in-game menu.

The Xbox version of Counter Strike has sixteen plus maps. Seven of them are exclusive to the Xbox. There are also two free downloadable maps over Xbox Live. Both maps are a must download. Did I mention they are FREE? You'll also be able to get your hands on twenty-two weapons. Like AK-47s and Glocks. For some reason all the names of the weapons are changed. The AK-47 is called CV-47, while the Glock is called 9x19 mm. Go figure?

Another thing you'll notice on the back of the box is the "Xbox Live helps ensure a competitive and cheat free environment." Which is somewhat true. There are still glitches. Such as people being able to get into spaces that they shouldn't, such as ceilings. You also may run into some people that use mouse and keyboards. It doesn't happen all that often but it will happen. But this is where things make the Counter Strike community great. If someone is cheating most hosts don't even hesitate to kick the cheater out of the match.

But online is where it's at. It's basically single player. But the bots are replaced with humans. Most matches are lag free. It's also pretty easy to just jump right into a game. So this game can be a deep experience or a pick up game. The online supports up to 16 players. This game also has leader boards if you're into that kind of thing. One thing I noticed while playing it on the Xbox 360 is that the load time are about 5 seconds longer.

Since this game is now only $10.00 or less at stores, why not pick it up for a good online experience? I promise you there is fun to be had with this version of Counter Strike.

Free Radical Design has been known to make great games. Sadly this isn't one of them. Even though this game had promise it falls flat on its face for many things.

You start off as a soldier named Shane Carpenter for a corporation named Mantel Global Industries. Mantel Global Industries is a multinational corporation with bio-medical expertise. This has led to the development of Nectar. Nectar is like steroids. It beefs up your character to run, jump, shoot and heal faster. In the game you'll be able to use Nectar to your advantage. But you'll have to be careful not to overdose. If you overdose your vision will go red and you'll randomly start shooting. Later on you'll see what exactly Nectar can actually do to your body and comrades. This will open your eyes and make you shift sides over to the Rebel side. You are then stripped of your Nectar and left with tricks instead of the latest equipment. When you're a Rebel you can take your enemies Nectar pack and slap in on a grenade. The grenade will explode with nectar in the air and fellow Mantel soldiers will overdose leading them to go suicidal or go on a rampage killing their own.

This all sounds fine and swell until you actually start to play the game. You'll get the sense that this was quickly rushed out the door. With lack luster visuals that will leave you wanting more from your PS3 to the horrid voice acting. You'll always find something that will nag you. Just like as soon as you put the disk into your PS3. You are forced to install the game. Sure it's only once but it's annoying. The game is also about 5 hours long. So you can beat this game in about two to one sitting if you wanted to.

The games story is something that was praised about through the whole time Haze was about to be released. There is nothing to be praised here. It's pretty much a lack luster conspiracy theory that was probably ripped from some web page out there. Add that with some stereotypical situations (Evil fellow soldier) and characters (Meat head and redneck soldiers) and you have yourself a horrible story.

With a under whelming story you think that Haze would try to blow you away with graphics. Well...it doesn't. It'll leave you scratching your head about why is everything so murky and bland. While forest areas can look decent everything else just looks like crap. Characters also don't look that great either. They all just seem really plastic.

Sounds are very important in a game. Sound makes or breaks the mood in a game. Every sound in the game breaks the mood. Mostly the horrid voice acting. It will have you cringe every time a word is uttered. Add that with repetitive sayings (Like "Remember your promise to Merino."), bad car and ATV sounds. Bland gunfire is also a problem. When you fire your gun it seems like your gun isn't powerful or working right. Another weird thing I ran into is that at one point they actually censor some words in this game. Yes with the *beep* sound and all. It'll leave you wondering why? This game already has an M rating for Strong Language so why not put it in?

One good thing about this game is that the controls are solid, except when driving. It's pretty much your standard shooter controls. R1 to fire, R2 to melee, R3 zoom, L1 throw grenade, L3 crouch, X jump, Square interact, Circle to go through your weapons and triangle to reload and pick up weapons. L2 is for your Nectar. The controls are smooth.

Multiplayer has three game modes Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Assault. The game also has six different maps. All can be played online and offline. Only Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch can have bots. When I was playing online I found that most servers only had about five to three people in them with the rest bots. The both teams have different skills just like in the game. It seemed pretty well balanced when I was playing. But while playing you get a feel like the whole multiplayer experience was rushed and half-assed.

All around this game just feels rushed. This game could have been so much more but it isn't. The thing is that this game isn't broken, it's just not well executed. So if you are really in some serious need for some FPS action on the PS3 just give this game a rent. Otherwise just skip it all together.