Counter Strike: Global Offensive Review

Counter Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most established first-person shooters ever made. Released in 2012, the game has managed to cultivate and retain a massive number of dedicated and casual players. It’s captivated huge audiences around the world through its competitive scene, which is one of the most robust of any FPS franchise in the video game history. In fact, CS:GO will likely remain a heavy hitter in eSports for years to come. Such longevity is unparalleled in the industry.

The secret to CS:GO’s widespread and long-lasting success is the type of FPS it is. The premise of the game is simple. Two opposing factions of five players each — “terrorists” and “counter-terrorists” — face off in an armed-combat simulation. They try to take each other out in a hail of gunfire or complete different objectives, such as detonating bombs and rescuing hostages.

Gameplay

As far as gameplay goes, CS:GO is considerably stripped-down and minimalist compared to most of the major FPS titles in 2019. It doesn’t need a bunch of bells and whistles to be great, just reliable, balanced, and exciting point-and-click action.

Just because CS:GO seems rudimentary on the surface by today’s standards doesn’t mean it’s not complex. The most competitive players know how to take gameplay to the next level by exploiting its hair-trigger mechanics. CS:GO features a fairly complicated weapons menu with over 30 firearms to choose from. Each of these weapons — be it a sidearm, shotgun, SMG, rifle, or Rambo-style street-sweeper — has its own unique spray patterns. By mastering each gun, players can become more lethal on the battlefield.

Familiarizing yourself with the layouts of different maps can also improve your ability to strategize effectively. It is very much a team effort, so communication and coordination is key, and knowing the maps helps with callouts.