Counter-Strike: Condition Zero

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
The box art for Counter-Strike: Condition Zero depicts two Counter-Terrorists with guns drawn
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Distributor(s) Vivendi Universal Games
Composer(s) Zak Belica
Series Counter-Strike
Engine GoldSrc
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux
Release date(s)
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is a multiplayer video game and the follow-up to Counter-Strike. The game was released in 2004 using the GoldSrc engine. Condition Zero features a multiplayer mode, which features updated character models, textures, maps and other graphical tweaks. Unlike other Counter-Strike games, Condition Zero also contains a single-player mission pack with the player playing as counter-terrorist alongside bots. The players unlock maps and more effective bot teammates as they pass certain requirements for each map while playing as a counter-terrorist. These requirements include targets such as "kill 3 enemies with a Bullpup" or "win a round in 60 seconds". Counter-Strike bots are a prominent part of Condition Zero gameplay.

Development

Condition Zero started development in 2000 by Rogue Entertainment, initially announced in May 2001 at E3 of that year. Rogue's producer for the game, Jim Molinet, later that year moved to Sony and the development company went defunct, leaving Valve with the development. Later, they gave it to Gearbox Software, the developers of the Half-Life expansion packs, so that Valve could focus on the development rival Team Fortress 2 and its new engine.

Gearbox created an overhaul of Counter-Strike with high quality models and improved graphics. They also added alpha blending, allowing for realistic foliage and weather effects, a single-player mode to the game, similar to the final game, based on inspiration of Randy Pitchford from console games such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, and they included explosive weapons such as a Molotov cocktails, tear gas bomb, and M72 LAW rocket. They also used the release of Steam to their advantage to help prevent cheating by ensuring constant code updates.

After a few developmental delays, it missed its late 2002 deadline and was given over to Ritual Entertainment, who completely remade the game into a single-player one with 20 unconnected missions. They enhanced the AI of the original Half-Life to create the initial bot AI. It was expected to have a release in early 2003 with a secondary multiplayer mode, and developed alongside the Xbox version of Counter-Strike. Alongside various other Valve titles, the game received versions for OS X and Linux in 2013.[1]

However, after declaring the game gold and handing out review copies of Ritual's work, Valve saw an average review score of around 60%. The companies retracted the gold status and work on Condition Zero was essentially begun again. Ritual's share of development was dropped, and development was given over to the relatively young Turtle Rock Studios, who easily restarted where Gearbox left off. They developed an updated bot AI that was beta tested in Counter-Strike 1.6 before release. The final game contained a version mirroring Gearbox's version, along with 12 missions recovered from Ritual's single-player portion, called Deleted Scenes.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Condition Zero: Deleted Scenes

Condition Zero: Deleted Scenes is what is left over from Ritual Entertainment's stage of development, a series of eighteen unconnected single-player missions.

Deleted Scenes was originally the focus on the game with standard multiplayer included. However, after declaring the game gold and handing out review copies of Ritual's work, Valve saw an average review score of around 60%. The companies retracted the gold status and work on Condition Zero was essentially begun again. Ritual's share of development was dropped, and Turtle Rock Studios eventually made its own version. The final game contained Ritual's single-player portion, called Deleted Scenes, along with Turtle Rock's version.

Several weapons from the "lost co" have made an appearance in Deleted Scenes, including the M72 Light Anti-Armor Weapon, and the M60 machine gun. Some are limited to the AI terrorists, such as the machete and Rogue Entertainment's controversial suicide belt. Some reconnaissance weapons including the blow torch, radio, fiber-optic camera and remote control bombs. Players can also carry up to three grenades instead of the usual one. Moreover, the power of players' Kevlar Armor is boosted, better protecting players from many projectiles and bullets.

Some weapons were completely reanimated. This includes the Colt, M4A1, AK47, FAMAS and Galil with the exception of the SIG SG 552 which uses its "beta animations". Weapon textures are also slightly modified. The weapons are colored a bit differently from their Counter-Strike counterparts, such as the Arctic Warfare Magnum which is now brown instead of green, the Steyr AUG and the Colt M4 carbine are now two-tone police black instead of the usual colors. It initially came with twelve missions, but later Steam updates added six additional missions that were cut from the initial release. There is a small community for Deleted Scenes, and a few custom maps have been released.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings66.61%[10]
Metacritic65/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer6/10[12]
GameSpot6.8/10[13]
IGN7/10[14]

Condition Zero received mixed to average reviews, receiving an aggregate score of 65 on Metacritic. The game was praised for its AI and new maps, while it was criticized for being out-of-date following its lengthy development.[11][10][12][14][13]

References

  1. ↑ "CS:CZ Continues Valve Linux Catalog". Steam. Valve Corporation. March 6, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "GameSpy's Most Wanted Games of 2003". Archive.gamespy.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ "CVG PC Interview: Zero Hour Approaches". Computerandvideogames.com. March 18, 2003. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ "GameSpy.com – Preview". Archive.gamespy.com. December 13, 2002. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive: Counter-Strike: Condition Zero". computersandvideogames.com. June 8, 2001. Archived from the original on June 24, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (March 25, 2002). "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Preview". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ Remagen, Bridget (July 15, 2004). "PC Games: Counter-Strike, Condition Zero". PCWorld Australia. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Useful for Counter Strike virgins maybe?". BBC. April 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2005. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Condition Zero". 1up.com. January 1, 2000. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero for PC". GameRankings. March 23, 2004. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  12. 1 2 Bramwell, Tom (April 13, 2004). "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Review". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Colayco, Bob (March 23, 2014). "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Review". GameSpot. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Butts, Steve (March 23, 2004). "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Review". IGN. Retrieved March 18, 2014.

External links

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