Counter-Strike 1.6

[FirstBlood]

Counter-Strike 1.6 has been out for about a week now, and I've had the time to try it out somewhat extensively.

First and foremost, the new riot shields are a fucking joke. No question about it. They make you practically invincible (or completely invincible with a simple exploit), and there's no way someone can carry a full riot shield in one hand, and shoot a Desert Eagle with the other.

Many major servers have disabled the shields, so I'm assuming the team will realize what a horrible mistake they've made.

CS 1.6 also comes with it's own proprietary online gaming software: Steam. Personally, I had only a few problems installing after I downloaded the huge Counter-Strike specific file, but I've heard all kinds of horror stories about Steam, especially when using self-update. Steam seems to have incorporated the many features I wish were included in Half-Life's original multiplayer interface, such as a friends list. It also seems much, much less clunky. I like the interface and additions, but most people don't like the software itself.

1.6 also adds two new rifles, the FAMAS and the Gali. Both are cheap alternatives to the otherwise expensive rifles. Think of them as Ak/Colt-lite. I really like the Gali, but haven't used the FAMAS much.

Other additions include new maps (I think, although I haven't played any yet), updated maps (Aztec and Cobble, i think), and now the smoke grenade explodes into one giant clound.

Personally, I think 1.6 is a decent update. Steam may be lacking, but I'm hoping they flesh out the bugs, and remove the riot shield and forget it ever existed.

[Tain]

I'd be all over this, but I still can't log into Steam.

Bah.

[Andy]

I had been playing on 1.6 Steam for a few weeks before the ended the beta, but it doesn't do anything when I try to start it up =/ Anyway, I think the Gali was a nice addition, but the FAMAS is pretty damn terrible. I think the riot shield is a terrible addition too, like most everyone. I mean, it was fun trying it out a few times, and looking through my little glass peep hole, laughing as the terrorists were no doubt screaming obscenities watching their useless bullets fall to the ground But the game was just better without them, even if they managed to balance them somehow, I'd rather it just be a match of human vs human.

[Diff-chan]

The riot shield is in the Xbox version... I have a feeling that its one of those useless pieces of crap that Gearbox (who is vastly overrated by the way) convinced Valve to put in...

[Doug Branches]

There's nothing wrong with the actual shield, just the jackasses who exploit the shield glitch. The shield is pathetically easy to counter, especially since most people who buy it are idiots who just stand in one place and practically let you walk right to them and knife them. Just strafe around them, if they open fire shoot the exposed part. Not hard.

[mrdandy]

KNIFE 'EM!!!

KNIIIFE!!!!

[NoFace]

The riot shield is in the Xbox version... I have a feeling that its one of those useless pieces of crap that Gearbox (who is vastly overrated by the way) convinced Valve to put in...

Agreed. After the first HL expansion, which was good, Gearbox has gone on to fuck up more things than I can count.

Did anyone play the version of 007 Nightfire they put out for PC? Words cannot describe just how bad a FPS it was... I almost recommend trying the demo just to see how piss poor Gearbox made that game.

And I've heard mostly negative things about their work on Halo PC. Overrated indeed.

[JMET]

Ive been playing the 1.6 beta for like 5 months or so...

It is far far better then 1.5....