Counter-Strike unleashed in stores.

By now, many of you have already rushed to your local retailer to pick up <b>Counter-Strike</b>, one of the most anticipated games to hit Xbox this year.

"Counter-Strike and Xbox Live are a perfect match," said Counter-Strike co-creator Jess Cliffe. "Featuring advanced graphics, new maps and weapons, and introducing the official Counter-Strike bot, Counter-Strike for the Xbox is the most robust version of the world's number 1 online action game. By partnering with Microsoft to deliver this experience on Xbox Live, we hope to set a new benchmark for online console gaming."

The Xbox edition features 18 multiplayer maps and two action-filled game modes: Bomb Defusal and Hostage Rescue. Players can battle against super-intelligent AI opponents offline in the single player game before taking their skills online against up to 16 players (<i>Rainbow Six</i> fans should feel right at home!)

Gamers have more than 20 real-life weapons at their disposal, including shotguns, sniper rifles, pistols and heavy weapons as well as new weapons effects such as grenade deafness and vision adjustments. Oh, and of course you can forget about all that frantic keyboarding to communicate with your opponent. Thanks to the Xbox Communicator, issuing orders has never been easier, creating the ultimate experience in tactical team-based play.