General Overview
Counter-Strike was released in 1999, as a MOD for Half Life. People absolutely loved CS, and soon it was released as a standalone product. However, the fans wanted something more then just awesome online playing. They wanted single-player missions also. This was when Valve decided to invent Counter Strike: Condition Zero (CS:CZ). CS:CZ was believed to have a scheduled release date of November, 2003. Obviously, this date has been pushed back to the new year. CS:CZ is very different from CS, because it has been programmed by another company, Turtle Rock Studios. However, the basics will be the same. Some people may find CS:CZ more enjoyable, as they can get better by training in singleplayer rather than going straight ahead to multiplayer games, where the high-level players are.
GamePlay
There are quite a lot differences between CS:CZ and CS. This is basically because one is multiplayer, and one is singleplayer. In CS:CZ, you start off a mission by purchasing a group of teamates. Your teamates skill level will depend on how many points you have. You usually start of with a very weak team, maybe just consisting of yourself. As you pass more and more missions, you will be able to upgrade your squad and buy more enhanced equipment. Following that, you get to select 18 maps called 'Tours of Duty.' These maps determine what type of objectives you need to complete. The maps are mostly new, but some are replicas of CS 1.6 maps with some major tune-ups. Once the game is loaded, you are faced with different objectives and missions which are dependant on your difficulty settings. There are many new features in CS:CZ, such as detailed training modes for new players, and challengse for experienced players, such as getting a certain number a kills with a scout in a limited period of time. For players looking for a challenge, CS:CZ for you. There are challenges and obstacles that require a great degree of skill. An example is to kill an enemy when they are blinded, eliminate the opposing team within five minutes, or even getting consecutive headshots.
Think CS is too unrealistic? Well, alright, maybe just a little bit. If you get ticked off at CS cause its so unlike real life, then CS:CZ is your best choice. CS:CZ DOES NOT have a save function.
[What the hell does that have to do with realism?] Well, the maker of CS:CZ states that there is no save function in CS:CZ. He explains that this provides a sense of realism, because it lets the user experience how fragile their and their team's lives are. Furthermore, the producer states that no mission should last more then five or ten minutes, so a save option is not nessecary.
Now for the exciting part, Screenshots.
Click to enlarge the picture.
