What It Is

Counter Terrorism

Counter-Strike actually isn't its own game - it's a modification (mod) of Half-Life that simulates battles between a terrorist and counter terrorist force. It's multiplayer, teamplay only - very similar to the way Rainbow Six and Rogue Spear multiplayer works. The two teams spawn on different sides of a map. If you die, you're not allowed to respawn until the round is over.

Lead the VIP to safety!

Inside the house on 'Estate'

Hostage rescue and bombing

Though killing everyone else on the other team will usually win the round for your team, Counter-Strike isn't all about deathmatch. There are four different modes of play based on which map is being played. One mode is hostage rescue - terrorists guard a base and try to keep the CTs from coming in and rescuing all the hostages (which involves bringing them out and safely leading them to rescue zones). Terrorists win by killing all the CTs or preventing them from rescuing all the hostages before time runs out. Another one of the more popular game types is the demolitions mode. The counter terrorists must try to guard two different bomb targets while the terrorists need to plant timed explosives at one of the two areas. If all the CTs die or the bomb goes off in a target zone, then the terrorists win.

The wine cellar in 'Italy'

Sniper in that window

VIP detail and escape

A third game type is VIP protection. One of the counter terrorists takes the role of the VIP in this mission. He gets double the maximum amount of body armor that a regular player can buy, but he isn't allowed to carry a gun (all he gets is a combat knife). For the CTs to win, all the terrorists must die before the VIP does, or the VIP must safely reach one of two different escape points on the map. For the terrorists to win, they need only kill the VIP. The final game mode is terrorist escape. In this mode, terrorists start only with pistols (they may raid armories to get better guns), and they need to reach specified escape zones. The CTs goal is to prevent more than 50% of the terrorists from escaping. Terrorist escape is easily the least popular game mode, at least in this office.

Inside the garage in 'Siege'

Charging the terrorist base in 'Siege'