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Microsoft had a good idea when it decided to release "Counter-Strike" for the Xbox. The nearly online-only game is a primo choice for Xbox Live players and makes a terrific addition to the console's library. "X-Play" picks a side in the virtual war between terrorists and counter-terrorists and finds out that great, old PC games never die. They just reappear on the TV screen.

Killin' online style

As the biggest online sensation the PC has ever seen, and a game so addictive that a man in Thailand died from fatigue after hours of play, "Counter-Strike" is a perfect match for Xbox Live. While a single-player aspect has been added, this game is almost completely Internet play-centric. Those of you who aren't into online play should steer completely clear of this one. Those who love digging into Xbox Live, however, will find "Counter-Strike" taking up entirely too much of your time.

The concept is very simple. Teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists vie to complete their goals on a map. Terrorists want to plant bombs, take hostages, and, of course, take out the counter-terrorists. The good guys generally want to thwart whatever goal the terrorists have, usually by killing them all. It's a fun, easy-to-learn, first-person shooter. There are 16 different maps with slightly different goals, and each supplies a host of opportunity for teamwork and wall-to-wall action.

The dangers of online shooting

An interesting facet of the game is buying your equipment prior to starting the match. Heavy and sub-machine guns, pistols, rifles, grenades, bulletproof vests, shotguns, and even a riot shield is all up for grabs if you have the cash. Money is earned through winning, enabling you to buy cooler weapons as you gain experience. There are over 22 weapons total in the game, allowing for a lot of customization.

Teamwork is the point here. Lone gunmen won't last long, and this vital aspect of "Counter-Strike" is both its single greatest selling point and noteworthy problem. Since the game relies, as it were, on the kindness and knowledge of strangers, each game you play on the Net is a mixed bag of competency and ineptitude. Admittedly, this is a problem with any online game, but when you must rely on your teammates for effective problem solving and survival, there's always a chance for annoying players to blow things for everyone.

As usual for online gaming, the quality of your connection is the greatest factor for a fulfilling gaming experience. Spotty connections will lead to jerky gameplay, making it especially important to pick a game with a high connection rating.

Murky action

Visually, "Counter-Strike" is average. The graphics have a rather muddy, low-resolution look to them, which is disappointing. On the plus side, character design, despite the low-resolution look, is excellent, and animation is very well done. The levels take place in Aztec ruins, a city bank, Middle Eastern hotspots, a Japanese village, tunnels, and more. Although 16 maps seems light, this variety of levels gives players plenty of layouts to memorize. All the maps are large and well designed, and gamers can look forward to downloading new maps on Xbox Live.

The soundtrack is minimal in "Counter-Strike," since the ability to hear both your teammates and the enemy is imperative. You can use quick commands to call for backup (prerecorded voice messages like, "I need help," and "Follow me!"), and the headset can also act as an important part of the team play if you choose to do your own talking. The Dolby Digital mix works great for the three-dimensional action, and the game makes expressive use of all channels. You can easily track a firefight purely by sound.

Single-player game? We don't need no stinkin' single player game!

The single-player side of "Counter-Strike" is basically practice for online action. The game includes a handy tutorial that guides you through the rigors of gameplay, and you can choose to play with and against AI players on any of the maps. Playing by yourself is the perfect way to get a feel for each map, and a welcome addition to the game. (The PC version was exclusively online.) Memorizing the maps beforehand is a necessary skill when playing online, since the advanced players are very imposing for newcomers.

Online goodness

Though it has little appeal for fans of single-player games, "Counter-Strike" is a great addition to the Xbox library. It helps enunciate the Xbox's online superiority by bringing a tried-and-true online classic to the system with aplomb. While the game doesn't look as good as it should, the gameplay and online support is terrific, and the focus on team play puts it in a class by itself. Just remember to stop playing now and then to go to the bathroom.

"Counter-Strike" (Xbox)