Ok...I don't know where to start. Keep in mind this is only the multiplayer version, so I can't speak for the SP...
I had never played Counterstrike before, so coming in I had high hopes based on the reputation of it, and of the HL2 engine. I can say with confidence that it has shattered my expectations like the amazingly detailed window shatterings in the game...THIS GAME IS AWESOME. Now, for those of you that think this is going to be a glowing rant of the game (like my MoH: PA impression), you are part way right. But I feel it is fully justfified, because this game plainly rocks. As far as the engine, it blows everything else away. Moh: PA can't hold a candle to it, CoD shouldn't even be in the same sentence. The barrels in the level can be shot, and they roll. The pictures on the walls can be shot, they fall, and you can shoot them more and they move. The lockers in the office can be shot and moved. Barrels and garbage can be moved by running into them, and you can even shoot the garbage. It is so detailed that I could identify different computer components (the actual brand and sometimes the make!) of the computers in the office by shooting off the side of the computer. If you shoot the potted plants they break realstically. If you shoot the file folders files come out of them and they move realistically.
And that is just the physics.
The graphics are superb. The glash shattering of windows is amazing. I will have to get a pic of it sometime....(can't now though
). I have only played it for a bit, but so far the gameplay has held up well for me. Most of it was spent shooting up computers and various thing, but I did do some shooting and the controls feel nice and right.
So far my impressions are basically about all the detail in the game, they physics, and the graphics. Once I get more play time on it I will post some gameplay impressions also. So far, I am blown away. The interactivity in the game is incredible.
Also, there is voice chat. I was able to hear the voices of some other players remarking how things are interactive. I may get a microphone just for this game....
Anyway, so that is my first impression. Excellent game.
Note for computer geeks- you can shoot out everything in the computers except for the power supply! I was able to shoot out individually the video card, the motherboard, the processor heatsink, various drives, and the sound card. I also identified that the various computers in the levels use the optical microsoft mice, or so I think. Its just sort of an indication how detailed it is, and a very great addition for the computer nerd in me
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Sorry for any typing errors in this...its 12:43, I'm tired, and I gotta get up early tomarrow...