Half Life 2: Episode CS:S?

Friday, October 9, 2009

Half Life 2 meets Counter Strike in CSS SCI FI 3: Hardwired, a new modification for Half Life 2 which blends both games together to form a superb and unique single player experience.

You play as a clone of Gordon Freeman and must fight the time traveling Combine forces through various missions (of which there are 42 in total) presented to you at the beginning of each map.

Key features at a glance:

* Single-player.
* Requires only Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike:Source.
* Retains look and feel of Half-Life 2 while adding new weapons, enemies and abilities.
* Includes a custom mission hub, weapon test range and full configuration utility.
* Includes 24 custom maps for Counter-Strike:Source.
* Features 42 replayable non-linear missions, each with multiple goals and hidden secret weapons.

The game takes place over 3 campaigns and uses 18 retail and 24 custom Counter-Strike: Source maps. The missions are extremely varied and include escorting hostages or leaders out of danger, bombing combine vehicles and much more. Each time a mission is started, enemies and resources are randomly distributed so no two games are ever the same.

There’s a huge choice of weapons which includes those taken directly from Half Life 2 as well as new weapons made just for the game. The game retains the feel of Half Life 2 despite being set essentially in Counter Strike maps and this is a great achievement in itself; add in bullet time and some superb customisation options such as bullet traces and extra gore and you have a little piece of Half Life Heaven.

I thoroughly recommend trying Hardwired; it’s the best modification that’s come along for Half Life 2 in some time and fans of both Counter Strike and Half Life should find plenty to keep themselves amused with here until Half Life 2: Episode 3 finally makes an appearance.