Counter Strike Nexon: Zombies shambles its way onto Steam just in time for the announcement of the game’s official open beta. Spoiler: it’s September 23rd.
Counter Strike Nexon: Zombies is not the prettiest game you will see released this year, and for good reason: built on the roots of the original Counter Strike, Nexon: Zombies is limited by the Gold Source (gldsrc) engine, giving it moderately more graphical power to work with than an overclocked toaster. What it lacks in visual prowess, however, the game looks to make up for with frantic multiplayer-focused gameplay and lots — and I do mean lots — of gore.
Well, red gore-esque textures at any rate.
Enough about the game’s visual presentation. Counter Strike Nexon: Zombies is Nexon Europe’s take on the previously Korea-only Counter Strike 2. The game takes its classic Counter Strike core — still regarded by many as one of the best, if not the single best, multiplayer FPS around — and adds on top a heaping dollop of new game modes, weapons, characters, and levels.
Oh, and as the name suggests, zombies may play a small role in the gameplay as well.
Many PC gamers are looking forward to Counter Strike Nexon: Zombies as a kind of expected guilty pleasure. The counter-strike series as a whole has always been seen as a fun if somewhat dry universe, and given the collection of modes and weapons Nexon: Zombies plans to bring to the series, it is clear that this latest variation is looking to change that up quite a bit. Gldsrc, and the Half-Life/Counter Strike community, was a haven for modders and content creation back in its heyday, and even now the engine continues to see creative experiences constructed in it, most all of which can be found on Valve’s Steam service. Combining Counter Strike’s tactical gunplay with more ridiculous weaponry (spanning everything from science fiction-themed laser weaponry to monster claws) while throwing waves of undead and even some base building and survival aspects into the mix still manages to make Counter Strike Nexon: Zombies stand out from a lot of the other work being done in the community nowadays.
You can visit the game’s official Steam page now and read up on what to expect when the beta launches, or you can simply wait until September 23rd rolls around and immerse yourself in a few rounds on Dust with the added complication of zombies to slaughter. Either way, the game will be free, and if the buzz around the internet is any indication, servers will be booming on launch day.