Counter-Strike 2 not only introduced a plethora of aesthetic changes to the game, but it also significantly altered the way professional teams approach the game. While Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) laid the foundation for professional teams, CS2 saw drastic changes in several areas of the game, which saw some of the older metas go out of fashion. One can argue that CS2 is more tactical than ever, and a big part of it can be attributed to the mechanics of the new game.
In this article, we will discuss the differences in approaches towards map control by the professional teams and how you can integrate it into your gameplay.
What is Map Control?
Before understanding how CS2 changed the way players take map control, we must understand what it is. Certain areas of maps offer advantages strategically for either side; the more area you have control over, the more control you have over your opponents. Having more area under your control on the map allows you to keep your opponents guessing while setting up your team. Being a game of information, map control is a critical part of the tactics, and in many cases, becomes the reason for teams to win or lose games.
The Sub-Tick System: Precision and Intentionality
Arguably, the biggest reason why the game underwent so many changes in almost every aspect is the introduction of the sub-tick system. While the sub-tick would provide more accuracy, the mixed feelings regarding how that accuracy translates in the game would likely divide opinions. However, whether we like it or not, we cannot ignore that there isn’t much we can do about it. This system greatly affects the team’s approach to map control primarily due to what it offers to players.
- More precise angles for holding and peeking.
- Utility time synchronisation has been improved.
This largely leads to more duels, allowing teams to either take or lose control of an area more often than not, and with the added benefit of better-timed utility, teams are more likely to take control of areas to place the players in more strategic locations.
With pre-fires and crouch peaks getting more and more precise, players are gaining the confidence to engage in fights, making map contention more skill-based as we see teams getting or losing map control swiftly, while CS:GO made it a game of patience.
Responsive Smoke Grenades: A Tactical Revolution
One of the game elements that changed the way Counter-Strike is played more than anything is the volumetric smokes. Not only did it bring a plethora of possibilities in the game, but it opened up several avenues for teams to be crafty with it.
- Bullets and Grenades create gaps in the smoke.
- Smokes expand to fill volumetric spaces.
While this took away several one-way smoke lineups that existed up until this point, having volumetric smokes made sure that even after dropping the most accurate smokes, it wasn’t a wise call to use them for crossing without worrying about someone opening it up with a grenade. Not only can teams drop a grenade, open up a smoke, and shoot the players behind, but teams can also create a facade with their smoke, open it up themselves, and catch players off guard. All of this made sure that even though throwing utility became easier than before, taking map control became a bit of a task, as it now would take an added layer of caution.
Cleaner Visuals and Map Readability
While most CS2 players prefer HD or a higher resolution, older players are used to the pixelated game running in 4:3 at the lowest resolution that they can get away with. The maps in CS2 made sure that the maps are more visible, vibrant, and players have a tough time trying to camouflage in tricky areas, which makes the overall experience more open.
- Better visibility in contested zones
- Fewer cluttered textures, aiding information gathering
- Enhanced long-range engagement clarity
All this enables players to make quicker decisions, take faster map control, thus making the whole map control process easier for players, translating to more action for the fans. Not only does this foster more confident control of chokepoints, but players also do not miss out on the little details anymore.
Improved Audio Design and Spatial Awareness
CS2 introduced an overhauled audio design that gave players more confidence in the audio cues. Accurate positional audio enables better readjustment from teams, which has resulted in a more accurate idea of timings, thus opening up avenues for map control.
- Subtle footsteps are more accurate and sharp.
- Accurate audio cues give a better idea of timing.
- Pre-aiming angle with better sound cues.
Changes like this may look subtle, but at the highest level of the game, players will go to extreme lengths to edge out the slightest advantages. Having better audio not only impacts their performance passively, but it also enables them to make better decisions and engage in fights more confidently.
Verdict
CS2 brought drastic changes to the game, and while teams took quite some time to adapt to it, now that it has been quite a while, teams are adapting to the new mechanics of CS2.
- The sub-tick system improves precision.
- Volumetric smokes make map control more tricky and tactical.
- Enhanced audio and visuals give players more information to work with.
Map control has always been one of the most crucial tactical aspects since the dawn of the game, and while approaches towards it have changed with the evolving meta, one cannot argue that map control remains something that every team needs to work on. While teams have been putting more emphasis on tactics, given the skill gap at the very top level is as close to non-existent as it can get, making a strong tactical approach the key area in which teams can shine.
Teams with potent map control strategies already have a great edge over the rest, and to be able to blend it well with the firepower, it becomes a distinct winning formula that can be hard to top for the rest of the teams.