Special Forces Group 3 First Impressions: Mimicking A Classic Shooter Experience
Since I was nine years old, first-person shooters like Counter-Strike: Source and Halo have been a massive part of my childhood. I can still vividly remember the elatedness I felt playing Counter-Strike for the first time on an old windows computer. The computer was so dusty and broken down that, looking back, I wonder how it even turned on. Sometimes it feels a bit uneasy to know how much first-person shooters have changed since those good old days. Fortunately for me, I’ve come across a game that is bringing back that nostalgia: Special Forces Group 3.
Special Forces Group 3 is a free-to-play, first-person-shooter heavily inspired by Counter-Strike: Source and Counter-Strike 1.6. It features a wide range of maps to play, a variety of weapons, and the ability to play against others online, via Wi-Fi, or through LAN.
Image Credited to Special Forces Group 3 | ForgeGames
Special Forces Group 3 delivers a pleasingly old-school experience on every level, beginning with its extremely straightforward menu interface. There’s no threat of getting lost when pretty much all you can do is create or join lobbies. There are nine modes ranging from zombies to deathmatch and more. I headed straight for the “classic” mode, which deployed me into a map called Factory—essentially a re-creation of “cs_assault” from Counter-Strike.
Like its source of inspiration, Special Forces Group 3 features two sides to choose from: terrorists/guerilla fighters or special forces. While both sides feature some unique weapons, I didn't find either to have a serious advantage. Essentially these minor differences add a little flavor to the opposing factions without breaking the game balance.
Image Credited to Special Forces Group 3 | ForgeGames
Most of Special Forces Group 3’s maps mirror iconic maps from Counter-Strike with some minimal design changes. The game does a great job of replicating the classic maps enough to kick up nostalgia, while adding just enough differences that they’re not blatant rip-offs. The gameplay is polished, and I didn't encounter any crashes, bugs, or random glitches in walls. The mobility, fire rate, and weapons I used when playing felt balanced, and I liked that I could see how much damage I was dealing against enemies whenever they'd get shot.
While the gameplay design gets the job done, Special Forces Group 3 has a long way to go with its visual design. It doesn’t look totally terrible for a mobile Counter-Strike mimic, but there are definitely aspects that struck me as unfinished. Seeing as the game is still in open beta, some rough edges are to be expected, but in its current state, it definitely cannot compete on the same graphical playing field as the big dog first-person shooters it’s emulating.
Image Credited to Special Forces Group 3 | ForgeGames
I was also put off by Special Forces Group 3’s store menu. The various cosmetic bundles on offer were overpriced, and individual character skins cost $70 to $80. One Homeland Supplies case will run you nearly $9, all for the honor of receiving a single weapon cosmetic. I found the store to be the least enticing feature of the game, and I'd honestly rather play out of style than pay the absurd asking price for these cosmetics. Luckily, I didn’t have to spend a buck to play Special Forces Group 3, as the shop’s microtransactions were purely for in-game cosmetics.
Besides the outrageous “microtransaction” costs, I honestly enjoyed playing Special Forces Group 3 for its simplicity. This is a classic shooter—nothing more, nothing less. After playing through loads of classic matches, I was able to refresh myself by exploring other cool modes, like capture the flag and sniper. But in the end, Special Forces Group 3 stays true to its roots by providing a high-quality, first-person shooter experience. If you’re wondering if it’s worth giving a shot, ask yourself if you can hear that classic Counter-Strike radio shout playing in your head. If yes, you know what to do: “Go, go, go!”
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