CrossFire

Pros

• Wide variety of game types
• Excellent gameplay mechanics
• Free to play

Cons

• Cosmetic upgrades can be pricey
• Issues with hackers
• Dwindling playerbase

CrossFire is a competitive first-person shooter that pits mercenary units against one another in a variety of game modes.

Many video game enthusiasts will be surprised to hear that CrossFire used to be one of the most popular first-person shooters in the world, and this game broke countless records. At one point, the development team claimed that they had over 650 million active accounts with upwards of eight million users logging on every day. While the game is now showing its age, it is still an excellent option for those who are fans of the competitive FPS genre.

Some people consider CrossFire to be a Counter-Strike clone, and there are some key similarities between these two games. CrossFire originally started as a competitive FPS that takes place in modern settings. The most popular match type used to be the traditional team deathmatch, but that has changed over the years. There are now dozens of different game types to choose from, and there is a little something for everyone. Over the years, both the developers and avid fans of the game have produced some amazing custom content ranging from zombie survival matches to sniper competitions.

In many of the competitive games, you are going to choose between Global Risk or Black List. While those two factions have different emblems and clothing, there are no mechanical differences. With the basic deathmatch, you are going to work with a squad of up to eight players to take out the other squad. The total length of each game depends on the settings that the host has chosen. Some games are going to be over within just 20 or 30 kills while others require 100 or more kills.

There are currently over 25 different game modes to choose from, and there are countless variations currently being played. Luckily, the ability to customize each game type gives this game an incredible amount of replayability, and most fans of first-person shooters should be able to find at least a few modes that they enjoy. If you simply want to work with a few friends against AI opponents, then you can host a private zombie infection game. Those who are interested in climbing the online leaderboards will need to focus on team deathmatch, plant the bomb, and capture the flag.

Even though modders have introduced countless new weapons to this game, the base install comes with eight different weapon classes. Each class has its own pros and cons, and you will need to find a weapon that suits your style of play. As you progress through the game, you can also customize your loadouts with personalized emblems and new graphics for your weapons. During each match, you will earn points that can be used to customize your character’s appearance as well as the appearance of your weapons, but many people simply pay for those upgrades. Unfortunately, purchasing those upgrades with real money can be very pricey, and that payment model has driven some people away.

One of the reasons why this game became so popular is because the mechanics are extremely crisp. While there are some slight balance issues, the overall gameplay is incredibly solid. The squads that can work together will usually come out on top, and you must master your weaponry if you want to win your one-on-one skirmishes. The top players also spend quite a bit of time memorizing each of the maps so that they know where all of the chokepoints are.

The mechanics in Crossfire are very good, but there are some drawbacks as well. CrossFire is now well over a decade old, and that means the graphics are outdated. Some mods can be used to improve the graphics, but the overall look is still relatively bland. The playerbase has also dwindled over the years, and you will probably want to search their forums and message boards if you want to find other active players. Thousands of people are still on the servers, but they are often playing custom games with groups of friends.

Hackers are another major problem in this game, and cheaters can make competitive games very unenjoyable. Some of the most competitive servers are filled to the brim with active cheaters who are using a wide variety of hacks to come out on top. That being said, you can still find quite a few servers that contain old fans of this game who simply want to continue playing a classic FPS.

Pros

• Wide variety of game types
• Excellent gameplay mechanics
• Free to play

Cons

• Cosmetic upgrades can be pricey
• Issues with hackers
• Dwindling playerbase