For almost what should seem like a eventful year, I have been playing the
widely known online multiplayer game: Counter-Strike. Nolf is my favorite single
player game, and CS my favorite multiplayer game. Now, I've given up on CS.
If any of you have played CS, like I have, you probably know why. Cheating.
Pure and simple, the use of online cheats and hacks have pretty much destroyed
anything fun that CS had.
As far I know, Nolf didn't have any cheats that could be used in multi. (except
that one I discovered but never told anyone about, you might know it) Which
is why multiplayer was so fun - to me anyway - because there were no judgments
made on good players and no cheating to ruin people's fun. It was a virgin
multiplayer experience, so to speak, it hadn't been violated.
So here comes the main point of this column. Is it wrong to use cheats in
single player? After all, you aren't depriving or cheating anyone but the AI
in the game... unlike in CS where you cheated against other humans. Really
though, you are only cheating yourself out of a great gaming experience like
Nolf2, unless you have already beaten the game.
Because in my mind, developers add cheats to a game to 1. Test the game out
for bugs and glitches, and 2. To provide an extra amount of fun to a game after
you've already played it into the ground. And since most of us don't get to
take part in number 1, we have to relish in the fact that number 2 exists just
for us. Actually, the cheats in Nolf 1/2 gave me an added appreciation for
the game. If you don't have the full game of Nolf2, bring up your official
demo and play any one of the missions. Turn on invisibility and wonder around
the level quietly, some of the little details you'll notice just blows my mind.
It's so interesting to follow the guards while they walk their patrol. In the
submarine mission, one of the guards even pulls out a little canteen of alcohol
and drinks while no one is looking. It goes to show you how the smallest little
details can make a game so much better. And without those cheats, you probably
wouldn't see that.
Okay, think back to 98/99. What game was most of us playing around that time?
I sure remember what I was playing: Goldeneye on N64. In my opinion... First
Person Shooter gaming at it's finest. Once I beat that game on all three difficulties
I headed for the cheat section for some new fun. Once again, the cheats in
GE showed me that there was more in the game than meets the eye. Oh... and
it made the game a hell of a lot more fun. In many single player games, cheats
add another dimension that make the game more playable. Which in turn, keeps
the game in your console, or on your hard drive for a longer time.
I think you just have to come back to the fact that it isn't H.A.R.M.ing (sorry
for pun) anyone, unlike a cheat in a multiplayer game can. Cheating in a multiplayer
game is just wrong, it ruins fun for everyone. But, in my not so humble opinion,
I have no problem with cheating in a single player game... Well, actually,
cheating in single player is annoying if the cheater hasn't beaten the game
prior to using the cheats.
Finally... Nothing made me madder than getting killed by a cheater in Counter-Strike...
But Nolf2 single player is a far cry from CS. And remember, the AI in Nolf2
might seem human, but I'm sure they won't get mad if you type in that cheat
code for a little extra fun. :)
