Valve has undoubtedly made significant strides in advancing various aspects from CS:GO in their latest installment, Counter-Strike 2. These include enhanced graphics, the introduction of the Premier game mode, and an improved user interface. The sequel also features improvements in gameplay and mechanics, which begs the question if the smoke mechanics were preserved from its predecessor. Let’s find out!
Are Smokes In CS2 Different Than CS:GO?
Smokes have undergone a thorough rework in CS2, as they are no longer static and rotating around a spot like the ones we are used to playing within CS:GO. Instead, smokes are now 3-D objects whose spread is impacted by surrounding objects, including bullets.
The most notable change is that smoke grenades now expand to fill available spaces on the map instead of just blocking the area around their landing spot. This means that players will have to say goodbye to one-way smoke grenades, as the smokes now not only expand downwards if thrown on an elevated spot, but they also appear the same for everyone in the server.
That said, dynamic smokes aren’t the only thing Valve has mustered up. Counter-Strike 2 introduces many more features through the smoke mechanics revamp.
Smokes Have Different Colors
CS2 gives different colors to the smoke, depending on where the smoke grenade is thrown. Smokes thrown on CT-side have a bluish hue, while those covering T-side are brown in color. Interestingly, the smokes gradually turn gray with time, signaling that they are going to dissipate soon.
It seems like, therefore, that Valve has finally addressed the near impossibility of distinguishing an ally’s smoke from that of an enemy.
Smokes Are More Responsive
The new smoke mechanics in CS2 allow you to pierce holes through the smoke by shooting at it. Bullets now form temporary holes in the smoke, which you can see and shoot through. This is a big shift from the traditional Counter-Strike smoke gameplay, as now you can spam through the smokes to get frags with more certainty.
You can also completely clear off the smoke for a short while by throwing a grenade at it, after which it coalesces back into its original shape. This mechanic can be used to catch unsuspecting enemies on the other side of the smoke completely unaware, as you swing out immediately to get some frags after clearing the smoke with a grenade.
Conclusion
Out of all the upgrades from CS:GO, the smoke grenade rework is by far the most significant. The new smoke mechanics will most certainly redefine the CS2 meta, as players come up with new outplays using smoke and HE grenades. If you found our article informative, do remember to check out our other articles on CS2 for more insights, guides, and news!