Changes to layout, visuals, and balance were made

Dec 11, 2014 15:09 GMT  ·  By

The overhauled version of the Train map for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has just received some more details from developer Valve, alongside a few screenshots and a video showcasing the level's all-new layout and visuals.

CS:GO had the tough job of reconciling two vastly different fan groups within the Counter-Strike franchise, as it was set to feature the best elements from the 1.6 and Source iterations, while bringing plenty of other new elements.

The first version released to the world back in 2011 wasn't exactly the best, but Valve took great care of the multiplayer shooter, and over time, lots of players started jumping into the experience, while fueling the game's rise into the eSports hall of fame, alongside Dota 2 or League of Legends.

Train is back in CS:GO

The title has just received its latest update, and besides tweaks to certain guns and the support for the winter holiday mode, the patch also brought back classic map Train.

Now, Valve has dedicated a special page to the revamped level, highlighting the core philosophy behind the major changes made in layout, design, and visuals, as opposed to the previous version that was a part of CS:GO's regular map rotation until a few months ago.

"Train is a memorable and classic Counter-Strike map. We're excited to begin a new chapter in the history of Train by releasing a new and upgraded version for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. We've rebuilt the map from the ground up in order to improve both the visual appearance and competitive gameplay balance of this iconic location," the studio explains.

Valve wants better balance and less clutter

According to the studio, one of the main goals was to make the level more balanced, so that both Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists could have a chance at winning a match. It also eliminated the many different hiding spots in order to make entering a bombsite less complex.

"Our primary goals were to improve the gameplay balance of the map while simultaneously upgrading the overall visual experience. This meant making more intuitive layout changes, then re-interpreting large and small-scale environment elements to improve judgment of space and distance," it adds.

As you can see in the screenshots below, the bombsites have been extensively redesigned for added balance but also to ensure that neither side has an advantage. Valve's explanations are also really good and show just how much time and strategy went into remaking the classic map.

You can admire the new Train in the video and screenshots below. The level is available in CS:GO as part of the Operation Vanguard map group.

CS:GO new Train map (9 Images)

The new A bombsite on Train
A bombsite on new TrainCT tunnels
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