When comparing StarCraft II vs Counter-Strike 1.6, the Slant community recommends Counter-Strike 1.6 for most people. In the question“What are the best LAN party PC games?” Counter-Strike 1.6 is ranked 7th while StarCraft II is ranked 30th. The most important reason people chose Counter-Strike 1.6 is:
Ranging from easy to expert, there are 4 difficulty modes available to the user. This way any skill level can enjoy the game.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro A free starter edition is available
With the Starter Edition, players can start the beginning of the campaign, compete in ranked ladder matches, and play anything in the Arcade (a mode that offers a huge selection community-created games and mods).
Pro Big player base
Has a very big player base and everyone will be able to find a suitable opponent whether you are a rookie or an experienced player.
Pro Well balanced, asymmetrical gameplay
Opposing teams will have completely different skillsets allowing players to take wholly different approaches toward completing the same goal. This makes for asymmetrical gameplay that has been painstakingly balanced.
Pro Campaign features an engaging story and acts as a tutorial
StarCraft II tells a very concise and cohesive story, exclusively featuring the Terran, with some exceptions during optional missions. During the campaign, the player is asked to make several choices which partially alter the storyline, as well as give access to some units, while making other completely unavailable. With a new unit unlocked nearly every mission, these levels utilize unique gameplay mechanics that highlight the specific uses of each new unit that is unlocked, thus allowing players to familiar with them. For example, one mission highlights the maneuverability of the Viking, an aircraft that can quickly fly across the map, killing other aerial units, and transforming to become a walking vehicle that can annihilate ground-based enemies.
Pro Gives in-game access to a wide variety of community created games/mods
Users can publish their mods to the game so that other players may then apply them in-game. This makes for easy access to a wide variety of mods and games.
Pro Has an active eSports scene
With a 1.6 million dollar prize pool for the world championships in 2015, StarCraft II has a very large and supported eSports scene that is participated in throughout the world.
Pro 4 difficulty modes to suit the player's preference and skill level
Ranging from easy to expert, there are 4 difficulty modes available to the user. This way any skill level can enjoy the game.
Pro Anyone can run the game as it easily runs on low end systems
Being an older game, it is able to be run on aging or underpowered systems without issue, meaning just about anyone can boot the game up and play it.
Pro Huge map selection with 18 maps available to the player
There are 18 maps available to play on, with three being the only ones selectable until the others are unlocked through progressive gameplay.
Pro Great for those looking for deep gameplay that requires dedication
For those looking for a deep first person shooter that requires a lot of dedication and skill, Counter Strike is a very popular option. While not for everyone, those that want to spend their time really learning all of the mechanics, maps and weapons in order to excel at a game, Counter Strike should fill that void.
Pro No need to worry about what OS is installed on your PC
Counter-Strike 1.6 can be installed and run on Windows, Linux and macOS, making it extremely flexible. This is great for those that run multiple OS's in their house, as they can still play the game on any of their machines.
Pro Very affordable
You can usually pick it up for just a few dollars on sale.
Pro Easily find matches thanks to the hugely active community
Despite the games age, it is extremely popular. This means there is no issue with finding online matches to play, no matter the time of day.
Pro nostalgia
If you used to play CS 1.6 with your friends at their/your house you know what i mean.
Cons
Con Starcraft I units are unavailable
They removed/replaced some of the units with new units. As of 2021 several mods of SC2 engine feat SC1 units are freely available
Con Difficult for beginners
Con Requires too much dedication and time
In order to be competitive in this game, dedication and practice are necessary, something that many players will simply not have the time for.
Con Dated game that shows its age
Released in the early 2000's, the graphical fidelity of the game shows its age quite a bit. This is to be expected of a game of this age, but may detract from the experience if graphics are an important part of a game to the player.
Con It's not competitive
It's not a competitive game at all,like any other CS game.
Maybe play it just for fun but also meh.