The SAS model is a Scottish Special Forces unit that’s been seen in all of the Counter
Strikes to date.
During the beta he suffered from a seriously pointy head, before being given a make-over
for the proper release and then recoloured from blue to black for 1.6.
It’s worth knowing this, since the black and blue theme has persisted until the present
day.
Any way, this is the CS 1.6 model, already sporting his gas mask.
He got an HD make-over for Condition Zero which ups the poly-count, returns to blue
clothing and gives him a nice protective helmet to further confuse where his head hitbox actually
is.
There’s no question that this model is more detailed, though I do find the rimless reflective
goggles a strange choice.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t last for long since for Source, these were replaced with
transparent glass!
This is the best look at the guys behind the mask that we ever get to see for the SAS model
in Counter Strike.
The rest of the outfit remains remarkably similar to the style of the Condition Zero
model.
Though it wasn’t to last!
…For in Global Offensive they’ve left their helmet at home, and their gas masks
have been made opaque again.
This is an interesting design choice.
I’ve always considered transparency to be graphically superior to opaque.
I mean, surely with glass stuff you want to be able to see through them?
And yet for both this SAS model AND the Leet Krew model, it is only the Source version
to have see-through specs.
This is surely an artistic choice rather than a graphical limitation.
While there was only one design at any given moment for the earlier games, we’re given
6(!) different ones to play with for Global Offensive.
For the first time in the game’s history, we’re able to have black AND blue models
in-game at the same time!
I honestly think it was a bit of a wasted opportunity to keep them all looking so similar.
I mean, if you’re going to make more than one model then you might as well mix them
up a bit more, rather than just changing the shades of the straps and the strip on the
gas mask slightly.
But there is a 6th and rarely seen version as well- this black and white model.
And there’s more.
While the 5 you normally see have normal, reflective goggles, the magical super special
black and white sixth one has a red tint, instantly making him the darkest timeline
and supreme team leader.
Sadly since I use a black map to showcase these guys I’ve had to show these in-game
for you to be able to see it.
There’s always something that goes wrong with these videos.
Also, despite different pockets and stuff, all of these models have the same number of
polygons… except variantd which doesn’t have an axe on his back.
Finally, in late 2016, they updated them to the modern ones- the SAS were the first since
CS:GO’s release to get a refresh.
Gone are the 6 different types, now there’s just one.
And it’s the blue model with a nice matching blue strip around the gas mask.
We’ve gone full circle, back to the style used in the original Counter Strike’s official
launch again.
His larger eye-pieces give him a sweet innocent puppy-dog stare and it’s mega reflective
in-game, which is cool.
Perhaps more surprisingly, this newer high-def model is only 1,000 more than the older ones
and significantly fewer than with the new leet models.
I guess I expected it to be more than it is.
Comparing the wireframes of both explains a few things.
The new one may have more details, but the older one uses more polygons on what few details
it has.
There are lots of low-value polygons on the satchels around his body and in the lower
legs.
The newer one, although an ‘upgrade’, uses fewer in these areas and instead lavishes
them on new details that you’re more likely to notice.
The newer model is substantially more JIGGLY too.
Ragdolls are sooo last year.
It’s all about wobbly clothing now!
I can’t wait to see what they’ll do when they update Dust2’s IDF models.
There doesn’t appear to be a limit to it either.
Spin the mouse like a HELLBEAST and this guy’s radio flies out 90 degrees.
It’s only a matter of time before this gets a player killed in a professional match and
determines the outcome of an entire tournament.
Valve, please fix.
And lastly, here they all are next to each other.
What do you think?
Which do you like most?
Post your opinions down below,
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