Counter-Strike 2 vs Salamander

Counter-Strike 2 is the free-to-play successor to CS:GO, a tactical 5v5 shooter defined by precise gunplay, economy management, and deep competitive play built on the new Source 2 engine.

Released in 1986 by Konami, Salamander is a legendary side-scrolling and vertically scrolling shoot 'em up that serves as a spin-off to the Gradius series. Players navigate the iconic Vic Viper and Lord British ships through bizarre, organic environments to defeat the eponymous alien threat. Famed for its unique power-up system that discards the traditional capsule meter for a simpler instant-upgrade mechanic, Salamander also introduced simultaneous two-player cooperative play and alternating vertical and horizontal scrolling stages to the genre.

• Pure skill-based gunplay
• Free to play
• Huge esports scene
• Timeless 5v5 formula

• Simultaneous two-player cooperative gameplay
• Streamlined instant power-up system
• Varied horizontal and vertical scrolling stages
• Memorable bio-mechanical art design and soundtrack

• Steep learning curve
• Cheating in some ranks
• Toxic matchmaking at times

• High difficulty level can be punishing for newcomers
• Short overall campaign length typical of 1980s arcade games
• Limited modern platform availability compared to contemporaries