More than three years after it was removed from the competitive map pool and a week after Valve started teasing its return on social media, classic map Train has returned to Counter-Strike 2 with a visual overhaul, gameplay changes and pleasant rain effects.
Like other maps remade for CS2, the graphical improvements here are substantial, with more detailed environments, improved lighting and more vibrant colours – despite the prevailing precipitation. The rain effects are also advanced, with rain drops falling on your character, slickening surfaces, splashing into puddles and even running in small rivers. It makes for a relaxing soundscape too.
The gameplay changes are surprisingly far-reaching too, with more open A and B bombsites that actually remove a handful of the map’s characteristic trains and make the layout a little more friendly to new players – though there are still plenty of nooks and angles for everyone to learn.
Some iconic locations have also been changed, with the Heaven alcove above A site being removed and Pop Dog changing from a small ladder room to a longer passageway that connects A to the T spawn area and B. Thankfully, the Pop Dog graffiti remains, referencing the mascot of Barking Dog Studios that produced Counter-Strike Beta 5.0 and went onto develop Homeworld: Cataclsym the next year.