Software:Night Watch (video game)

From HandWiki
Night Watch
Night Watch, Ночной дозор Windows Cover Art.jpg
Developer(s)Nival Interactive
Publisher(s)CDV Software
EngineSilent Storm engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • RUS: August 18, 2005
  • NA: June 26, 2006[1]
  • EU: September 15, 2006
Genre(s)Tactical RPG
Mode(s)Single-player

Night Watch (Russian: «Ночной дозор») is a tactical role-playing game[2][3] developed by Russian developer Nival Interactive, and based on the Russian novel and the film of the same name. It features a group of Light Others trying to combat the schemes of Day Watch.

The game was released in Russia in 2005 and in the rest of the world by CDV in 2006. A sequel, Day Watch, was released in 2007.[4] The game is powered by the Silent Storm engine.

Characters

  • Stas — the main character from the story. He became the Light Other in the beginning of the story. He has a short temper and a gung ho attitude. Has a tendency to make wisecracks in tense situations. If the player chooses the shapeshifter class, Stas shifts into a dog.
  • Vera — a recently recruited member of Night Watch. She was initiated by Geser (the leader of the Night Watch in the novels). Tends to act as a voice of reason of the group. She turns into a panther (if shapeshifter).
  • Yurik — a goodhearted, but somewhat naive member of Night Watch. He was ambushed by Light Others, only to be rescued by Stas. Comes with a 'magical' credit card, which can be used in a near bank, within the same level, for some advanced equipment. If shapeshifter, changes into a wolf.
  • Anna — a recently recruited member of Day Watch. Stas was supposed to kill her as part of his initiation. She does not become a playable character until the middle of the game, when she teams up with Stas to stop Zavulon's scheme.

Plot

Over the course of the game, it was revealed that both Day Watch and Night Watch found a way to change the potential Others' affiliation via electronic transmitters. Stas was one of its first test subjects, as he was originally supposed to be a Dark Other. Zavulon was planning to take advantage of the spell by converting all the potential Others in Russia into Dark Others.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic54/100[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comD+[6]
CGM1.5/5 stars[7]
CGW(unfavorable)[8]
Eurogamer5/10[9]
GameSpot5.4/10[10]
GameSpy3/5 stars[11]
GameZone6.3/10[12]
IGN6/10[13]
PC Gamer (US)43%[14]
X-Play2/5 stars[15]
The New York Times (mixed)[16]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5]

References

  1. IGN staff (June 26, 2006). "Look Out for Night Watch". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/06/26/look-out-for-night-watch. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  2. Ocampo, Jason (April 13, 2006). "Night Watch Exclusive Hands-On - Combat, Classes, and Turning a Hit Russian Movie Into a Game". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/night-watch-exclusive-hands-on-combat-classes-and-turning-a-hit-russian-movie-into-a-game/1100-6147623/. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  3. Thompson, Mike (June 22, 2006). "Night Watch". Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071228055845/http://www.gamehelper.com/magazine/previews/night-watch. Retrieved November 26, 2007. 
  4. GamesIndustry International (May 16, 2007). "Gamers Gate launch worldwide download premiere: Day Watch". Gamer Network. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamers-gate-launch-worldwide-download-premiere-day-watch. Retrieved March 28, 2017. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Night Watch for PC Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/night-watch/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  6. Coffey, Robert (July 5, 2006). "Night Watch". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105064640/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3151978&did=1. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  7. "Review: Night Watch". Computer Games Magazine (theGlobe.com) (191): 80. October 2006. 
  8. Coffey, Robert (September 2006). "Night Watch". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (266): 96. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_266.pdf. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  9. Clare, Oliver (September 12, 2006). "Night Watch". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-nightwatch-pc. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  10. Mueller, Greg (July 10, 2006). "Night Watch Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/night-watch-review/1900-6153749/. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  11. Harker, Carla (July 20, 2006). "GameSpy: Night Watch". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 12, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060812092551/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/night-watch/719922p1.html. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  12. Aceinet (July 20, 2006). "Night Watch - PC - Review". Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081004174129/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r26408.htm. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  13. McNamara, Tom (July 13, 2006). "Night Watch". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/13/night-watch. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  14. "Night Watch". PC Gamer (Future US) 13 (10): 88. October 2006. 
  15. Coffey, Robert (August 8, 2006). "Night Watch". G4. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081122015708/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1228/Night_Watch.html. Retrieved June 30, 2022. 
  16. Herold, Charles (August 3, 2006). "One Game for a Small Screen, Another for Fans of Ed Wood". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170715092155/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/technology/03game.html?ex=1155268800&en=a4f288570a85e192&ei=5070&emc=eta1. Retrieved June 30, 2022. (Subscription content?)

External links