Night Watch (video game) explained
Night Watch (Russian: «Ночной дозор») is a tactical role-playing game[1] [2] 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.[3] 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. He 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). She 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. Yurik 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
The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
Notes and References
- Web site: Ocampo. Jason. April 13, 2006. Night Watch Exclusive Hands-On - Combat, Classes, and Turning a Hit Russian Movie Into a Game. GameSpot. Red Ventures. June 30, 2022. June 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220630021604/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/night-watch-exclusive-hands-on-combat-classes-and-turning-a-hit-russian-movie-into-a-game/1100-6147623/. live.
- Web site: Thompson. Mike. June 22, 2006. Night Watch. Game Helper Magazine. November 26, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071228055845/http://www.gamehelper.com/magazine/previews/night-watch. December 28, 2007. dead.
- Web site: GamesIndustry International. May 16, 2007. Gamers Gate launch worldwide download premiere: Day Watch. GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. March 28, 2017. March 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195521/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gamers-gate-launch-worldwide-download-premiere-day-watch. live.