Night Watch (video game)

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.

Night Watch
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

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.

Nobody sells this game in 2024.[5]

Characters

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  • 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

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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

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The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6]

References

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  1. ^ IGN staff (June 26, 2006). "Look Out for Night Watch". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. 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". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Thompson, Mike (June 22, 2006). "Night Watch". Game Helper Magazine. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  4. ^ GamesIndustry International (May 16, 2007). "Gamers Gate launch worldwide download premiere: Day Watch". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  5. ^ "Facebook: related comment from Sergey Orlovsky - Nival founder". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  6. ^ a b "Night Watch for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  7. ^ Coffey, Robert (July 5, 2006). "Night Watch". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  8. ^ "Review: Night Watch". Computer Games Magazine. No. 191. theGlobe.com. October 2006. p. 80.
  9. ^ Coffey, Robert (September 2006). "Night Watch" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 266. Ziff Davis. p. 96. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Clare, Oliver (September 12, 2006). "Night Watch". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Mueller, Greg (July 10, 2006). "Night Watch Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  12. ^ Harker, Carla (July 20, 2006). "GameSpy: Night Watch". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 12, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Aceinet (July 20, 2006). "Night Watch - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  14. ^ McNamara, Tom (July 13, 2006). "Night Watch". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  15. ^ "Night Watch". PC Gamer. Vol. 13, no. 10. Future US. October 2006. p. 88.
  16. ^ Coffey, Robert (August 8, 2006). "Night Watch". X-Play. G4. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  17. ^ 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. Retrieved June 30, 2022.(subscription required)
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