Night Watch(2005 game)

[rusty_shackleford]

https://www.mobygames.com/game/28457/night-watch/

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If people are in the mood for more Russia + RPG, there's one with an urban fantasy spin on it called Night Watch from 2006 that was built in the Silent Storm engine. Might be hard to find though, since it is abandonware now and not on any digital stores.

@Tadeusz

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[rusty_shackleford]

Might want to consider using a sandbox if you're on Windows, I don't scan any of this stuff

Sandboxie is an open-source OS-level virtualization solution for Microsoft Windows. It is a sandboxing solution that creates an isolated operating environment in which applications can run without permanently modifying the local system. This virtual environment allows for controlled testing of untrusted programs and web surfing.

I typically use this to have multiple versions of programs installed, but it's good practice to run untrusted software in a sandbox. Highly suggest it for piracybros

[flecktarn]

Oh, boy; I remember playing this way back when. I think they even use some of the same voiceactors from the Hammer and Sickle game, which is also based on the Silent Storm engine.

[Humbaba]

Roosty: grrrr I hate women and minorities
Also roosty: hmmm this game looks good

[Trickster]

This game is absolute dogshit, with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik. Don't play it.

[rusty_shackleford]

with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik.

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

[J1M]

FYI there is a sequel that will probably be even harder to come by: https://www.mobygames.com/game/44192/day-watch/

[Trickster]

with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik.

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

No, you misunderstand me. The story isn't just bad - it's like someone took every cringy trope from 2000s Russian urban fantasy novels and vomited them into a game. It's a dumpster fire of ****** ******** masquerading as lore, reeking of poor taste and gypsy swindler logic (this game unironically features time travel to Nazi Germany. I don't even remember why - the explanation was so pathetic I quit right there). There's this weird russian patriotism with performative americophobia. Post-Soviet 'humor' with that distinct Russian lowlife aesthetic.
You can find all this in works by authors like Dmitry Yemets or Sergei Lukyanenko (whose books the game adapts). And let's be clear - this is extremely niche entertainment.

[rusty_shackleford]

with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik.

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

No, you misunderstand me. The story isn't just bad - it's like someone took every cringy trope from 2000s Russian urban fantasy novels and vomited them into a game. It's a dumpster fire of ****** ******** masquerading as lore, reeking of poor taste and gypsy swindler logic (this game unironically features time travel to Nazi Germany. I don't even remember why - the explanation was so pathetic I quit right there). There's this weird russian patriotism with performative americophobia. Post-Soviet 'humor' with that distinct Russian lowlife aesthetic.
You can find all this in works by authors like Dmitry Yemets or Sergei Lukyanenko (whose books the game adapts). And let's be clear - this is extremely niche entertainment.

Sounds great

[MrTwinkls]

with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik.

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

No, you misunderstand me. The story isn't just bad - it's like someone took every cringy trope from 2000s Russian urban fantasy novels and vomited them into a game. It's a dumpster fire of ****** ******** masquerading as lore, reeking of poor taste and gypsy swindler logic (this game unironically features time travel to Nazi Germany. I don't even remember why - the explanation was so pathetic I quit right there). There's this weird russian patriotism with performative americophobia. Post-Soviet 'humor' with that distinct Russian lowlife aesthetic.
You can find all this in works by authors like Dmitry Yemets or Sergei Lukyanenko (whose books the game adapts). And let's be clear - this is extremely niche entertainment.

The movies were bad too.

[gerey]

features time travel to Nazi Germany

I assume you can't side with them?

[J1M]

with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik.

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

No, you misunderstand me. The story isn't just bad - it's like someone took every cringy trope from 2000s Russian urban fantasy novels and vomited them into a game. It's a dumpster fire of ****** ******** masquerading as lore, reeking of poor taste and gypsy swindler logic (this game unironically features time travel to Nazi Germany. I don't even remember why - the explanation was so pathetic I quit right there). There's this weird russian patriotism with performative americophobia. Post-Soviet 'humor' with that distinct Russian lowlife aesthetic.
You can find all this in works by authors like Dmitry Yemets or Sergei Lukyanenko (whose books the game adapts). And let's be clear - this is extremely niche entertainment.

It's literally a game made by russians in 2005 based on a russian novel from 1998 and related to a russian movie from 2004. So your criticism is that it is... authentic?

Hope you can recover from anime-brain soon.

[gerey]

So your criticism is that it is... authentic?

I think the criticism is that it features many of the stereotypical elements of Russian slop.

Sometimes adaptations elevate what is trash into passable entertainment (think Witcher or Metro), so there's an argument to be made about not staying faithful to the source material if it is objectively ****.

I remember watching the Night Watch movie and it genuinely made no ******* sense.

[Trickster]

So it's better than RPGs written now you say?

No, you misunderstand me. The story isn't just bad - it's like someone took every cringy trope from 2000s Russian urban fantasy novels and vomited them into a game. It's a dumpster fire of ****** ******** masquerading as lore, reeking of poor taste and gypsy swindler logic (this game unironically features time travel to Nazi Germany. I don't even remember why - the explanation was so pathetic I quit right there). There's this weird russian patriotism with performative americophobia. Post-Soviet 'humor' with that distinct Russian lowlife aesthetic.
You can find all this in works by authors like Dmitry Yemets or Sergei Lukyanenko (whose books the game adapts). And let's be clear - this is extremely niche entertainment.

It's literally a game made by russians in 2005 based on a russian novel from 1998 and related to a russian movie from 2004. So your criticism is that it is... authentic?

Hope you can recover from anime-brain soon.

There is nothing authentic about it. Bad movie, bad game, bad book. Even back then, they were considered terrible — people literally called them "Night Shame". And you're defending Lukyanenko? Clearly haven't read his books.

[Trickster]

So your criticism is that it is... authentic?

I think the criticism is that it features many of the stereotypical elements of Russian slop.

Sometimes adaptations elevate what is trash into passable entertainment (think Witcher or Metro), so there's an argument to be made about not staying faithful to the source material if it is objectively ****.

I remember watching the Night Watch movie and it genuinely made no ******* sense.

Yes.
You perfectly understood what I'm trying to say.

[Norfleet]

At the same time, it is now 2025, so slop has had 20 years to get even worse. Since there is always more, and it is always worse, it stands to reason that what was awful schlock 20 years ago is probably at least average or better by now. Give it 200 years and it'll become high art if it survives.

[wndrbr]

This game is absolute dogshit, with a plot written at the literacy level of a meth-head gopnik. Don't play it.

what you call 'dogshit' is a quirky niche soulful eurojank for the westerners.

[Bertram_Tung]

So your criticism is that it is... authentic?

I think the criticism is that it features many of the stereotypical elements of Russian slop.

Sometimes adaptations elevate what is trash into passable entertainment (think Witcher or Metro), so there's an argument to be made about not staying faithful to the source material if it is objectively ****.

I remember watching the Night Watch movie and it genuinely made no ******* sense.

I remember seeing that in the theater. I can't remember anything but a swimming pool.

[Tadeusz]

Installing it right now. This process is slow for some reason so perhaps it may take a few hours. I'll keep you updated.

[Tadeusz]

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[Tadeusz]

It works!

► Some screenshots

Night_Watch_Screenshot_1.jpg

Night_Watch_Screenshot_2.jpg

Night_Watch_Screenshot_3.jpg

Night_Watch_Screenshot_4.jpg

Night_Watch_Screenshot_5.jpg

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[PixiGreen]

There is even one video about the game on youtube!

[rusty_shackleford]

It works!

► Some screenshots

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Crashes for me

Also, brave seems to think that's a virus, I dunno

[Tadeusz]

Also, brave seems to think that's a virus, I dunno

It's a common reaction to such executables. Had a warning from my browser about it too.
I have a different game in my plans right now so I'll come back to the Night Watch after that, perhaps with a mini review after a completion.

[rusty_shackleford]

ughhhhh it's packed with starforce 3

[Tadeusz]

Knockback is the best skill!

► Show Spoiler

[Tadeusz]

Completed this game recently and had a lot of fun with it. Here's my review:
Special mechanics. That's what I love about old russian games - interesting ideas and experimental mechanics. Night Watch's special mechanic is the Gloom. Gameplay wise it's a special state that a character can go in that applies some effects, namely increasing AP (action points), magic spell levels and magic spell damage with the downside of draining EP (energy points, mana basically) at the end of every turn and when EP is empty then the HP is drained. Most fights are done in the Gloom so it creates a necessity for EP management.
Combat. There's a lot of combat in the game. The game structure is basically a sequence of missions with some dialogues in between and missions usually consist of waves of enemies with a boss or a harder encounter in the end of the mission. There's no exploration or shops so nothing really distracts from fights. Fights are decent in my opinion and some are pretty hard but manageable. It's worth mentioning that many objects on the map are destructible. I also had a few laughs with the knockback effects as in-game models are flying in a ragdoll fashion (you can see it in the videos in the post above).
Classes and skills. There are 3 classes in the game - shapeshifter, enchanter and mage.
Shapeshifters are fighters basically that can transform into some animal. Most of their skills are only available in the animal form. I like how different characters turn into different animals. It's just for flavor but it's a neat detail.
Mages are your usual casters - deal large damage from a distance.
Enchanters are interesting as they are crafters and supporters. They have some buffs and debuffs and can also create consumables by charging some items that drop from enemies with magic. Consumables are a big deal in this game and they can be spent very fast in tougher battles. These consumables include a variety of items: consumables that give HP and EP, consumables that give buffs or debuffs, a melee weapon with a limited amount of hits and charges for a ranged weapon.
A character can acquire one skill every level that is available to his class. All skills have their own experience bars that fill up when they are used so the skill's progression is not tied to the character's progression.
Plot. The writing of the game is simple overall and silly at times. All necessary concepts of the world are presented and explained so it's not necessary to learn about the game world before playing the game. The plot is basically different sides playing 5D chess with each other though I like how it all ties up in the end. I like that this game is a sort of a time capsule - it's set it in the world of popular books at that time and there are some lines that reference the realities of that time (like Stas mentioning that he spent his minutes on his phone for example).

All in all, another gem found! Kudos to @J1M for mentioning the game and @rusty_shackleford for providing the game's .iso.

[Tadeusz]

I was in the mood to play some jank so I decided to play Day Watch, a sequel to Night Watch. They are very similar in gameplay though there are some additions. Day Watch felt easier than Night Watch and I didn't have to rely on consumables that much. That may be due to mission modifiers and a possibility to skip some fights. Some additions are pretty fun like an ability to destroy walls and floors. Bypass enemies stealthily by making a new hole in the wall!
What was added:
- New vampire class and new abilities for other classes. Many new abilities are powerful but require a consumable of a certain kind to use them (a tennis ball for a strong projectile attack, a ragdoll to summon a creature and so on). Vampire class is pretty powerful but the companion with it can be taken only instead of two companions with other classes;
- There's now a hub between missions that allows to choose a party composition for the next mission. The choice is between 2 male companions (a shapeshifter and a mage), 2 female companions (a shapeshifter and a witch) and 1 vampire (though he's not always available);
- When leaving the hub, there's now a minigame that determines some additional effects for the mission (like better drop, weaker or stronger enemies and an availability of new options to evade combat);
- A new class of special abilities was added. These abilities cost 0 action points but have a mass cooldown (only 1 ability can be used by the whole group in 3-5 actions usually). These abilities have certain requirements like having a certain skill or having a certain party composition (2 witches, 3 party members with any classes and so on). They are strong but don't change combat dramatically;
- Verticality was present in the previous game but it's usefulness is apparent in Day Watch in some missions. It's possible to kill enemies by throwing them from a high ground. Neat!