Night Watch review

Fans of foreign horror/thrillerfilms have already seen Night Watch. The stunning and stylish adaptation of Sergei Lukyanenko's Russian novel flew through US theaters last year, but attracted enough of a cult that someone decided to adapt the movie's universeinto a game.

Night Watch centers on the conflict between Light and Dark Others - extraordinary humans who wield sorcery in an unseen war. Both factions are engaged in an uneasy truce - the Light enforce this truce with a shadowy police force called the Night Watch.

Billed as a "tactical role playing game," Night Watch is actually a turn-based strategy game with a jumbo side-order of adventure, due to its heavy-handed linear story. Instead of the typical choose your race/gender/hair initiation rite, you automatically play as Stas, a young Other who has just discovered his true nature and chooses the path of the Light.

As Stas, you'll develop your natural skill, and the only real choice you'll have is whether to become a Shapeshifter, Enchanter or Mage. Shapeshifters take the form of powerful animals, dealing out damage with slicey-dicey claw attacks. Enchanters imbue objects with magic, making talismans that can heal, recharge energies or drain enemies of their strength. And if you choose to be a Mage, you'll learn to harness sorcery and attack your foes with direct magical strikes.