Software:Shadow Watch

From HandWiki
Shadow Watch
Shadow Watch - Front Cover.jpg
Developer(s)Red Storm Entertainment
Publisher(s)Red Storm Entertainment
Designer(s)Kevin Perry
Composer(s)Bill Brown
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: April 13, 2000[1]
  • EU: April 18, 2000
  • UK: 2001
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing, turn-based tactics
Mode(s)Single-player

Shadow Watch is a 2000 Microsoft Windows video game by Red Storm Entertainment.

Gameplay

It is a turn-based tactics game in which the player fights a conspiracy to halt construction of an international space station. It is based on the Tom Clancy's Power Plays novel Shadow Watch.

The player's team consists of six operatives, each of which has a specialist skill. These abilities can be upgraded and characters learn moves after enough experience points are earned.

Missions are somewhat randomised, and often the story mode will branch out into several paths. Most missions involve killing all of the enemies, but other missions include stealing a package, retrieving a hostage, defending a location. Missions typically have a difficulty and alarm rating, some missions will automatically fail if the alarm is sounded.

In a mission, characters have a certain number of action points (APs). Most actions (shooting weapons, opening doors) cost 1 AP, whereas some moves can consume more. Characters can get injured, and a severe injury will automatically fail the mission.

The music for the game was composed by Bill Brown.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings62%[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSP2.5/5 stars[4]
CGW2.5/5 stars[5]
GameFan70%[7]
GameSpot7/10[8]
GameSpy54%[9]
GameZone7/10[10]
IGN8.4/10[1]
Next Generation1/5 stars[11]
PC Gamer (US)71%[13]

The game received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[2] Christian A. O'Brien of NextGen said in an early review, "Unless you want to trudge through medieval technology and game play, pass right on by Shadow Watch. It belongs in the history books."[11] GamePro said that the game was "perfect for a quick mission, with none of the elaborate notes you have to employ for tracking inventory, research, and travels in larger, more complex turn-based tactical games."[14][lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. GamePro gave the game 2.5/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 4/5 for control, and 3.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 IGN staff (April 17, 2000). "Shadow Watch [Incomplete Review"]. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173428/http://pc.ign.com/reviews/11650.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Shadow Watch for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190602015323/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198607-shadow-watch/index.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  3. Bub, Andrew S. (April 11, 2000). "Shadow Watch". CNET. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000815085404/http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3977,00.html. Retrieved June 18, 2021. 
  4. Mayer, Robert (March 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on June 9, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030609204621/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/169/shadoww_review.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  5. Liberatore, Robert (June 2000). "Do Looks Kill? (Shadow Watch Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (191): 118. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230410105218/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_191.pdf. Retrieved November 27, 2023. 
  6. Walker, Mark H. (September 11, 2000). "Shadow Watch". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061020185620/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=3098. Retrieved November 27, 2023. 
  7. "REVIEW for Shadow Watch". GameFan (Shinno Media). June 15, 2000. 
  8. Ryan, Michael E. (April 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 25, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050325052615/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/shadowwatch/review.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  9. Timperley, Nate (May 4, 2000). "Shadow Watch". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 4, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020204110409/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/shadowwatch_a.shtm. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  10. Shif, Gil Alexander (June 9, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review". Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080406152457/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r14127.htm. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 O'Brien, Christian A. (April 2000). "Shadow Watch". NextGen (Imagine Media) (64): 94. https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n95/mode/2up. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  12. Rausch, Allen (April 2000). "Shadow Watch". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (20): 73. https://archive.org/details/PCXL20Apr2000/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved June 18, 2021. 
  13. Werner, Nash (June 2000). "Shadow Watch". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (6). Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315143418/https://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/shadow_watch.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  14. Brenesal, Barry (April 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). Archived from the original on February 19, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050219001023/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5264.shtml. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 

External links