NiGHTS
Returns…
For 11 years, NiGHTS
has been asleep in the land of dreams, to finally be reawakened
by SEGA. The hit video game of 1996 has a
new installment: “NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams” for the
Nintendo Wii. With re-envisioned gameplay and story by a changed
Sonic Team, fans and newcomers take a hard look at what’s
in store. The light, airy world of NiGHTS has become more of a
dark dreamland akin to that of the “Neverending Story”.
The graphics and level design impress, but the gameplay and story
pull down what could have been another SEGA masterpiece. However,
to the delight of gamers around the world, SEGA of Japan has released
a graphically-updated remake of the first NiGHTS game.
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NiGHTS:
Into Dreams – PS2 Revision |
In 1996, “NiGHTS
Into Dreams” for the SEGA Saturn introduced players to
the land of dreams where they could have fun flying around
a whimsical wonderland known as Nightopia with the help of
a friendly jester named NiGHTS. The story began with a boy
and a girl who were having difficulty achieving personal goals
and became gripped with the fear of failure. As they fell asleep
at night, they ran into the world of Nightopia and the character
NiGHTS who lives there. With NiGHTS’ help, the player
would defeat pesky nightmarens who were encroaching upon Nightopia,
and, as a result, the children who were dreaming up this whole
adventure gained the confidence they needed to succeed in their
lives. With SEGA’s newest NiGHTS title for the Nintendo Wii, the
story has turned darker, convoluted, and scary. Two children again
are the focal point of the storyline, but developers drew too heavily
on a long-winded script that has players questioning if they should
even like or trust the friendly jester NiGHTS only a quarter through
the game. As stage after stage unfolds, there are more pop-psychology
explanations of the current level’s layout in relation to
the child character’s emotional state than entertaining gameplay.
In 1996, your greatest enemy was a comical looking alarm clock
that could kick you out of dreamland is things went sour, but now
the player’s character can expect serious in dream death
threats, a la “The Matrix”, and, if time runs out,
creepy ghosts come to wake one up.
The draw of the original
NiGHTS’ game was the concept of
flying and the unique gameplay of fluidly flipping through the
air to accomplish goals or speed runs on a course that had multiple
paths to roam. This concept has been improved upon in a few ways,
such as adding objects that either aid of hinder you in your acrobatic
exploits, however this joy is short lived when the main level ends
so quickly and mini-games which are relative to the environment
are a laborious requirement to get to the next level. The controls
also suffer from a bad lag issue. You can toy around with the Wii
remote, but if you want to advance in the game you will most-likely
need a Wii classic controller. Even after, however, the game lacks
the seamless fluidity of the original.
The graphics are
smooth and the environment designs are beautiful. When the world
of dreams shines, there is a sparkle to it as well. The downside
is that is hard to appreciate it amid the constant oppression of
nightmaren elements. The realm of the nightmarens can be described
as hellish which is in contrast to the warped comical appearance
of bad guy stages from “Into Dreams”. The greatest feature
of the game is its soundtrack which is enhanced and amplified
by a full orchestra. This extremely well thought
out score has all the feeling of a dream world with zippy, carefree
melodies and calming lullaby-like entries. The nightmare sequences
are in tune with what is on screen and are very similar in nature
to the first game’s music. Several tracks are actually borrowed
from “NiGHTS Into Dreams”.
NiGHTS Journey
of Dreams for the Wii is too far removed from the first game
to be acceptable
as a sequel, with a dark and heavy
re-invented story and choppy gameplay, the series could easily
be dismissed. Thankfully, SEGA of Japan has a game that will wipe
the nightmares of Journey of Dreams away. The original NiGHTS game
is now available for sale in Japan for the PlayStation 2 for about
$30-40. Nearly all in English,
the game has had a major graphical update and packs in some bonuses.
As
a
plus,
there
are
unlockables
as you
advance in the game. Serious gamers can order NiGHTS: Into Dreams
for the PlayStation 2 through an import store like Play-Asia.com
or Amazon.com’s
Japanese store.
Links:
NiGHTS: Into Dreams (SEGA of Japan) (PlayStation 2)*
- Play-Asia.com Link
- Amazon.com
Japan Link
(Amazon
Japan Note: The website begins in Japanese,
but look for the
link that says “Would
you like to see this page in English?” above the
standard add to cart icon.
When checking out, click on "Would you like to see this
page in English?" a second time, then choose “International – Outside
of Japan” when entering your address.)
*Note on
Importing Games: Sony’s PS2 gamepads and memory cards
are universal, but like
DVD players, PlayStation 2 machines are region locked.
To play imported PlayStation 2 games you must purchase an imported
PlayStation 2 machine.
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