On its original release, NiGHTS into Dreams was a startlingly original and challenging title, both by means of design and visual style. However, its gameplay was quite divisive back in the day and, despite getting a HD spruce up, is likely to remain so.
Whether you're already a fan of the game or not, credit has to be given to the quality of the package you're getting with this, the latest of Sega's downloadable updates to their back catalog. Not only do you have the up-scaled game, but you also have an original Saturn version of the game (thankfully saves are shared across both versions), with unlockable extra in the form of Christmas NiGHTS, galleries, and a number of other bonus features.
As we said before, NiGHTS into Dreams was, and still is, a divisive game and a new lick of paint does nothing to change that. One of the big problems comes from exactly how you explain NiGHTS to someone for the first time; the game certainly doesn't do a great job of it. There is a `How To` guide tucked away in there, but even then it's still likely to confuse.
As a narrative experience it's quite simple, although explaining it might sound convoluted. You play as one of two children who, in their dreams, meet a sort of "dream jester" by the name of NiGHTS who helps them to find their own inner strength. They in turn aid NiGHTS in saving the land of Nightopia (yes, really) from the Nightmaren – creatures that wish to fill the land of dreams with nothing but nightmares.
At its heart the game is an arcade score attack title; you pick a character, followed by a stage, and then play through it. Back on the original Saturn the game would actually drop you back at the title screen every time you finish a level. Thankfully that's been addressed with this release and now your left at the character / stage select screen, but it does go to show the games sense of `pick up and play`.
In some ways NiGHTS is an experience in cognitive dissonance. It's a short and somewhat shallow title; just three stages per character, plus a fourth stage which is shared between both. This last stage is unlocked when all previous ones are cleared with a rank of C or above and it's entirely possible to finish the whole game in one sitting of less than an hour.
In contrast to this shallow simplicity though is a surprising amount of depth; the challenge of actually finishing at C or higher, which is highly unlikely your first time through, is what brings the player back for repeated plays.
Each stage is cut into four sections and, as NiGHTS, you fly through each section collecting blue orbs to deposit into items known as "Ideya captures". There release an Ideya and deposit it back at the start of the stage. While it's quite easy to collect all the Ideya and progress, this will not get you the high pass grade required to unlock the final stage.
To obtain these high scores you have to master each stage. Remembering item placement and stinging together orbs, stars, rings and tricks in ever more impressive combos is key to an A grade. As is good management of the limited time you have. You might have the means to progress with forty seconds left, but in that forty seconds you could lap another two or three times and rack up an even better score… or you could run out of time completely.
For the most part the sensation of flight is well realised, but it's important to remember that this game was developed with the original Saturn d-Pad in mind. So while you have the use of the left stick to control all the action taking place, you really don't have total analogue control. This makes flight a little hard to get to grips with at first; some of NiGHTS' movements can start out feeling erratic or imprecise. Thankfully it doesn't take long for things to click into place and become more in tuned with the flight mechanic which remains well crafted, even now.
Certainly another issue that will put most people off is the level design, which can sometimes seem a little schizophrenic. Short flight sequences can roll right into underwater sections in which you fly away from the camera and where the quality of control just drops excessively. Mix in often confusing top down views, and it's unsurprising to see newer players having a hard time. Which is a shame because when everything clicks into place the game can be a sublime experience.
NiGHTS into Dreams remains a marmite game. If you love it, you'll always love it and this HD update will be a must have. If you're new to it then you're not likely to warm to the game quickly, if at all, and if you didn't like it to start with… well, you still won't. But that won't change the fact that this is a well done tribute to an inventive, challenging and one of a kind game.