NiGHTS sequel? Finally? And yet, what should be every Saturn fan's fantasy falls flat with a slipshod execution.
Fifteen minutes into the game and I know I can never look at Will the same way again.
But the entire game isn't just one endless innuendo, so let's continue on a more serious note, folks. The first and only other NiGHTS game in existence, NiGHTS into Dreams, made its debut on the Sega Saturn over a decade ago, and the small circle of fans who owned the system have been clamoring (or at least secretly wishing) for a sequel to the platformer ever since. The good news is that the core gameplay elements have remained intact in this new game - you still have your chasing sequences, your enemy captures, and your item gathering tasks, all aided by Sega's mainstay series of floating rings scattered about Nightopia/Nightmare. The landscapes are vibrant, lush, creative - you name a positive artistic attribute and you can be sure the game delivers it in the most enchanted way. The characters you encounter are similarly unique, and yes, people, you can be assured that there will be the rare moment when you feel Sega's recaptured the magic of the first game.
But unfortunately, NiGHTS works similarly to another Sega series, Sonic, not so much in that you feel your jester as a slower, floating form of the blue hedgehog (though they both harbor an unexplained attraction to golden rings), but in that the sequels seem to be missing a key component that made the first games so addictive. Thankfully NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams does not suffer from the same fate of Sonic and Co. in that Sega doesn't attempt to revitalize an older franchise by providing a fresh gimmick for players to fiddle around with. In other words, you'll never see Will or Helen surfing about in a futuristic racing environment (Sonic Riders), or stuck in a pinball game (Sonic Spinball), or shooting enemies a new Swiss cheese stomach (Shadow the Hedgehog). Rather, NiGHTS suffers from what can be best described as a mediocre execution by their development team. Sure, the environments are pretty, but the occasional jerky framerate detracts from its overall splendor; Owl's plumage may be nice to look at, but you'll be spending your time watching it shake across the screen like he's making some halfhearted attempt at krumping. Yes, the characters might be interestingly conceived, but the story backing their brightly colored garments isn't, as the plot skims over trite problems that the developers assume kids face. Problems with parents? Having difficulty overcoming procrastination? No problem! Sega's got you covered and they'll help you face these dilemmas with a stockpile of clichéd, "feel good" cutscenes. Some may find these scenes heartwarming, but I seriously doubt anyone will believe that NiGHTS is breaking any new ground in the storyline aspect.
Probably the biggest complaint there is to be made about the game though comes in the form the control scheme the developers set up to control their purple jester. And maybe they initially looked into creating a 3-D free roam environment, and maybe the "flying on a track" approach works better, but the way the whole thing is executed leaves something to be desired.
Now, I could provide a whole rant on the problems with the controls (and I will in a minute), but before addressing the problem, I'll provide the resolution. This is what the whole thing comes down to: Gamers, I implore you to whip out your Classic Controllers. Those that aren't blessed with either better be willing to plug in your Nunchuks because you're going to need them. Playing with the Wii Remote by itself ups the learning curve from a ridiculously easy five missions to a frustrating mission or two trying to master the guiding red hexagon that controls the direction in which Nights is flying. The first few missions work in the same fashion in that oftentimes you'll find yourself colliding with cliffsides and chains before a new mission pops up. Then you will have the pleasure of fumbling with your controls as you perform the few moves available to your character before taking down whatever baddie is haunting the level. Once these levels are finished and the controls are mastered, you'll probably still feel the whole thing is a little clunky because, well, it is.
There are additional modes to play through once the story mode is complete, like a decent multiplayer battle, but the game's focus remains with Will and Helen and the prepubescent problems they have to deal with. The children will look pretty as they race around Nightopia, but a few nagging problems prevent this title from really taking off from the ground. I suggest that the casual gamer might want to give this a try, but you hardcore Saturn fans out there (all ten of you) might want to pretend that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams never happened. Because the sad truth of the matter is that this title makes you miss the magic in the original and sadly, you might have to pine for another decade before Sega tries their hand at this series again.