NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for Nintendo Wii - It truly is a dream

Okay, I'm going to level with you right now, before I get this article started. My experience with the original NiGHTS for the Saturn is limited at best.

I know all about it, of course, but I only played it very little several years ago when it came out.

I never had a Saturn growing up, so I never really got much of a chance to play it. However, if Journey of Dreams is any indication, I missed out on quite an experience. Many were unsure of how Journey of Dreams would turn out, seeing as it was developed by Sonic Team USA, who don't exactly have the greatest track record (Shadow the Hedgehog, anyone?).

However, in my eyes at least, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams redeems Sonic Team USA for Shadow the Hedgehog, and them some.

The story in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams revolves around two children, Will and Helen, and their visit to Nightopia, which is a world that people can only visit in their sleep.



While there they meet NiGHTS, an androgynous jester, and get caught up in a battle to save Nightopia from the Nightmarens and their evil leader Wizeman. The whole thing feels like a Disney movie, with the characters learning important lessons about trust and themselves along the way.

The story is told through fully voiced (and sadly, unskippable) cutscenes that somehow manage to look worse than the in-game graphics. The voices all have a British quality to them, especially NiGHTS, who has a VERY feminine voice. There's also a very creepy quality to the characters, like their heads are far too large for their bodies. Or maybe that's all in my imagination, who knows.

More from: Siliconera

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams out on Nintendo Wii

Sega has announced that the trippy flight-based game, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams has shipped out for the Wii. The game has you playing a “night jester” who helps two 12-year olds conquer their fears by flying through a fantasy world.

NiGHTS will also tap into the Wii’s online “Forecast Channel,” which will have the game recreating the players local weather in the game. That and you’ll be able to race online against other players.

“The release of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is very exciting and special for both SEGA and gamers around the world,” said Don Mesa, Director of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc.

“Gamers have been clamoring for NiGHTS to return since its debut in 1996 and the end result is nothing less than spectacular. We’ve harnessed the power and innovation of the Wii alongside a rich storyline and blended original and next-gen features that will transport gamers to a dream world like no other.”

As a fantasy jester called NiGHTS, players will fly through Nightopia, a rich and vibrant world where dreams come to life. With the innovative Wii Remote, gamers will experience a heightened sense of gliding, spiraling, and looping through seven mystical dream worlds packed with high-flying adventure. Players must find inventive ways to confront the “Nightmarens” from the neighboring dark world of Nightmare using amazing acrobatic skills, freedom of flight, and other special abilities to protect Nightopia

NEXT-GEN FEATURES FOR NiGHTS: JOURNEY OF DREAMS

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii video game console will come complete with a variety of next-gen features that tap into the system’s hardware including “Weather Channel” support, a Wii-first! This feature enables the game’s “My Dream” area, a customizable sand-box environment that allows gamers to capture, raise, and even combine the inhabitants (A-Life) from the world of Nightopia, to generate real-time weather effects specific to the territory players previously registered with on the Wii. For example, if the current weather forecast is clear and sunny in the players’ resident territory, the “My Dream” environment will be clear and sunny as well. The game will also feature an online-enabled two-player mode allowing gamers to race and battle against one another via Wi-Fi connection at launch on December 18, 2007.

Unlike any other game available today, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will deliver the feeling of flight through the innovative Wii control system. With the help of Persona masks, players will glide, spiral and loop through a variety of mystical dream worlds packed with action and adventure as they dive and blast through rings, gather orbs and come up against fantastic and unforgettable boss battles. Anchored by a storyline about courage, hope and inspiration, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is the most unique and experience on the Wii.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams unfolds in Nightopia, the spectacular dream world of two young characters, Helen and Will. Struggling to overcome the every day challenges of growing up, these two 12-year-olds find their real life experiences spilling over into their dreams. As Helen and Will fall into a deep sleep, they are greeted by NiGHTS, a fantasy jester, who leads them to explore the rich and vibrant land of Nightopia. Along the way, NiGHTS helps the youngsters bravely face their fears by finding inventive ways to confront, outpace, and outwit foes - such as the villainous Nightmarens. Through the freedom of flight, execution of stunning acrobatic moves and tapping into special abilities, gamers can overcome obstacles and restore peace to Nightopia.

What is A-LIFE: A-LIFE are creatures living in the world of dreams. There are 3 types of A-LIFE: "Nightopians" who reside in Nightopia, "Nightmarens" from the world of Nightmare, and "Mepians" who are a mix of the two creatures. A-LIFE live freely in the world of Nightopia and they multiply, learn, and evolve as they transform with generational changes.

What is "My Dream": "My Dream" is a customizable "sandbox" environment where players raise their A-LIFE creatures. By using NiGHTS’ ability to para-loop in the single-player game, the A-LIFE creatures can be captured and transferred to a player’s My Dream space. The My Dream world evolves dramatically depending on how the player nurtures the A-LIFE activities and the various objects that the player drops into the environment, creating a truly personal experience.

For new assets, full details on Persona masks, game trailers, and more!, please visit http://segapr.segaamerica.com

DREAM BIG WITH NiGHTS FOR THE Wii

SEGA of Europe Ltd. today announced that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii video game console will ship January 2008, in Europe. The title, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed hit NiGHTS, will allow players to take flight, unleash incredible airborne maneuvers, and explore seven magnificent worlds of imagination, dreams and nightmares. SEGA also unveiled plans to reawaken the Artificial Life (A-Life) feature in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, which gives gamers the freedom to oversee and develop their own sandbox environment enabling them to capture, raise, and even combine the inhabitants from the world of Nightopia, and has confirmed that the game will feature a two-player mode and network support at launch.

Unlike any other game available today, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will deliver the feeling of flight through the innovative Wii Remote™. Players will glide, spiral and loop through a variety of mystical dream worlds packed with action and adventure as they dive and blast through rings, gather orbs and come up against fantastic and unforgettable boss battles. Anchored by a storyline about courage, hope and inspiration, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is an ideal game for the entire family.

“Finally developing a sequel for NiGHTS is a dream come true – for myself and, I hope, also for fans of the original game as well as people new to the game!” commented Takeshi Iizuka of SEGA Studio USA “NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will be a unique game making good use of the great features Wii has to offer”.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams unfolds in Nightopia, the spectacular dream world of two young characters, Helen and Will. Struggling to overcome the every day challenges of growing up, these two 12-year-olds find their real life experiences spilling over into their dreams. As Helen and Will fall into a deep sleep, they are greeted by NiGHTS, a fantasy jester, who leads them to explore the rich and vibrant land of Nightopia. Along the way, NiGHTS helps the youngsters bravely face their fears by finding inventive ways to confront, outpace, and outwit foes - such as the villainous Nightmarens. Through the freedom of flight, execution of stunning acrobatic moves and tapping into special abilities that enable gamers to combat danger and restore peace to Nightopia.