NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams - Wii Previews


	Platform Wii Genre Action Publisher Sega Developer Sega Studios USA ETA Q4 2007
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NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams

Way back in 1996, NiGHTS Into Dreams, from Sega in-house developer Sonic Team under the tutelage of the fathers of Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima, was a big hit for the Saturn system, one of the best-selling titles of that year for any gaming system. It was truly an amazing title for its time, with spectacular graphics and melodiously alluring music along with unique gameplay in the world of dreams.

Now, more than a decade later, Sega is set to release the sequel, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams exclusively for the Wii, scheduled for a fall release. Takashi Iizuka, one of the original producers and Naofumi Hataya, an original composer,

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are at the developmental helm this time around.

Anybody that had the opportunity to play the fantastic original will be pleased to find that same combination of gameplay elements at the core of the new NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, with the bonus of playing with the Wiimote and its Nunchuk, an absolutely perfect controller setup for this title.

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As seen on the floor of Barker Hangar at this year’s E3 Media & Business Summit, gameplay will remain primarily the same, with the player performing the flying acrobatics of the jester-like Nightmaren rebel character NiGHTS, soaring and looping through obstacles in the seven realms of Nightopia, acquiring Ideya spheres, and battling big bosses, all in the quest to acquire a good “grade” to advance to the next level.

Replacing Elliot Edwards and Claris Sinclair as the main dreamer children in the story is William Taylor and Helen Cartwright, with each having a separate journey to undertake.

Persona masks will be at the heart of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams’ gameplay, each with a different ‘upgrade” for NiGHTS. Using the dragon mask gives NiGHTS the ability to withstand strong gusts of wind, the dolphin mask turns NiGHTS into a swimming dolphin, and the rocket mask propels NiGHTS at higher rates of speed.

While the E3 version being demoed wasn’t a final version by any means, it was clear that every effort was made to follow the winning formula that made the first game such a huge hit, and the gameplay handled nicely using the Wii’s distinctive controls. There’s also a two-player mode along with some online features, welcome additions to what seems to be shaping up to be a worthy successor to the original NiGHTS adventure.

- Lee Cieniawa

lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(July 23, 2007)