Invigorating old franchises seems to be the trend this year. We are all forced to sit by and watch our favorite childhood entities be injected with “hip” from an enormous, unrelenting syringe who is only doing it to make a quick buck and cash in on something already loved. The only real reasoning behind this decision would be the blatant inability to come up with a fresh idea.  Whether it’s Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and soon to be Speed Racer, most of us have seen the downfall of our favorite childhood characters.

Luckily with games, there is a certain consistency that is expected of successful franchises. If a game does well, then you can expect a sequel. If fans petition enough, then there is a good chance that the game they want to be made will be made. NiGHTS Into Dreams, while considered a cult-classic, was just what Sega needed to revive their seemingly-toppled image. While the quality of Sonic games may be declining, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams shows that Sega still has a few aces up it’s sleeve.

The original NiGHTS was released on the Sega Saturn, and that alone severely damaged the chance of the game being a success. Sega has a strange way of marketing, and they tend to entirely neglect mainstream marketing of their console releases. Because of this, the Sega Saturn failed to gain a very wide fan base in the United States. NiGHTS Into Dreams was the gem of the system, though, and it alone helped push console sales for it’s quirky game play and Disney-like story.

 The game centers around NiGHTS, a Nightmaren and citizen of Nightopia. NiGHTS was originally a silent creature with no gender to speak of. Sega made it this way so as to not alienate anyone from feeling close with the character. NiGHTS helps out two children, Claris and Elliot, deal with their problems in real life by showing them the courage that they possess within them.

Because of the game’s cult-following, it’s no surprise that many fans began petitioning for a sequel. Eventually Sega heeded their requests and announced that a sequel would be released on the Nintendo Wii.  This announcement led to a great deal of excitement, but now that the game has been released, the reception has been very mixed.

The creators of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii did well to appeal to fans of the original game, but they also made sure to make the game enjoyable to those unfamiliar with the original.  The game centers around, once again, two children in need of courage.  NiGHTS, being the upright being he/she is, returns to help them in this quest. But wait… Something is different. NiGHTS has the voice of a young British girl.  The voice, in many ways, lessens the charm of the originally enchanting character, but it’s only expected that a few changes would be made.

NiGHTS is all about flying and the feeling of freedom. If Sega lost this aspect, then Journey of Dreams would fail to be regarded as a true sequel.  In each level, the player must complete missions such as gathering keys, saving Nightopians, and of course defeating a boss.  While the missions never vary much, the levels differ greatly in terms of design and look. The original NiGHTS Into Dreams was praised for it’s rich and vibrant levels, and Journey of Dreams carries on the tradition with its variety of different landscapes to explore.

While Journey of Dreams does not suffer from any massive flaws, it does suffer from sundry small ones that may or may not grate on the player. Controlling solely with the Wiimote lessens the fun of the game and makes maneuvering more difficult. While the option of using the Nunchuk is there, the best way to play is to use either the classic controller or the Gamecube controller.  Some cut scenes cannot be skipped, and you may be forced to sit through a few of them more than once. 

Anyone who has played Sonic Adventure 1 or 2 will instantly recognize the influence the “Chao Garden” had on the “A-Life” part of NiGHTS.   The “A-Life” area grows with each creature captured in a level.  They react differently depending on the time of the year or the weather in your area (for those of you connected to Wi-Fi.)  

The addition of multiplayer is almost expected with Wii games at this point, and NiGHTS definitely delivers. There is the option of Battle Mode, where you try and gain the most points; and speed mode, where you try and complete the level first.

As a self-proclaimed fan boy of NiGHTS Into Dreams, I would certainly have to say that this title, minor flaws aside, did well to live up to it’s original.  The magic and the Zen that one feels when immersed in the game are luckily still intact, and in the end that’s what the fans really wanted. Here’s to NiGHTS, and wishing for a newfound popularity that brings with it a good amount of sequels.

Gameplay: 8.0
Graphics: 8.0
Replay Value: 6.5
Sound: 10
Longevity: 8.5

Overall: 8.2