Metareview: NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Dec 20th 2007 at 11:30PM }
- Games Radar (80/100): "NiGHTS really soars when it's in the air, maintaining the essence of the original game. Some of the crappier additions send it into a bit of a nose dive, but overall the game rights itself with its bold originality and a unique charm that's unlike anything else out there."
- 1UP (70/100): "For serious NiGHTS fans, Journey offers a bittersweet reunion that reminds us of what was so singularly special about Sega's airborne dreamweaver. Unfortunately, attempting to evolve the formula creates a host of new problems and issues that ultimately diminish the game's overall appeal. That said, this still represents one of the finest original third-party games available for Wii, and younger players will find a lot to love in this gameplay-rich adventure."
- IGN (65/100): "So after waiting over a decade for a new NiGHTS experience, what's the final verdict? Personally, we'd rather have seen this one stay a nostalgic piece of gaming history, as Journey of Dreams isn't exactly the spectacular homecoming we were hoping for as huge fans of the original Saturn classic. The control is too stiff, odd design choices will have players repeating full levels rather than incorporating a simple checkpoint system which would have saved both progress and sanity alike, and there's a huge amount of emphasis put on non-NiGHTS gameplay, having players control the human children in very unrewarding sections, and incorporating sloppy alternate gameplay rather than just focusing on what made the original so captivating in the first place."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jake11 @ Dec 20th 2007 11:40PM
did anyone expect better?
Shignami @ Dec 21st 2007 12:32AM
From Sonic Team?
Hell no, I expected an unplayable piece of crap like almost every other game they've made.
ssuk @ Dec 21st 2007 6:12AM
While yeah, you have a good point. Sonic Team make games which are incomplete crap (Sonic the Hedgehog 360/PS3), this game isn't actually their fault. It was developed by SEGA Studios USA, the same fools who made Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic Rush Adventure.
So, based on that... I expect a more polished game, however overall the story will be crap, there will be a million and one gameplay-destroying gimmicks which will just infuriate you and overall a crap gameplay experience.
FOXHOUND @ Dec 21st 2007 7:15AM
Honestly, this was the last straw for SONIC TEAM in my eyes(because let's face it, the SONIC RIDERS sequel shows little-to-no promise or worth of a full price purchase)...
Next up on the execution block: CAPCOM
FidliousWong @ Dec 21st 2007 9:15AM
I'm more disappointed because of how this bodes on the Wii itself. Essentially even heavy hitting titles brought back from the dead should have the utmost care applied to it. Instead, we see companies giving the "ho-hum" treatment and expecting full price for their half-assery. Meanwhile, the only safe bets for a third party is mindless drivel.
And on the other side of the fence, those developers that ARE attempting something unique or great, are getting shit all for sales. Zak & Wiki, No More Heroes, etc.
I'm not hating on the Wii, I'm just saddened that it looks like here is another home console generation for Nintendo where uniqueness is punished and only First Party remains the reason to keep it around. Oh well, onto Super Smash Bro... OH! A NUT!
WiNG @ Dec 20th 2007 11:43PM
I had both original NiGHTS games and just bought this, here's my take:
-Graphics are good
-Cut scenes are painful
-Controls show how bad Ninty's design decision was for its 8-way "analog" control stick
-Music is awesome
-Entire game looks rushed
-Online races are fun
-A Life system is boring
-Game is mediocre and fails to live up to original except in length, it's about 5 or 6 times longer.
bm @ Dec 21st 2007 6:23AM
"-Controls show how bad Ninty's design decision was for its 8-way "analog" control stick"
Ehh... the same could be said for the Dual Shock style stick in games where you have to move straight in -any- direction. Every single one of those games show how bad Sony's design decision was for its "floaty" control stick. ;)
And if you tell me "but that never bothered me", well then guess what? What you mention never bothered me either.
WiNG @ Dec 21st 2007 8:01AM
I dunno, go into any forum discussing the game and the complaint is pretty common. Obviously in most games you are not constantly arcing in circles, but in this case it's painful.
bm @ Dec 21st 2007 11:08AM
You were criticizing Nintendo's analogue stick design, that's what I replied to.
I've never played this game, and I'm not a Nights fan so I probably won't till it hits the bargain bin.
Fernando Rocker @ Dec 20th 2007 11:45PM
That's what happens when you rush a game...
You get what you give... give us a rushed, half baked game, receive a bad score and low sales (probably). That simple.
Shame on you Sonic Team... Shame.On.You.
mr nimblewick @ Dec 20th 2007 11:59PM
Yeah, but I'll probably still get it. Nights was the game that got me to buy a Saturn over the N64. I still like nights better than mario64.
Of course, I'm guessing I'll like Galaxy better then JoD.
Zoesch @ Dec 21st 2007 12:54AM
Some things don't merit a sequel, unfortunately NiGHTS was one of them, nostalgia can only justify a certain amount of sales but let's be honest here, who (outside of nostalgic people) thought that this game had any chance of coming out as a masterpiece?
Tatticus @ Dec 21st 2007 8:56AM
I agree with you, this game was evidently rushed. Even watching videos it just permeates 'lack of polish'. Even then I'll still get it coz I'm a diehard fan, but honestly, I expected no less from the team that made sonic heroes and shadow the hedgehog. Games that, while there was a bit of promise and potential, had no way of living up to their older, more inspired, counterparts. That said, I did not expect them to make a masterpiece simply because all they had to do to do that was leave the original's gameplay fully intact, and I was 100% sure that they were not going to be able to do that. Too bad...
V1L3 @ Dec 20th 2007 11:58PM
"From reading various reviews there's a lot of pity inflation in the scores stemming from reviewer's happy childhood memories."
Ouch.
Casting accusations on a reviewer's ability to subjectively review games? Wow. Low blow.
So does that mean we can knock a point or two off every Mario and Zelda game's Metacritic score then? You know, to account for the inevitable effects of nostalgia?
mr nimblewick @ Dec 21st 2007 12:01AM
I think nostalgia is a valid thing to enter into a score, as long as the reviewer is honest about it.
Nostalgia is definately going to affect my enjoyment of the game.
Of course, from the sound of some of the reviews, the nostalgia works against this game - "Journey of Dreams isn't exactly the spectacular homecoming we were hoping for as huge fans of the original Saturn classic."
V1L3 @ Dec 21st 2007 12:05AM
Well, this is the thing. Half of the reviews say it's too much like the original, and the other half say it's not ENOUGH like the original.
Which, I guess, would sum up the Metacritic rating: "Mixed or Average Reviews."
Which means God-awful, according to the internet.
Geist @ Dec 21st 2007 3:56AM
I would hope they'd give the game to people who haven't played the original. Yeah, it's pertinent to give sequels to reviewers who have played the original, but considering how old the game is, I think it'd be a lot better to give this a review from a fresh perspective. Especially since time tends to inflate opinions of games from the past, and so people get unrealistic expectations of their follow-ups.
cold school @ Dec 21st 2007 11:21AM
yes.
cold school @ Dec 21st 2007 11:10AM
yes. and other reviewer favs as well; madden, halo, MGS, GT.
Jansperus @ Dec 21st 2007 1:41AM
Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised it's done as well as it has. Considering the biggest complaint seems to be: "WAHH! It makes me start from the beginning! I want it to make it impossible to lose! I'm a hardcore gamer and need my games to baby me! WAHH!" I can say that I am more excited to try this now than I was when I was afraid Sonic Team was going to screw it up.
bm @ Dec 21st 2007 6:34AM
I have to agree with the sentiment that the quicksave-generation has ruined games.
WiNG @ Dec 21st 2007 8:04AM
Yeah the whining about the restart is unfounded, considering:
1. It only applies to 1/5 of the levels, since the other 4/5 can be finished in less than 2 minutes.
2. You have to be pretty awful at this game to completely fail a mission and have to restart. Maybe on your first time against a boss you'll die, but otherwise L2P.
mccomber @ Dec 21st 2007 2:28AM
Like they say, you can't go home again.
christmasfish @ Dec 21st 2007 2:44AM
I remain hopeful that I will love this.
...I mean, I'm, like, one of 3 people who liked Sonic & The Secret Rings.
ssuk @ Dec 21st 2007 6:15AM
I was hoping I'd enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog (360/PS3) since I was the only person in existence to like Sonic Heroes... Funny how that works, huh...
Shadow El ( NDF - Zola Ring ) @ Dec 21st 2007 6:58AM
And I'm the only person alive that loved Shadow the Hedgehog.
ThornedVenom @ Dec 21st 2007 7:07AM
Christmas fish? Why not change it to Babelfish after the holidays while you're at it?
Bluebreaker @ Dec 21st 2007 3:08AM
This is a disappointment. Not that I'm a Nights junkie but everyone was looking forward this so much...
Will "Sonic Team" ever be done and over as a group? They don't stand for quality anymore, even when they bring something a lot of people specifically wanted.
Also that "nostalgia" and "pity inflation" jab against reviews was really uncalled for.
Poisoned Al @ Dec 21st 2007 3:49AM
From what I've been hearing, they tried to fix something that wasn't broke again. *sigh*
Geist @ Dec 21st 2007 3:52AM
You know, I really don't like the phrase 'odd design choices'. I don't know why. It's sometimes applicable, yes, but I think I just see it a little too often. Even though I'm guilty of using it from time to time...
Pawsie @ Dec 21st 2007 7:31AM
I got the game.. yeah.. it seemed rushed. I wasn't pretty happy with it. Though I think it was better than the Sonic and the Secret Ring. My only problem is the rush factor... They interrupted a cinema scene just to go into another one..
It's sad that their main selling point was "really flying" ... yet.. it wasn't as good as the last previous mario games..
Dadidito @ Dec 21st 2007 8:01AM
Haha, after those less than good reviews I went an powered on my treasured copy of Nights and my old but very trusty and fun Saturn. Graphics aside there is a fluidity to it that still seems innovative. BTW sits right next to my copy of the insane Radiant Silvergun. FTW!!!
Zootittles @ Dec 21st 2007 9:17AM
Bah. I really enjoy this game so far.
ill trooper @ Dec 21st 2007 11:29AM
"Oh noe! This is going to ruin teh Wii metacriticisms?"
It's a bummer when something like this happens... What happened to the glorious "Team Sonic" name? Really not what it meant 15 years ago.
I miss Burning Rangers.
B1gC72 @ Dec 21st 2007 12:21PM
well cant say im surprised. i MAY still rent it just to try it out but i dont know. damn that Sonic Team, they should overhaul that office cause nothing but crap seems to come out of there nowadays.
Mr Khan @ Dec 21st 2007 4:01PM
Am i the only person left whose actually LIKED most of what Sonic Team's put out recently?
The only games i didn't like were Shadow the Hedgehog and Sonic PS360, and both i didn't like for their story choices
B1gC72 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:37AM
i dont know man. like i said, i may still give this a rent but based on the reviews most of the Sonic Team games, i dont want to risk $60 on a dud. the last Sonic Team game i played was Shadow the Hedgehog on Gamecube (maybe PS2, i dont remember) and it was absolutely terrible. i think their main problem is that they have strayed so far from the roots of the games they make. look at Mario for example, it's essentially the same game in every iteration, Peach has gotten herself kidnapped by Bowser/Generic Villian and i have to go save her. even though its the same game, i havent found a Mario platformer i didnt like (yes i liked Sunshine). at least to me, 16-bit Sonic was on the same level as the Mario games before it but he has fallen hard since the 3D jump and that sums up the direction of the company as a whole.
honkyjesusownsu @ Dec 21st 2007 2:34PM
Another mediocre childish game for this last-gen console?
face-shocked
Mr Khan @ Dec 21st 2007 3:59PM
Well, at least its too hard as opposed to too easy,
But of course, i am going to love this game (its a Christmas present), it still has the gorgeous art style, is a lot longer than the original, and has the core gameplay of the original intact (but hey, my avatar should tell you how i'll feel about this title)
I knew it wasn't going to score well, due to the inherent (and somewhat deserved) bias against Sonic Team properties, 3rd party Wii titles, and the fact that the idea that really made NiGHTS soar back in the day (full 3D worlds and analogue controls) isn't at all new
Secret Rings did worse, however, so its a minor victory
DG @ Dec 21st 2007 4:29PM
I didn't realize so many people actually had played the original. I was a Saturn owner and I loved the original; I was considering picking up a Wii (well, eventually) just so I could play the game.
How sad.
T-4 @ Dec 29th 2007 10:53PM
What is disappointing is that they rushed this. How long did they plan and work on the original? Just because this won the vote, they needed to take their sweet time with it. I really hope they decide to not release it (Is it too late? I don't know...) and revise most of it.