So, NiGHTS. In the style of all good "cult" games, if ya have to ask, you can't afford it. But, to be fair, it's not
really cult. It's more...

Erm.

Let me start again.

NiGHTS has the most obvious of premises: a large, six-handed, flying demon-man called Wizeman wants to conquer the
waking world from his realm in the dream land of Nightopia. I mean, naturally. He's doing this by stealing dream 
energy from dreamers, and... well, just stealing it, I think. His Nightmaren do this job for him. They range from 
basic, low-level creatures, such as those easy-going, easily-defeated Shleep, through the more annoying Maren found 
in later dreams (such as the Gao/Gaa, however it's spelt, which can best be described as a bullet-fast leopardy 
thing that flies around and crackles with lightning), all the way up through the boss Maren (such as Puffy, 
everyones favourite big-breasted lapine opera virtuosa) to, ahem, "First Level Maren", which houses but two 
varieties: Reala, and NiGHTS.

Spelling intentional. It's a name, not a plural.

The story goes that NiGHTS grew, shall we say, slightly miffed that he was being forced to commit evil acts by 
someone whose best claim to fame was that they could be very, very good at juggling. The backstory gets a little 
hazy here: the comics seem to indicate that there was a fight betwixt our favourite purple-clad androgenous jester 
and Wizeman, causing the explosion of a large concentration of red dream energy (look, just bear with me), wedging a
large chunk in NiGHTs chest, and causing him to be attracted to those who possess it. He was sealed in the Iyeda 
Palace (again, bear with me) by Wizeman, as a result of this.

Or, uh, as the game seems to indicate, NiGHTS was just sealed in the palace for insubordination.

But still. It's about this point in the story where our human contributors arrive. Elliot Edwards, and Claris 
Sinclair. Both of them are very special, and not in that kind of way where "special" in fact means "not special". 
The night before the game starts (28th of September, if we are to take the date from that flyer Claris has at the 
start of the game*), they both were well and truly humiliated; Elliot in that he, uh, lost a basketball game (oh. 
damn.), and Claris in that she got stage fright and was laughed off the stage at an audition for the main singing 
role in the Twin Seeds Anniversary parade (in fact, it'd be better if you checked the glossary. Go on, I'll wait).

However, the fact that they were humiliated doesn't make them special. Hell, that'd make me as special as a diamond 
waistcoat. And I don't mean a diamond STUDDED one. The reason why Claris and Elliot are noteworthy is the fact that 
they are some of those rare humans that possess Red Iyeda: courage power.

At times it seems sickeningly uplifting, doesn't it?

Ahem. When all humans dream, they in fact send their minds to a realm called Nightopia. Sound familiar? Good. It's 
right at the top of the page, so it should do. The mind of the dreamer influences the shape of the landscape and the
nature of the world, hence, naturally, why people never have the same dreams, unless they're a) incredibly well 
gifted in the psychic department, and/or b) lying. Now, with Claris and Elliot dreaming, NiGHTS is attracted to 
their Red Iyeda, like a purple and nubile moth to an underage flame.

Erm.

As such, when NiGHTS touches Elliot or Claris (calm yourself!), they merge, and NiGHTS can begin his madcap flight 
around the level, collecting Iyeda and eventually defeating the end Maren.



Now if the above description of the game made you think it was childish and stupid, then maybe you could tweak that 
stick that's currently nestling in your large intestine into a slightly more comfortable position, and get back to 
your fifa clones and champ man, Chuck. To think of NiGHTS like that is to miss the point entirely.

It's <i>supposed</i> to be childish. You play a purple-lycra-clad jester who flies around a dreamworld. You were 
expecting maybe a hardcore shoot-em-up with weaponary circa 2003?

The intriguing thing about NiGHTS Into Dreams is that whilst it's 'childish', it's especially suited to this style. 
You don't so much play the game as experience it; to flit round the levels and better your own high scores is the 
aim here, not to struggle against all odds to finally grind your way to the end screen. This isn't to say that there 
ain't hard bits in the game... far from it! Stick Canyon, in particular, is possibly the most evil piece of 
programming I have ever come across, and yet is all the more playable for it.

NiGHTS is one of those rare few games that can be truthfully described as "magical". The levels, whilst drawn on the
Saturns processor, and as such, suffering from a remarkable amount of pop-up, enchant the player who's allowed 
themself to be drawn into the mood of the game. To eliminate any doubt that you're in a dream, for example, the 
protagonists can leap up to eight times their height, and the ground is mirrored as the sky, or, rather, top to the 
level.

Upon seeing the levels, one gets the feeling that if you begin thinking about which side is up, 
and which is down, then a headache will ensue.

The music is nothing short of breathtaking, at least, if you find yourself unable to breathe in the presence of 
phenomenally catchy music. Sure, it sounds video-game esque, but once again, the limitations of the system become 
its strengths (I'd hate to challenge a Saturn to a judo match...). The psuedo-trumpets of Paternal Horn (from Spring 
Valley), the echoing bells of Take The Snow Train (Frozen Bell), and the miscellaneous percussion of Under 
Construction (Stick Canyon. Grr.) all seemingly go straight to various parts of your lower brain without bothering 
with the thinking process of "Hmm. This is bloody fantastic."

As for the gameplay... well, we have a section just for that, so you can slake your thirst for knowledge there.

And, of course, he best thing about NiGHTS?

The characters.

No, seriously. They never speak, they barely communicate with others at all, and yet, nevertheless, a more 
charismatic bunch of 32-bit heroes and villains you will never meet.

Go on, get yerself a saturn and NiGHTS off E-Bay, and try to snag Christmas NiGHTS with it, as well. It's probably 
only about £20, or god knows how many dollars, and it'll keep you playing for absolutely ages.

And no, I'm not a delusional maniac, there's quite a few <ahref= links page>others</ahref> who share my beliefs. In 
all fairness, there's quite a few people who shared a certain Bavarian corporals beliefs, but eh, you get the point.

You won't be disappointed.


*Yes, I'm aware of the fact that it in fact says 29th of September. That's the day they wake up on, and Twin Seeds 
has its anniversary. So hah.