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Review by Levi Buchanan I’ve beat the living daylights out of Akira. I jacked Jacky’s jaw. I conquered Rally in the same afternoon I cleaned up Virtua City with my trusty (and frosty orange) Stunner. But, as I cruised through Victory Lap of Daytona USA, I thought to myself…"This is fab gaming. But let’s see what this Saturn can really do." Whereas previous titles have given us a glimpse into what alleged next-generation gaming has to offer, Sega’s "Nights" is the first title to throw open the door and invite you to the 32-bit party. Everything from the graphics to the control (helloooooooooo analog!), are truly revolutionary. Nights is no action-fest…and if that’s what you’re looking for, sit down and wait for Sonic. But, if you’re in the mood for an engrossing, playful adventure which takes place in a beautifully defined world, then step up to the plate. As either Claire or Elliot, you are the last hope for the Nightopia, the ever-shrinking realm of dreams. With the help of Nights, a nightmare turned good, you set out to preserve the ability for people around the world to have pleasant dreams. (And I hope you succeed, because I’ve having a series of them starring Liv Tyler…so don’t screw it up.) The first thing you will notice about Nights once you fire it up is the scenery. If you don’t notice it, then have you eyes checked because it is some of the most gorgeous level design ever assembled. Flashy colors, well-textured lanscapes, and light-sourcing (yeah, you read that right) all add to this mix. Yuji Naka, the game’s creator (he’s also responsible for bringing you Sonic…you’re welcome) has his fingerprints all over the world of Nightopia, and it shows. Character design and animation is almost flawless. The only nitpick, and it’s a little one, is that there is some pop-up/redraw. Now, Sega promises to try and clean some of this up before bringing it stateside…and I wish them luck. The way I see it, if even an arcade Daytona has a pop-up, you expect it out of a $200 console. Small price to pay…I got over it quick. Ground movement is full 360 degrees, with the ability to manipulate the camera to see a variety of viewpoints. But, the majority of Nights takes place in flight. Flight is on a modified series of rails, so while it may initially seem that you have all the freedom you want…you don’t. Now, before you get all upset over this, let me assure you that this is for the best. In flight, you are assigned to collect the required number of Ideas (which manifest themselves as glowing blue spheres), with a mean time limit. Without these quasi-rails to keep you a little on-track, you wouldn’t stand a chance past the second level. Sega’s Analog Control Pad is a masterstroke, although, undoubtedly prompted by Nintendo’s analog controller (let’s give credit where credit is due). Build wide enough to cradle in both hands, and with both the digital and analog pads within reach of one thumb (the single fallacy of Nintendo’s pad), it acts like an extension of your hands, putting you in the world of Nights. The soundtrack for Nights is perfect. Dreamy orchestrations that linger in the world of Nightopia give way to wilder melodies upon the appearance of boss characters. I have been fortunate enough to play Mario64 for Nintendo’s 64-bit wunderconsole, and I shall make this one token comparison between the Nights and said Mario game: they both rock. If you shelled out the green for a Saturn (and I hope you did) and won’t have enough left over for Nintendo’s new kid on the block, relax. You’re gonna be okay. Nights is easily comparable to Mario64. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar…and you can tell them I said that. Nights is a feather in Sega’s cap, a glowing testament as to what the Saturn is capable of. While it’s not necessarily for everybody, it is a wonderful compliment to any collection. If Nights is any indication of what’s in store for Saturn owners (remember, it’s only been a little over a year since it’s American release), there is reason to celebrate. Hopefully, it will get the advertising (don’t drop the ball this time, Sega) and media attention it so richly deserves. Here’s my suggestion: In the tradition of those ever-annoying AT&T commercials…"Ever play Nights? You will." |