Review by: J.M. Vargas

"TALK ABOUT REPLAY VALUE!"

This game is one of the best-selling Saturn titles ever, and it also happens to be one of the best! Sonic Team (creators of "Shining Wisdom") and Yuji Naka (Sonic's dad) took the Saturn hardware, squeezed it really hard and managed to convince the damn thing that it could do smooth 3D (well, almost!). Better yet, these developers decided to go for broke with an original concept and challenge "Super Mario 64" in the best-children-story-that-could-be-enjoyed- by-all-gamers-alike category. The result: "NiGHTS Into Dreams", Saturn's standout in the fun department.

Imagine what it would be like if Sony's Crash Bandicoot and Sega's Sonic mated, and had an angelic bastard child. That is the best description I can think of when trying to describe "NiGHTS" to those who come to my humble place for some gaming fun (mostly w. "Mario Kart 64" and "Baku Baku") and are shown the game. Very few games have been so wholehearted in their originality as to be almost indescribable; as we all know, this is one of them.

GRAPHICS/VISUALS: A

Let's get the negative out of the way, since it is really nitpicking on my part. Lots of pop-up in the background, and a resolution that resides somewhere between "Sega Rally" and "V.F.2". And...that's about it in my book.

Awesome level-design went into "NiGHTS", since each level is filled with hidden pathways and numerous possibilities. Saturn games from Sega are filled with the deepest shades of red, blue and green; "NiGHTS" demands to be played on a big screen T.V. with the lights dimmed. There is a little slowdown when the screen is alive with numerous characters and some water...no big deal!

MUSIC / SOUNDS: A+

A little recycling of the "ring" effects from the previous Sonic games, and a compilation of odd-sounding, dream-like effects. Do you ever wonder what creating a "sucking" black hole in mid-fly would sound like? The paralooping will show you! Clipping birds and other ambiant background effects lack the catchy style of "Super Mario 64", but that's just because "NiGHTS" is a whole new world into itself.

The music, on the other hand, is trult phenomenal. The same way in which "We Will Rock You" belongs in a professional stadium during a home game, "NiGHTS" and its mood fit the music to perfection! My particular favorite is "Splash Garden", but they all are dreamy. Second-best videogame soundtrack ever (only behind, once again, "Super Mario 64").

GAMEPLAY/FUN FACTOR: A+

Truly a let-down to have only eight levels in the whole game (2 of which are shared by Elliot and Claris toward the final confrontation with Wizeman), and that the characters can't interchange their worlds for a little variety (although they both control the same). Still, the game's gradual learning curve is skewed just right to give you and me the incentive to go for the A's. Notice that throughout this game I haven't described the plight of Nightopia, or the mechanics of the game (which aren't even described in the manual). I don't have to!

"NiGHTS" demands to be experienced, sampled, accepted. Only then, when the ability to control your on-screen persona becomes an unconscious extension of your button-tapping ability, do you have a right to reject the experince if you so chose. Those who dismiss "NiGHTS' without experiencing it seriously need a Hulk-size beating in the nether region of the brain where dreams come true (??!!).

OVERALL: A

"Super Mario 64" has sold the attributes of the Nintendo64, "Crash Bandicoot" entertained the masses (if you catch my drift :), and "NiGHTS Into Dreams" gave the Saturn loyal a chance to smile at something fun and original. It wasn't a "Mario" killer, and since there weren't enough Saturns in American households it didn't spread like wildfire. But it sold well (it dethroned "Super Mario 64" in Japan) enough to be popular among the Sega loyalists. In the end, though, all of the above is irrelevant. When faced with the achievement that "NiGHTS" is, who cares about sales, other people's opinions, or Saturn itself?

Seriously, who cares? You, me, DaveZ and thousands of others have rescued the Nightopia Kingdom countless of times, earned really good grades (C and above), and helped fulfill the dreams of Claris and Elliot. We prevented a couple of young kids from wasting their potential for life, and hopefully they will repay us for the help with an invitation back ("NiGHTS" 2?). Isn't this what videogaming, when it comes down to it, is all about? Dream fulfillment?