NiGHTS into Dreams... Image
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 43 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Sega Saturn 3D classic returns with HD graphics, trophies, leaderboards, and an optional original Saturn mode.

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Nights into Dreams Announcement Trailer
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Oct 18, 2012
    90
    This is what dreams are made of. A great remake of a wonderful game.
  2. Oct 5, 2012
    90
    Get reacquainted and it's easy to convince yourself that perhaps NiGHTS is Sonic Team's real masterpiece.
  3. 80
    NiGHTS is like the dreams it's based on: it's easy to dismiss as silly nonsense, but when you dig deeper into it, you'll find something beautiful and revelatory.
  4. Oct 2, 2012
    70
    Nights into Dreams HD is a great entry point for gamers who've read about the series over the years, but might be curious what all the fuss is about. In some regards, it comes off as a tad simplistic, but it's easy to see where the qualities of the game lie, and why it gained such a cult following over the sixteen years.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Dec 5, 2012
    70
    A race against time with a whole lot of charm. [Christmas 2012, p.93]
  6. Oct 17, 2012
    70
    One of the much beloved Sega Saturn flagship games comes back from memories to hold our hand in an awesome journey through dreams. Nights into Dreams HD is an original one, a very peculiar platform game... without platforms! This new porting is good in every aspect except controls: the fluid movement of Nights now feel less accurate and joyful, but they are still good enough to not affect the gameplay for newcomers.
  7. Jan 28, 2013
    50
    The only thing the HD rejuvenation really imbued is the graphic design and that's simply not enough to recommend Nights into Dreams to anyone but true retro lovers.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. Oct 27, 2012
    10
    FINALLY!!Since I sold my SATURN many years back this is 1 of the titles for that machine(along with many that have already been translated toFINALLY!!Since I sold my SATURN many years back this is 1 of the titles for that machine(along with many that have already been translated to xbla)that I was certain would make a perfect port to the xbla sevice.I wasn't wrong,this game has a timeless quality to it that only true classics have.This wasn't just the best sonic team game for the SATURN but IMO thier greatest creation fullstop.This port includes an hd version & the original SS version & I did notice that the saturn version handled that bit tighter,but it's only really noticable to people who spent many hours with the original.Along with all the other classic SATURN & DREAMCAST conversions on the 360,it's almost like I have my 2 favourite machines incorporated into my 360.GR8 STUFF SEGA,KEEP THEM COMING!!! Expand
  2. Jul 23, 2013
    9
    The XBOX Live port of NiGHTS into Dreams is actually a port of the remake for PS2 that was only released in japan... for some reason. But nowThe XBOX Live port of NiGHTS into Dreams is actually a port of the remake for PS2 that was only released in japan... for some reason. But now that they finally ported the game to Xbox Live I have been able to play the game for the first time, and it is fantastic, the updated graphics from the PS2 remake already looked amazing but now look even better in HD. The original Saturn version included in the game still looks surprisingly nice considering it came out in 1996. The soundtrack is incredible, the control is tight and responsive, and the game is just such a blast to play. I recommend it to everyone. Expand
  3. Oct 7, 2012
    9
    I think it's amazing that this game has seen the light of day. The effort from the fan community to convince Sega to release this has beenI think it's amazing that this game has seen the light of day. The effort from the fan community to convince Sega to release this has been amazing. While there may be some control issues with the game (which can be patched), it's an incredible bargain. Often times I feel the gaming media doesn't seem to take into account that these games are being sold for a very low price. The game's graphics look a lot better than on the Saturn, with new 3D models, improved textures and HD resolution. The animation is solid, and while the gameplay lacks some precision compares to the original, this will only be noticeable for those who played the Saturn version. NiGHTS doesn't take long to complete, but it's difficult to master and this adds to the replayability. The game invites you to keep coming back to beat those high-scores. The inclusion of Christmas NiGHTS is even better, and visually it looks impressive even for today's standards. The online leaderboard finally gives the fans a chance to compete for those high scores as well. Even today, this game delivers a unique experience that I haven't found in any other game. At this price, everyone should give it a chance, especially if you haven't played the game before. Expand
  4. Oct 13, 2012
    8
    This game is really great, despite it's difficulty and age. It's a true classic with the likes of Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, and Mario 64. It hadThis game is really great, despite it's difficulty and age. It's a true classic with the likes of Sonic, Crash Bandicoot, and Mario 64. It had a simplistic storyline, yet it was one of the most imaginative games of it's time, and it still is. It even comes with the original SEGA Saturn version and Christmas NiGHTS! The only problems are it's slight control issues and the fact that there is no Sonic Into Dreams included. Overall, this is an amazing game. Expand
  5. Nov 23, 2017
    7
    A gem from a bygone era of gaming that wins you over with it's originality and charming design. The gameplay isn't always the easiest thing toA gem from a bygone era of gaming that wins you over with it's originality and charming design. The gameplay isn't always the easiest thing to get into. It's unique style of on-rails score hunting and exploration suffers from dated controls and surprisingly demanding requirements in place to end up with a good level rating. Nothing is explained going into it, so this is very much a learn as you go experience. However, it you take the time to learn all of it's intricacies, NiGHTS can prove to be a very rewarding game. It's just not going to grip everyone.

    Racing the clock through different paths and trying to get as many points as possible can be quite fun when you aren't actually trying to win. The game's relaxing soundtrack, colorful graphics, and charmingly bizarre style makes it seem more accessible than it actually is. The boss battles are also exciting, if outright cryptic the first time through. One you realize that those final levels require you to hit a certain rating in each of the previous stages before you can unlock them, some of the enjoyment is sucked out of the experience. Getting higher scores and better end of level rankings requires more strategy than one would think. Memorizing the best paths and making the most out of the time limit is the name of the game. Unfortunately dated design and an unreliable control scheme make that much more of a pain than it needs to be. While I did find this to be an amusing experience, I was not enthralled enough with it to truly take the time to master it. I was perfectly happy with the hour or so it took me to get through the base stages (it's a very short, content lite game`).

    Fans and newcomers alike are sure to find the inclusion of the Christmas level to be a real treat. One of my favorite things in this remaster was the option to play through the game with the original graphics or the newly updated ones. While the remastered visuals are crisper and easier on the eyes, the original look of the Sega Saturn's have their own appeal. So there's a little something extra here for those who are looking to revisit and old classic or those trying out the game for the first time.

    So after all these years NiGHTS still has something to offer. The actual gameplay is of the hit or miss variety. This isn't the kind of thing that's going to appeal to everybody. At the end of the day though, even with it's flaws, NiGHTS has aged better than most other games from this era. There's also just nothing else like it out there. So whether it ends up being for you or not, I still think it's worth the risk to find out. Even if you only stick around long enough to experience the hour or two of base content that will allow you to find out what the game is about, it will at least be memorable and the low price tag means that it won't feel like you wasted a lot of money should you not like it. There's a reason this game has such a following. I wouldn't mind seeing a more casual, less exacting follow up sometime in the future. This is an original style of gameplay that might just be due for a return, minus the baggage.
    Expand
  6. Jun 11, 2013
    7
    I'd being lying if I didn't say NiGHTS was an......interesting experience. Having never played the original on SEGA Saturn and seeing theI'd being lying if I didn't say NiGHTS was an......interesting experience. Having never played the original on SEGA Saturn and seeing the various problems with the Wii game NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, I was a little hesitant to buy the rerelease on Steam. However after a while I decided to play it out of curiosity. The most entertaining part of NiGHTS is the gameplay, I could tell after the first few minutes that this was a game made by Sonic Team. It's exciting when you get a feel for the control and start flying through the levels without anything stopping you, and you can go pretty fast and get a lot of point if you know what you're doing, if you know what you're doing though, you're probably on a second, third, or even forth play through because NiGHTS barely gives you any info about how to properly play it. The instructions give you just enough info to get through, but if you want to get the best score, you'll have to figure that out on your own. Finally, a fair bit of warning, this game is incredibly short, if you just play it without getting "A ranks" then you'll probably get though the game in an hour or two, maybe less. I'm not saying NiGHTS isn't fun, I'm just saying that you shouldn't expect it to keep your attention for a long time. Expand
  7. Sep 22, 2014
    1
    Laggy mess compared to orginal. The one point comes from having the orginal as an option but already owning it on saturn makes this versionLaggy mess compared to orginal. The one point comes from having the orginal as an option but already owning it on saturn makes this version seem like crap. Expand

See all 11 User Reviews