NiGHTS
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Rumor: Wii games face disappointing first day sales in Japan
This seems to be becoming a trend, but the handful of Wii games that were released this week in Japan are reported to have had poor first day sales. They were all third-party titles, which is also somewhat worrisome. Here's a look at the numbers: Chocobo's Dungeon (Square Enix) - 30,000 (30% sell through of initial amount shipped) NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Sega) - 7,000 (10% sell through) Soul Calibur Legends (Bandai Namco) - 5,000 (10% sell through) We Love Golf (Capcom) - 4,000 (10% sell through) Shikigami no Shiro III (Arc System Works) - 500 Granted, these are only rumored first day sales, and we'll have to wait until later in the week to get a better grip on the situation, but as of now it doesn't look good.So, what do we make of these numbers? If they're correct, is it bad news for the Wii and third-party developers, or just more evidence that Japan is shying away from console gaming? While the latter is certainly a factor, third parties certainly can't be happy to see low numbers. However, it's way too early to ring a death knell for any of these games, even if these numbers are correct. We'll just have to wait and see how these games perform in the next few weeks.[Via Cubed3]
NiGHTS into enormous soundtracks
If NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams turns out to be awful, we'll feel a little stupid for hyping it so much (though we always temper our enthusiasm with skepticism, because ... Sega). But even if the game ends up not being perfect, the music is pretty much a known quantity. If you like sappy, uplifing orchestral pop, then you'll probably enjoy the NiGHTS soundtrack. But would you enjoy it three discs' worth?The NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Official Soundtrack will be released in Japan on January 16th for 3,800 yen ($34) and will include 76 tracks, including nine versions of "Dreams Dreams." Some are instrumental -- perfect for karaoke!
Making of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams
This look into the making of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams comes courtesy of GameTap and was ripped from a DVD at GameStop (we're not sure if you can pick one up or if it's on those in-store video loops, but we're betting on the latter). It shows some of the backstory on the original Saturn game, as well as why Wii was the perfect fit for the new game. Not only that, but it discusses some of the improvements Sega hopes to make with the new game. It's an overall interesting video, so be sure to check it out.[Via Siliconera]
Wii releases for the week of December 10th
Well then, unless you are a fan of games from Destineer, it looks like there isn't much up for offer this week. Sure, some of you had your interests piqued when you saw your first chunk of gameplay in action. But, was it enough for you to want to pick it up?This week's retail releases are: Super Swing Golf Season 2 Showtime Boxing Kawasaki Quad Bikes Indy 500 Legends Mythmakers: Orbs of Doom Kidz Sports: Basketball Plan on picking any of these games up? Or, are you just going to wait until next week when NiGHTS releases?
Wii Warm Up: SAAAAAAAAAAY-GA!
Any gamer would need a heart of blackened teak to not have a soft spot for Sega, and there's arguably no better home for a dyed-in-the-wool Sega fan than the Wii. Over the coming weeks and months, Nintendo's little white box will be hosting a number of updated classic Sega properties, including NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, Samba De Amigo, and House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return.But our appetite for all things Sega is not yet sated! While we've already asked you which Saturn games you'd like to see on the Virtual Console, which Sega titles in general do you want to see reinvented on the Wii? A motion-sensitive Panzer Dragoon, the return of Ulala, and a Burning Rangers sequel top our list.
NiGHTS: Journey of Spoilers
It was bound to happen, but some videos from the end of NiGHTS: Journey into Dreams have found their way onto the internets. The quality of these videos is very poor, but since you can sort of make out what's going on despite the talking in the background, these videos should definitely be considered spoilers. From what we could tell, they don't show the very end of the game (although, since we haven't played it, we could be wrong), but just events near the end.Anyway, there are SPOILER VIDEOS after the break, consider yourselves warned!
NiGHTS into T-shirts
Japanese game shirt maker extraordinaire The King of Games is producing a special shirt in celebration of Sega's newest mascot revival. This NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams shirt comes in black or white and features glow-in-the-dark elements (NiGHTS and the text area on the black shirt, the moon and stars on the white shirt). Unfortunately, it not only costs 4,200 yen ($38), it's only available in Japan. Also, preorders for the thing opened two days ago and most sizes are already sold out.Does that translate into interest in the game? We hope so! Does it translate into inconsolable sadness for us, sitting in stupid America with no NiGHTS shirts? Definitely.
Sega: No plans to release NiGHTS PS2 outside of Japan
Those hoping that the PS2 port of the Sega Saturn classic NiGHTS would be released outside of Japan may be out of luck. Takashi Iizuka -- producer, director, and lead game designer on the Wii-sclusive NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams -- recently spoke with Sega Nerds about all things NiGHTS.When asked about the PS2 enhanced port of the original NiGHTS Into Dreams, Iizuka commented that at present, the title is only scheduled for release in Japan, and that there are no plans to bring the title to other regions, or, for that matter, to the Nintendo Wii.Iizuka also commented that the PS2 port was the direct result of a high demand for the game in Japan. Given that, it's still possible that solid sales of the NiGHTS sequel might inspire releases of the original in more regions. Let's keep the hope alive.
Today's danciest video: Merry Xmas 2K7
It's a little early for Christmas, but it's always the right time for dancing video game characters! Jan3D has put together a super-short video as an early holiday gift to his/her fellow gamers. And to think that you weren't planning on getting him/her anything.Not much else to say here. Just be prepared to see Big Daddy, Nariko, Mario, Master Chief, Ratchet, and NiGHTS like you've never seen them before -- in sync.
GamesRadar finishes NiGHTS, rubs it in our faces
GamesRadar got their hands on the full version of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, and, rather than just being jerks about it as we joked in the title, they have actually provided detailed impressions of the game, calling it "a game of contradictions." Some of their concerns aren't relevant to gameplay, but are still weird: NiGHTS now speaks, in a bizarre, androgynous voice with an unplaceable accent. Did NiGHTS need more cutscenes? No, but then, neither did Sonic the Hedgehog.Where it counts, however, NiGHTS seems to be interesting. The flight "really works" and most of the levels take place in the sky (the few on-foot levels don't fare as well). Strangely, the emphasis seems to be on speed in this game and not on tricks. We don't know if this will anger NiGHTS fans or if it will be welcomed as fresh; hopefully, the linking and looping found in the first game will play a larger part than described, adding depth to what seems like a time attack. At least, in its own right, the game seems sound.Also of interest to NiGHTS fans: this interview with Takashi Iizuka, which mentions that the development team prefers the GameCube controls for their similarity to the Saturn analog pad, and offers faint hope for a Burning Rangers sequel.
Friday Video: Soaring through the air
There are four new NiGHTS videos up over at IGN, just in time for our weekly video spotlight! Overall, there's a lot to admire here; we're always enchanted when we have a chance to follow the eponymous hero on a journey through the air. But some of the textures are just lacking. Is it wrong that we want a Journey of Dreams that is breathtakingly beautiful? Well, with no official word on whether or not the game is delayed, what we see here is probably what we'll get. [Thanks, bostondog629!]
Original NiGHTS into Dreams coming to PS2
While Wii owners will soon be enjoying the first NiGHTS sequel, it looks like PS2 owners will eventually be enjoying the original. Famitsu Magazine reports that an enhanced port of the original Sega Saturn game NiGHTS into Dreams will be coming to the Playstation 2 in Japan in February of next year.The PS2 version will display in 16:9 widescreen, and feature slightly improved graphics. The game will also include galleries of video, art, and stills from the marketing and production of the game. We're pleased as punch that the original NiGHTS is being revisited, but it is a bit odd that the Wii will be graced with NiGHTS Journey of Dreams and not its predecessor. Perhaps the odds of a Virtual Console release have slightly increased?Check out the Famitsu page scan after the break.
Rumor: NiGHTS release date undergoes a transformation
A fansite called The Sonic Stadium is reporting that there will be no Christmas NiGHTS this year (not to be confused with Christmas NiGHTS, which also won't happen). The rumor originates from Nightsintodreams.com, who previously reported the same thing back in August. We can't find the news item there (we can't get into the forum!), so we don't know if this is a resurgence of the old rumor, or a new rumor with the same details. According to the rumor -- and that's all it is right now, a hurtful rumor -- the North American release of the game has been pushed back into January or February. That's not long enough to fix whatever is causing the inconsistent graphics, but it is just long enough to make us cry. What are we going to do over the holidays now? Spend time with family?
NiGHTS undergoes a transformation
NiGHTS may look and sound a little uneven at times, but we're still looking forward to its release on the 20th, and after this latest trailer from MTV's Multiplayer blog, our interest is piqued all over again. The eponymous hero transforms into other shapes in this video, and we must say, those sequences above the water are beautiful at times.Of course, at other times, the graphics look less than stellar, but that's been par for the course for the androgynous acrobat's journey to the Wii. We're willing to give NiGHTS a chance on our televisions later this month, however, if only to relive one of the most interesting game experiences of all time.[Via Joystiq]
Watch NiGHTS transform into a fish, rocket in new trailer
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams has to be one of the most curious Wii titles in development at the moment. First off, it doesn't always rely on motion controls (Huh?) and though it often looks pretty, sometimes it looks like a nightmare. Sometimes, as in this trailer, the music is gorgeous, and sometimes it sounds like something from Raffi's reject pile. We just don't get it. This new trailer from MTV Multiplayer doesn't make things any less confusing. Apparently, NiGHTS is now transforming into a fish, snake dragon thing and a rocket (which seems a trifle redundant to us). A few months ago we would have been surprised, but it makes an odd sort of sense now. Which is either frightening or comforting. We've lost the ability to tell the difference.
NiGHTS into multiplayer
How about a little splitscreen NiGHTS action? Jeux-France has a bevy of screenshots showing off the two-player mode, and like so many of the screens we've seen from the Sega title, some of them look really great ... while others are, y'know, not. But we're keeping the faith that all will be good when we're floating freely through the skies of Nightopia. You can check out a few more screens after the break, and tons more over at the French site.
NiGHTS: Journey of -- GAH
We have never had a fear of clowns before, but we think this NiGHTS video just gave us one. For such a cutesy, kid-friendly game, boss Donbalo's face is just off-putting. It's like staring into the candy-colored, laughing face of death.Thankfully, there are four other videos, all of which are much less nightmare-inducing, with which you can cleanse your palate. Those are all posted after the break. With the exception of horrifying clown monsters with dead, evil eyes, these videos depict a gorgeous game. We're hoping that this is how the game will look, for real. It seems like our impressions of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams alternate between awesome and 'meh.' These videos look like top-quality stuff, graphically and in terms of gameplay, so we're hoping we don't see crappy screens tomorrow or something. Right now, this looks like a beautiful, next-gen sequel to NiGHTS. That is all we want.
Buy NiGHTS, play online, make a garden
1UP recently had a chance to delve a little deeper into NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, in particular the game's multiplayer and "My Dream" modes.Reportedly, the former is to consist of two gametypes, one of which -- imaginatively titled "Race Mode" -- will be fully playable online. This will see two players competing in an out-and-out race to the finish line, one as the eponymous NiGHTS, and the other as his her its arch-enemy, Reala.Passing through yellow or green rings contributes to a meter that can in turn be used for "dash boosts," while spike rings have the opposite effect. Encouragingly, it sounds like a fairly "pure" interpretation of the original Saturn game, if our withered, dried-up memories serve correctly."Battle Mode" is the second multiplayer variant, an offline game for two players. Here, each player has to avoid the "Mareballoon," essentially a large orange time bomb that NiGHTS and Reala can chuck between one another. If you're the one holding the Mareballoon by the time its clock has ticked down to zero, then your opponent clinches a point, with the first to three winning.Swoop effortlessly past the break for more.%Gallery-4673%
NiGHTS 'My Dream' mode features real-time weather, poor graphics
As previously reported, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams on the Wii will take real-time weather information from the Wii's forecast channel. Instead of using this feature in story mode, however, NiGHTS will only make use of real-time weather in the "My Dream" mode, a virtual pet environment separate from the main game.1UP details the new "My Dream" mode, which will feature the same "A-Life" virtual pet system that's been featured in many Sonic Team games, from the original NiGHTS to the Sonic Adventure series. Now, however, the A-Life environment will pull data from the Wii's forecast channel, allowing you to raise adorable creatures in spaces that mimic the actual weather on your area. Pretty cool, right?Less cool are the screenshots CVG presents along with this information, which "show off" the weather effects in action. All screens look pulled out of the N64 generation, with low-res textures, a sparse spattering of low-poly trees, and very little else.1UP's preview states that the "My Dream" space starts out sparse, but becomes more robust as players progress. Still, things aren't looking so pretty in general, and the lack of objects certainly doesn't explain away the "low-def" feel of it all. With the US release of the title a little over a month away, here's hoping the special mode looks a lot better in action.Read -- "NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams Preview" [1UP]Read -- "NiGHTS weathers screens - what went wrong?" [CVG]
NiGHTS website hints at control options
The issue of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams' control scheme is getting more complicated-- and, to us, more awesome. Reports from TGS indicated that the game made no use of motion controls; later, we heard that the motion controls were optional, and disappointing. But it seems that we have yet to hear the whole story about the control options for this game.Sega's North American NiGHTS website has opened up, and its "features" area lists the supported controllers for the game. According to the website, it is possible to play NiGHTS with the Wiimote, Wiimote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or even a GameCube controller. We still have yet to determine the specifics of any of the control schemes, but it at least seems more likely that there will be one for everybody. And, as with Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we're excited about replaying the game using different control schemes.The website also features a brisk history of NiGHTS and a short video of the Saturn game in action. It also features a lovely sparkle effect when you move your mouse.
