Saturn NiGHTS Thread

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

THIS IS A THREAD FOR ALL NiGHTS RELATED POSTS.

It’s a dream paradox…

In 1996, Sonic Team made their Saturn debut with the console’s premiere mascot character: NiGHTS. A score attack game about flight, tricks, combos, and bizarro-dream imagery, the series has become an icon among niche gaming series. NiGHTS is the soul of Saturn era SEGA, crystallized. Everything about the game is surreal, off putting, and may not make sense. I admit, I didn’t take to the game when I played it on PC or PS3, but something about owning it on Saturn made it finally click (it may also be that those ports aren’t great. SEGA is known for bad ports of their games, after all). The series is one of the most visually iconic, infinitely replayable, and undeniably influential in SEGA’s catalogue.

It’s shocking a thread for NiGHTS hasn’t existed here before, but now it’s here. Welcome to Nightopia…

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 1:31 AM

While I wait for other people to share their memories of the collective dream, I have to share some goodies.
Here’s Reala asking politely if they can see your phone:

An awesome old storybook cover from Sonic Team’s 1997 website:

And a collection of UFO plushes that I really want but will NEVER OWN (because they are nightmarishly expensive):

 

[bigstinkie]

an amusing little tidbit about the nights franchise is that it is the only non-nintendo video game franchise shigeru miyamoto wishes he had worked on
impressive thing

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

an amusing little tidbit about the nights franchise is that it is the only non-nintendo video game franchise shigeru miyamoto wishes he had worked on
impressive thing

That sounds about right. NiGHTS is special.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 2:19 AM

Check out this beautiful beast!

It’s definitely too much money, and I would advise to simply look, but here’s the link anyway.

 

[Raziya The Seeker]

I think my cousin had it on his Saturn back in the day, but I'd only seen it once. I distinctly remember some kind of clock monster that catches you if you run out of time. He and his family had the Segas, and mine had the Nintendos.

NiGHTS feels like one of those games I wish I'd gotten into back in the day, where I could've really appreciated it more than just emulating it today. That and I dunno how well one can emulate a Saturn.

 

[Johnathan Smikey]

"Hey bro, what is you favorite game from the Saturn era of SEGA?"

Bro:

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I think my cousin had it on his Saturn back in the day, but I'd only seen it once. I distinctly remember some kind of clock monster that catches you if you run out of time. He and his family had the Segas, and mine had the Nintendos.

NiGHTS feels like one of those games I wish I'd gotten into back in the day, where I could've really appreciated it more than just emulating it today. That and I dunno how well one can emulate a Saturn.

Might I raise your post on a forum with another forum?
You want to know how to emulate a trip to Saturn? Here ya go!

 

[YoshifreakZX]

Played the Steam version years back and beat it, including Christmas NiGHTS. I remember loving it. I own Journey of Dreams but haven't played much of it.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

*in reply to Razia The Seeker

Have fun! NiGHTS is a great game, but there’s plenty of others to mess with on Saturn that may appeal to you!
Some suggestions from me:
Ninpen Manmaru - a cute 3D platformer!

Astal - the most gorgeous 2D platformer on the Saturn

Panzer Dragoon - Cinematic rail shooter where you ride a sick dragon

Fighters Megamix - A fighting game where you can unlock characters like this:

And don’t just take suggestions from me! I tried to find games that I think might fit your tastes, but I beg of you to PLEASE ask around to others and explore the library yourself! The Saturn community is fun and inviting, so have yourself a ball!

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 3:43 AM

Played the Steam version years back and beat it, including Christmas NiGHTS. I remember loving it. I own Journey of Dreams but haven't played much of it.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 3:47 AM

an amusing little tidbit about the nights franchise is that it is the only non-nintendo video game franchise shigeru miyamoto wishes he had worked on
impressive thing

Shigeru Miyamoto - Hates story, loves Pac-Man and NiGHTS.

 

[SorenFireEmblem]

I never played NiGHTS, unfortunately.
However, I DID play Sega and All Stars Tennis.

I remember fondly, when I wasn't fucking shit up as Jet, I was playing them no doubt. I always found them so pretty as a kid. And to this day I still do. The aesthetic of NiGHTS is unbeatable.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I never played NiGHTS, unfortunately.
However, I DID play Sega and All Stars Tennis.

I remember fondly, when I wasn't fucking shit up as Jet, I was playing them no doubt. I always found them so pretty as a kid. And to this day I still do. The aesthetic of NiGHTS is unbeatable.

Tennis counts! I had the DS version of the game lmao

It was so crunchy! But the fmv intro was still in the DS version, and I love me some DS FMV.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 4:42 AM

I forgot to add what is clearly the best NiGHTS game:

NiGHTS for PS2’s Eyetoy.

 

[Juiceala]

Hot take but Journey!

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Hot take but Journey!

I would like to know more about that game! I’ve had it on my Wii for a while now.

 

[Adrastia]

I remember playing Nights on Saturn. I loved that hockey puck analog controller.

 

[Juiceala]

I would like to know more about that game! I’ve had it on my Wii for a while now.

It's more of the same but the game is bigger than the Saturn original, has more levels and more content, even a semi Chao Garden, but the main structure is similar to the original only bigger in scope.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

It's more of the same but the game is bigger than the Saturn original, has more levels and more content, even a semi Chao Garden, but the main structure is similar to the original only bigger in scope.

Oh. So you’re saying I need to hop on that?

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:30 AM

I remember playing Nights on Saturn. I loved that hockey puck analog controller.

I really need that controller
>_<

 

[Adrastia]

Oh. So you’re saying I need to hop on that?

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:30 AM

I really need that controller
>_<

I wonder how much it goes goes now? It was really innovative for its time.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

The UFO controller is going for $50 to $70.

Too much for it, but that’s the prices I’ve seen. There’s a reason I don’t have one.

 

[UnDubious]

I had the game on Saturn as a kid but never made it far. My favorite thing about it was really the strange dream atmosphere, the CG intro, and running around as far as I could go on foot as Elliot until the alarm clock finally caught me instead of turning to Nights and actually playing it. I was and still am a big fan of exploration and didn't have any game that let you do that in 3D yet, so all I really wanted was To visit those levels.
To this day I don't find the core gameplay all that fun, but then Sonic Team is the only Sega team I don't really like past their first few games. But it's definitely unique. It's no mystery to me why it wasn't the game changing killer app they wanted it to be, though. The actual game has pretty limited appeal, all you do is fly inside circles.

 

[Lokgamer]

Damn, I thought this was a thread where we could talk at night.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I had the game on Saturn as a kid but never made it far. My favorite thing about it was really the strange dream atmosphere, the CG intro, and running around as far as I could go on foot as Elliot until the alarm clock finally caught me instead of turning to Nights and actually playing it. I was and still am a big fan of exploration and didn't have any game that let you do that in 3D yet, so all I really wanted was To visit those levels.
To this day I don't find the core gameplay all that fun, but then Sonic Team is the only Sega team I don't really like past their first few games. But it's definitely unique. It's no mystery to me why it wasn't the game changing killer app they wanted it to be, though. The actual game has pretty limited appeal, all you do is fly inside circles.

I wouldn’t put it down that way, but you are right in the consensus that the game TEASES YOU with a 3D world to explore on Saturn (a very rare commodity on the console) and then locks you into an on rails game environment that uses Sonic Team’s 2D game knowledge to facilitate it. Again, the game is a score attack, so its content is more arcadey and about going back in to get better ranks and challenge yourself. The tragic thing I’ve had to deal with over the years is that, while that’s my favorite kind of game to play, the majority of people only played arcade games in the arcade because of their visuals, and not for the actual game design. Most people, even to this day, want an explorative 3D platformer. That’s not NiGHTS. It’s a decidedly linear experience about the freedom that flight allows being juxtaposed by perfecting your routes, getting A Ranks, and getting the highest scores.


That’s what makes people LOVE Christmas NiGHTS. It’s a single stage and a boss, but people replay it infinitely because of the gameplay being so fun that they can replay that one little bit of game for forever, not even mentioning the presents and other modes you can unlock, as well as the much beloved Christmas vibes.

On a final note, I feel that the 3D running around sections with Elliot and Claire were a mistake and a total waste of the engine. It teases you with one game that you cannot have and will never have. All it does is distract your mind from the amazing core gameplay, and makes you just wish we got an explorative 3D platformer on Saturn. It’s the game’s only major blemish in my view, but I see it as more of a bruise because of how much it can push away newcomers.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 3:15 PM

I wanted to show off what amazing NiGHTS gameplay really looks like. The SHOCKING 400 link combo at the start is certainly impressive, but once the second section of the stage begins, that’s where I find this performance so impressive. It’s some truly next level stuff! I’m nowhere near half as good, but I hope to be someday!

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 3:36 PM

And, to folks still on the fence, here’s a gift from me to you!

 

[bjork]

I had NiGHTS around launch, with the analog pad. Played it until I got all As, fun game. Also had the Christmas disc that came with Ultra Game Players in holiday 96. Later, I had that PS2 version they did in Japan that came with the hardback art book. Sold all that stuff and just have the steam version now. Just as fun to revisit and having less stuff laying around is always a plus.

Never played the Wii one due to it being on the Wii. But I did play a lot of that pinball table in Sonic Adventure and the GBA minigame you could get in PSO for the gamecube. It's a cool franchise. Also, it was the game to boot Mario 64 from the top spot of the Japanese sales charts back when it came out, though iirc it was only for a week or something. But it still counts

I was and still am a big fan of exploration and didn't have any game that let you do that in 3D yet, so all I really wanted was To visit those levels.

Here you go, boss: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/2024/07/03/nights-grounded-for-28th-anniversary/
(I didn't test it but supposedly that's what this is)

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I had NiGHTS around launch, with the analog pad. Played it until I got all As, fun game. Also had the Christmas disc that came with Ultra Game Players in holiday 96. Later, I had that PS2 version they did in Japan that came with the hardback art book. Sold all that stuff and just have the steam version now. Just as fun to revisit and having less stuff laying around is always a plus.

Never played the Wii one due to it being on the Wii. But I did play a lot of that pinball table in Sonic Adventure and the GBA minigame you could get in PSO for the gamecube. It's a cool franchise. Also, it was the game to boot Mario 64 from the top spot of the Japanese sales charts back when it came out, though iirc it was only for a week or something. But it still counts


Here you go, boss: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/2024/07/03/nights-grounded-for-28th-anniversary/
(I didn't test it but supposedly that's what this is)

This is actually incredible. Taking the least part of the original game and making it a strength is amazing.

 

[iamthemilkman]

Love NiGHTS. Christmas NiGHTS is a yearly holiday tradition of mine. I actually won a SEGA contest on their blog for a NiGHTS pillowcase way back. I still have the Tiger Electronics NiGHTS handheld, too.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Love NiGHTS. Christmas NiGHTS is a yearly holiday tradition of mine. I actually won a SEGA contest on their blog for a NiGHTS pillowcase way back. I still have the Tiger Electronics NiGHTS handheld, too.

Ooooo!!! I would love to see that pillowcase if you don’t mind sharing!

 

[Ikagura]

Somebody is making a NiGHTS into Dreams thread without telling me?

It's a real shame that this magical game came out right in a time where we'll get Mario 64 and Tomb Raider so making a 2.5D game was basically signing its death warrant... But how memorable it still was.

Maybe it's because of the lack of a proper Sonic game on the hardware but Nights itself was basically the mascot of the Sega Saturn (homologous of Sonic back in the Genesis era) alongside Segata Sanshiro.

At least this is one of the few Saturn game that wasn't stuck on the hardware thanks to the HD port on the Xbox, PS and Steam (rip). I just wished that Sega could've ported these games to the Switch (especially the Sonic Adventure and Nights).

It took me years to play Journey because I thought that you could only play it with a wiimote but it's GC pad compatible (which I'm thankful many Wii games are) but I really wish they added an arcade mode without having to do all missions just to advance in the game but that's the flaw of Sega, especially during that era.

This RAM game on the GBA (that you can play from Billy Hatcher) could've been a proof of concept of an eventual GBA port of Into Dreams (like how we got Space Channel 5, Chu Chu Rocket and even Jet Set Radio on it).

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 6:11 PM

Have fun! NiGHTS is a great game, but there’s plenty of others to mess with on Saturn that may appeal to you!
Some suggestions from me:
Ninpen Manmaru - a cute 3D platformer!
View attachment 65010

I'd be willing to try that one, it looks nice.

Somehow that reminds me of Jumping Flash

Astal - the most gorgeous 2D platformer on the Saturn
View attachment 65011

Looks gorgeous, reminds me of Ristar a bit.