So after more than ten years of yearning, hoping and wishing; Sonic Team have finally answered many a fans prayers by creating a sequel to one of the much loved games to ever grace the Sega Saturn. I am of course referring to the original NiGHTS into Dreams which when first released created quite a stir as it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before and quite rightly went on to become a cult classic.

Many magical moments were laid before player's eyes and placed at their fingertips as using the included 3D controller you would guide two troubled children named Elliot and Claris through a dream world in the guise of Nights; a purple, poignant being with a pointed hat of sorts and the ability to fly.

Click for more screens!

Fast forward roughly ten years and this newly created sequel follows much in the footsteps of the original bringing forward the basic template which remains mostly the same; through the purple personification that is Nights you must guide two youngsters named Will and Helen through the world of Nightopia, collecting Ideya chips and passing each level - eventually leading to an assumed encounter with the evil Nightmaren.

Newly incorporated into this Wii sequel are on foot sections where you take control of each of the children and must complete certain objectives. It remains to be seen if these add to or detract from the game, though other intriguing features include data synchronisation with the Wii weather channel to mimic the conditions in real-life and then reflect them in game; multiplayer modes in local form and over Nintendo WFC - all of which will hopefully add longevity and new experiences to the title.

While everything certainly looks lovely and life-like (quite literally thanks to the return of the A-life feature) and sounds sumptuous, there is still a small cloud of doubt drifting across the otherwise seamless skies of Nightopia as to if the core experience will live up to the ostentatious original. N-Europe intends to either confirm or put fears to rest once and for all with our full review of the title - so stay tuned to discover if this sequel is truly a dream come true or a nightmare.

Sam Gittins
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