...or so says Game Reactor (via Game|Life).  No system mentioned, though all rumors point Wiiward.  I always thought the first one looked cool, but I never played enough of it at friends' houses to really get into it (oddly, I ended up with a used store demo copy though I never had a Saturn).

Nights is absolute genius and should have had a sequel/remake a long time ago. But does anyone seriously trust what's left of Sega or Sonic Team to deliver a quality game?

NIghts was definetely a brilliant game, although sequel has been mentioned so many times in good old Dreamcast domination period while nothing happened, so is safely to say, - probably your next april fool's joke ^_~

Well if it's an April fools joke, Game Reactor took it too seriously because it's splashed all over their cover - http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph … ostcount=1

Agreed with everyone here. I recieved a Saturn this Christmas as a joint gift from two friends, and proceeded the following week to the local video game specialty shop and scored NiGHTS and the special controller.

As for it needing a sequel a long time ago, I disagree with that. I think that NiGHTS is a property that should only be re-visited once everytime something truly new and exciting comes along. The first time was the concept itself. I believe the second time around (if it is genuine) is to capitalise on the Wii's innovations.

If it does turn out true? I'll be first in line.

Here's hoping it turns out at least as great as the original.  Didn't Yuji Naka recently say that he had no desire to continue with NiGHTS as a series?

My thoughts exactly... I played NiGHTS a little bit when the Saturn still had a pulse and I think it deserves another spin... it's been at least what... 10 years?

Still, I wish Sega would pay more attention to the Panzer Dragoon series as well. I mean I'd kill for a collection with 1, 2/Zwei and SaGa on it.

He isn't at Sammy/SEGA anymore anyway so he can say whatever he wants. =P

" I think that NiGHTS is a property that should only be re-visited once everytime something truly new and exciting comes along."

I actually think that of most games    I'm staring to  get a little tired of the constant 'sequalisation' of the industry,,,

CAPCOM... oh, did I say that out loud? That was suppost to be in a thought bubble.

I think he's been saying that for quite a while now.

Well, I suppose it is official:  here's some pics from the magazine article - http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7615

it would be amazing if this game would really came out, keeping fingers crossed.

The pics look really nice. Good to see Splash Garden making a return. I notice there are no Pians but I'm hoping that's because they're early shots. This could turn out to be excellent.

A shame I missed out on the first and utterly jaded against post-DC Sega... I'm not eager for this at all.  It does look good; I'll most likely give it a try.

NIGHTS confirmed (for real this time).

I'm very weary now. My good friend said this game was being developed by "the assholes who made shadow the hedgehog". They couldn't even get a PS2 game to control properly... something tells me this is going to be a nightmare.

You mean "wary", don't you? And I don't know about it being a nightmare. I think the game is going to be grand, although I will admit that is as much speculation as it is wishful thinking.

In the end, we'll see, won't we? Until then, all we can do is hope.

"I'm very weary now."

Maybe... weary of seeing a legacy dipped in the mud?  Well I guess you're right, all we can do is wait and hope.

Wary of the game and weary of seeing Nights come out looking like a cylindrical brown thing.

To be fair though, I think the original NiGHTS is slightly overrated by its' fans. It's unique to be sure, but it never seemed to scream "Saturn Killer App" to me (least not in the same way Sonic sold the Genesis). I still have my copy and I still bob around in the worlds every now and again (I HATE the 3D parts, when your flying ability runs out), but I think the legend of NiGHTS has been spread by its' status as both a cult classic and one of the really unique games on a system few people want to own (and thus have only read about it...similar to Guardian Heroes, which I didn't enjoy at all, and Panzer Dragoon Saga). To me, it's a fun and colorful, but utterly average game.

I think a Wii version could work out really well, as long as it doesn't boil down to target-shooting your guy through the rings.

A lot of people would disagree with you simply because they love the game and appreciate the genius in simplicity of "target-shooting your guy through the rings." It needed no 'Legend of Nights' because it was highly acclaimed from day one.

But the fact that you didn't enjoy Guarian Heroes tells me you have, well, let's say a different slant on gaming.

No, I meant the Wii version. The original's version of shooting your guy through the rings was fine...I just hope they keep it in 2D and don't make it similar to a lightgun game with the Wiimote in shooting your guy through the rings.

When I got my Saturn (after it had already tanked), I read many accounts that NiGHTS was basically THE Saturn title to have. Looking at the time period when it actually came out in late 96, it was massively hyped up ($8 million advertising campaign, its' own commercial) and was probably better than anything PS1 had at the time, but I really don't see it as a game that could have saved Saturn from going under then (which it was doing just fine by itself) than by the time PS1 had started adding some of the real AAA titles its' known for.

Multiplayer (especially four player), this rocks. I hope they announce it for XBLA with online multiplayer or DS Wifi. Single player was mostly eh.... I just remember battles being really annoying because of the hit detection in boss fights. It's been years since I played Guardian Heroes, so I don't remember too much about this one. Wasn't the shot in the arm for beat-em ups I was hoping for, despite a lot of cool ideas.

Ah, okay! I'm totally with you on this.

Funny that you mention these games along with Nights, as those three - along with the other Panzer Dragoons - are precisely the titles that I as a habit pull out of the closet along with my Saturn to replay every winter vacation when I go back to America, whereas I have no clue as to the whereabouts of my old PlayStation and the games I had for it.

I agree with your point (not quoted) about them not having system-seller status, mainly because they didn't seem to stand out enough from previous-generation games to convince people they needed a Saturn.  Guardian Heroes was a "traditional" beat-em-up, the first two Panzer Dragoons belong to a genre most consider too simplistic to warrant buying a system for, and even Nights appears like a normal side-scrolling action game.  Panzer Dragoon Saga undoubtedly had some revolutionary features for its time but this was when RPGs were still obscure and Final Fantasy hogged what little limelight they had.

But system-sellers or not, they all had such exquisite and unique takes on their respective genres that IMO they stand out as the best of their time.  Despite the small library the Saturn may well be the game system I wind up looking back on most fondly over the years.

Oh and back on topic, I'm doubtful of the current-day Sega's ability to pull off a worthy Nights sequel but am hoping for the best

NeoGAF's Jonnyram and Chao have their initial opinions up on the Japanese version of Journey of Dreams.  It's not looking too hot:

Jonnyram:
Heads up... this game is awful, and Sega has raped my memories of the original in the process.

I am NOT amused. I loved the demo at TGS, but they haven't fixed the framerate, and they've added a bunch of unnecessary stuff around the game itself which makes it one of the most offensive gaming experiences this year. DO NOT BELIEVE. I am sorely tempted to take it to a trade store in disgust, but I might also keep playing to see just how deep the anal penetration goes. Oh and you will hurl when you see the realtime cutscenes in this game. Seriously.

Edit for gory details: CG cutscenes look awesome, but NiGHTS (and Reala) now speak, and they have terrible voices. All voice acting is in English with Japanese subtitles btw. There is a 10-15 minute long tutorial, hosted by a talking owl who says things like "good", "oh", "visitor" - not sure what that last one is all about. The graphics during these segments are horrendous, sub-PS2, almost PS1. The game has a lobby area from which you enter each zone, so it's a bit like SMG in that respect. There are stages where you have a single run to get as high a link as possible and it ends when the link ends. They suck. Did I mention the graphics blowing in the realtime cutscenes... The music is awesome, but it's pretty hard to screw up NiGHTS music when you are obviously using the original score! Oh and they used some of the original samples too, but used one of them for something totally different and it sounds stupid. Fans beware.

Chao:
-TOO f---ing MUCH POINTLESS CUTSCENES.
-Cutscenes models sucks hard, they are SO ugly, NiGHTS' face is f---ing creepy.
-The controls feel a little unresponsive for me. In the original NiGHTS I remember myself nailing every ring and linking a lot of them, but I find the controls in this one a bit harder.
-Now every level has different missions, most of them kind of boring. The ranking system it's not like in the original Nights, where you could stay flying through the level until the very last second collecting blue chips and linking. Now it's more the faster you can finish the level or something, I don't really get it yet. Missions with the kids walking around suck really hard.
-The "My Dream" thing with the A Life system it's pointless, it's not like Chaos in Sonic Adventure, you almost can't interact with the Nightopians, other than carrying them from place to place. Also, the garden is HORRID.

+One of the levels, the Glass garden or something like that, looks really great. The game looks nice if you forget the cutscenes.
+Music is great too, many catchy tunes, but not as great as the original. The music in the character selection screen is the same you heard on the original NiGHTS, it made me smile.
+The persona masks thing looks interesting, I'd have to play more to tell

I don't know if the game sucks or not yet, but don't get your hopes very high guys, although it looks like it is a decent (but not awesome) sequel.

I'm still fairly optimistic about it at least being fun.  Honestly I remember the original game getting trashed when it came out - it was only later that people decided it was a classic.  I guess I really should try the Saturn one again, though I've heard I apparently need the 3D controller for it.  Need to search for one of those.

I really enjoyed the TGS demo when I played it, though the controls didn't feel anywhere near as tight as the Saturn version.  Here's hoping Sega didn't ruin the franchise's chance for a big comeback.

I'm not really familiar with the original NiGHTS (missed it in favor of Shining the Holy Ark, Dragon Force, and Panzer Dragoon Saga), but it seems to be pretty entertaining so far.  I'm told that there are a lot of tie-ins with the original NiGHTS, so everything should make sense right away to those who have played the Into Dreams.  The music is awesome, though!

Another disappointment from Sega?  Gee, who could have predicted that?  If they keep this up, they'll be the next Squenix (as in "Remember when Square made games that didn't suck?").

I was under that impression for a long time too, but there's really nothing special about the controller. It's just an oversized Saturn controller with an analog stick. You can play with the regular controller, and if you don't mind playing it on an emulator, you can use any analog gamepad. It's really not even a 3D game, except when you're playing as one of the kids (which only happens when you fail to complete a course on time); when playing as NiGHTS you're on rails.

I played it for the first time a month or two ago, and it just didn't live up to the hype for me. It's not a bad game, and I can see how people who played it back then could have been blown away, but it just didn't do much for me.

Well I've been playing Nights 2 today and, though it's not a gaming revelation so far, I don't agree that it's a disaster by any means. Especially given that the NeoGaf guys seem preoccupied with the cutscenes.

And speaking of which, the cutscenes are godawful. Like, disgraceful. The character models are atrocious, the scripting embarrassing and they've turned Nights himself into a dick. And I can't seem to find a way to skip these.

And they've added missions to the main structure of the game. I guess they probably thought that the structure of the original would be criticised for being too short. Of course, that would miss the point of the whole scoring nature of the game but I can understand it.

But the actual in-game stuff to me seems mostly good. And the main opening levels of each dream are really well structured like classic Nights. There's the chasing round a bird thing but then it's all scoring. You get graded like the original and this is where I think many people will miss the point of the game - for many, they'll see it as a normal game and just take the completion of the level as the final goal.

For me, those bits are working really well. The levels look pretty nice, the music is beautiful and the Pians are cuter than ever. That's all good stuff.

My real problem right now is something the devs couldn't have done anything about - the Nintendo controllers. Both the nunchuck and the classic controller have angled edges around the analogue stick meaning you cannot get a smooth circle. The controller is also convex and with so much movement in all directions required for Nights, it starts to get really uncomfortable keeping my thumb on that thing. Someone needs to bring out a new controller. But that's not exactly something Sonic Team could have fixed.

Overall, it's still early days yet but I'm not seeing a Sonic-style disaster yet (Sonic is dead to me).

Just picked the game up today, and gave it a lengthy play up to the third world.  I think I agree for the most part with Jay's assessment.  The CG opening and introduction sequences are gorgeous -- but it's a shame that all the cutscenes weren't of the same caliber, because, yeah, the in-game ones are far less impressive.  I actually don't mind the script or the voice acting, though, since it does fit with the tonality of the game. (The voice acting really is quite good, but the character personifications might not be everyone's liking.)  Music is fantastic, with my favorite variations thus far stemming from the Glass Palace world.

The game itself plays well enough..... at least, well enough to do the job.   I had to switch over to the Gamecube controller after briefly trying the Nunchuck configuration, as the latter proved to be a bit too flighty.  The analog stick on the GC pad is still a tad touchy, so it can be harder to nail Links than what you remembered from the original game, but it's entirely do-able.   I rather like the mission-based structure, too; it adds some variety to the standard flying sessions, even if its execution stumbles here and there.  For instance, the barebones on-foot stages could've used a few more techniques and moves for spice.   The collection stages and boss battles have been pretty cool, though.

So far, I'm liking NiGHTS quite a bit.  The central hub set-up and diversity in levels remind me a bit of Super Mario Galaxy; I want to straight away head to the next mission to see what awaits.  If I had one major complaint, it's that the game ruthlessly makes you start at the beginning of a chase level, even if you've gotten up to the boss.  Why couldn't they just cut you a break, and have you check point at the boss?