For those that don't know, NiGHTS was a classic on the Sega Saturn.
Not classic as in "old" but classic as in damned good.
It offered gameplay that felt fluid, graphics that looked amazing, and a sound track that would adapt to the game as you played.

Pure genius.

And now, somewhat a decade later, they make a NEW NiGHTS!
Now the nostalgic 12 year old in me wells up at the thought of a new NiGHTS, a game that has a special place in my heart. However, the cynic in me has a profound worry that Sega (More specifically Sonic Team) have, well, lost it in recent times... and after the abortion that was Sonic the Hedgehog on 360 and PS3, I have evey right to be worried.

However, by some weird coincidence... I'm right on both accounts.
It's great, and it's terrible, and with that i will offer 2 review scores and a sort of 3rd overall score.

Now before fan boys and girls lynch me, hear me out.

If you like NiGHTS you will like Journey of Dreams (or JoD from here on)
however, you will like it because JoD comes with a free pair of rose tinted glasses for people like yourself that will help you ignore the bad bits.

JoD FEELS like NiGHTS, it looks like NiGHTS and dammit, it sounds like NiGHTS...or at least, it does when it plays like NiGHTS, but i'll get to that later.

Now here's the thing:
To adapt to modern video game rules Sega have decided that all the characters will now talk. They of course, never used to.
I understand that it is the norm these days, but this game has some awful voices.
NiGHTS himself (Yes, it's a "He" now... officially) sounds like Mary Poppins, or rather, an american impression of her that comes off somewhat Australian. The kids sound like idiots (Especially Helen) and Reala sounds like a typical British villain (Us Brits are ALL evil after all).

Oh and its "Ree-Ahh-La"... not "Real-Ah" as i used to think it was, but thats just me... perhaps i was always wrong.

But more to the point, the voice acting ISN'T that terrible... No, my main problem is that it's just not needed. And don't get me started on the fucking owl that feels the need to patronise you at every oportunity.

Infact no... I WILL talk about the fucking owl!
Now I know Sega are wanting to get kids to play, but i was only a wee nipper myself when i first played NiGHTS and i didn't need to be told every single thing I had to do, in what can only be called: "Gaming by numbers".
Do this, try this, go here, but for the love of all thing good don't try and figure anything out for yourself. Fucking feathery patronising shit bag.

HOWEVER...

I'm making JoD sound bad, but first impressions are everything.
And you will encounter all these things in the opening 5 minute cutscene.

BUT. Once you get to the core game, all the bad things melt away and you're flying around as NiGHTS. It looks lovely. It sounds lovely. It feels lovely.
It is lovely. BUT then *BAM*. You beat a boss. You get a shit cut scene (That you can't skip) and you get another level... however, this time it's different... you have to make a bubble, or you have to ride a rollercoaster or you have to *gulp* play as one of the fucking dispisable children in a platform game level.

Now before i make it sound all bad, there's only one platform level per child as far as i recall... but there should be none. Theyre not fun, theyre not fluid, and when you're that close to the graphics moving that slow, it looks pretty shitty too.

But then you progress and you get another typical NiGHTS level, and you forget once again about any problems. Aah, look... NiGHTS is flying... this music is nice...everything looks so colourful and pretty...
Mmm floaty....

And thats the problem... the bits that work, work like a dream (no pun intended) but the bits that don't just shouldn't be there. But once you finish it, you can just pick the good levels and replay them as often as you want and things seem good, but you still have to wander through the hub world to play them.
Also, if you then decide to play as the other child to play the other levels, you have to do all the training again and watch more laborious cut scenes!
WHY SEGA?! Just WHY!?

As for the controls...
Fine with a Nunchuk, Classic controller or a GameCube pad...
But Wii remote pointer?? It barely even works... trust me... do NOT use the Wii remote pointer mode... you will swear, and cry.
Wasn't the point of this being on the Wii the new control scheme?
Oh Sega... silly, silly Sega.

But again... I'm making it sound bad, and it's not... its sublime... but only when its doing what it should...

It's a like a genius composer who can write the greatest works you ever heard, but insists on writing new raps for 50 cent.
Do what you do best because thats what people want!

That above line should be shouted at Sega everytime they make a game now.

So here's a summary.

It's fluid, it looks gorgeous and it sounds gorgeous.
It's all the good bits you remember remixed with some nice new ideas
and bosses that are nostalgic and new at the same time.

However...

It can be clunky, look horrible and sound cringe worthy.
It has all the bits you'd never want in a NiGHTS game with some bad decisions
and levels you won't want to play again.

Yikes.

What a contradiction to itself eh?

So in all:

Great when it's doing what you wan't it to do, but not so much when it isn't.
If you can see past the flaws and enjoy the great bits, it's a game thats full of charm and charisma that will leave you smiling. Just remember that you may frown between smiles.

Score (Out of 10)

If you played the Saturn original to death and have a big pair of rose tinted glasses like myself:
A worthy 9.
The NiGHTS bits are sublime and just what you'd want them to be.

If you're new to the franchise:
A so-so 6.
You may wonder what the fuss was all about but you'll enjoy bits.

If you heard of it but never played it, or played it on saturn a little,
or you just want something a bit different that has some great ideas,
and you can see past the occasional flaw here and there...
a good but not great 7.

So go off, buy NiGHTS and enjoy.
Or rather, don't.
It all depends on you really.

It's a great game... but don't say i didn't warn you that it's not that great...
You see?