This is a game very near and dear to my heart. In fact, it's what I consider to be my all time favorite video game. I first played it a little as a child at my cousin's house. Then, when I was in middle school, I borrowed said cousin's SEGA Saturn for two whole years JUST for this game, and only returned it because he eventually asked for it back. In recent years, I've gotten some of my friends interested in this game as well. So naturally, I have a bit of a biased opinion towards this game. Even so, I will try my hardest to leave a fair review of it, and will try to address how it stands from a gaming perspective, as well as an HD remake and PC port perspective.

The premise is as follows: Two children who are struggling with their personal aspirations in the waking world find themselves in the dream world, teaming up with a flying jester to stop the Lord of Nightmares from acquiring enough of a type of dream energy that would enable him to enter our world. The plot is a bit weird yet simple and creative all the same, and the feel of the game captures that quite well. On top of that, the characters, while equally simplistic, are harboring both the same goals and doubts many of us have also experienced at their age, and over the course of the game, they are made to confront and attempt to overcome their personal demons, with two moments in the final level really capturing those elements of their journey. The gameplay is unique, distinct, and really does capture what it feels like to be in a dream world with its visual presentation and the music found throughout the game. The difficulty can be pretty hard for newcomers, though some may get the hang of it pretty quickly. It's pretty simple and straightforward, but performing well, especially for getting higher scores, can be quite challenging. Once you've gotten the hang of it, though, you could probably beat the main game in one evening. That being said, it is VERY replayable and addictive, and I often find myself coming back to play it whenever I've had a rough day. After all, we usually go to sleep so that we can relax, rest, and have the physical, mental, and emotional strength needed to confront the ordeals of tomorrow, and at least for me, NiGHTS into Dreams helped me do that at a time when I needed it most.

As an HD remake, the game gives you the option of playing all of the original game's levels with either the original graphics or a far higher resolution. And let me tell you, the HD graphics are breathtaking! In addition, the remake also includes a special winter themed level that was included in the Christmas NiGHTS version of the original Saturn game, as well several other time and date based elements introduced there. However, the multiplayer versus mode that was in the original game is inexplicably missing, along with a lot of other bonus content found with the Christmas NiGHTS game. In addition, this game isn't synced to the Steam cloud for some peculiar reason, so keep that in mind if you consider uninstalling it. Having played the Xbox 360, PS3, and Steam versions of this game, the only real differences I have noticed are that the PS3 version has slightly longer loading times which happen more often than either of the other versions. Beyond that, though, I haven't found any noticeable gameplay differences, so you can't really go wrong no matter which version you pick.

Regardless, this is a game anyone can enjoy (heck, it was originally rated K-A, or Kid to Adult, when it was released on the Saturn), and for good reason. My own history with the game aside, it is just the right blend of relaxing and intense: beautiful graphics, creative stages, simple yet addictive gameplay with just the right amount of challenge, a story that is easy to understand and characters who are easy to identify with, and an absolutely wonderful soundtrack. I would highly recommend buying this game and giving it a shot, especially if and when it goes on sale. You will not regret it. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and sweet dreams!