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Nights (character)
Encyclopedia
Nights is a video game character
from the games Nights into Dreams...
and Nights: Journey of Dreams
, developed and published by Sega
. Nights is gender-less, known as a "Nightmaren" who resides in Nightopia, a dream world
where the dreams of all human beings are acted out every night. The character wears a purple jester-style hat and outfit, with a diamond-shaped red jewel on the chest. (In the Archie comics, this was said to be a piece of a red ideya that broke off and latched onto his/her chest). All nightmarens, including Nights, as stated by Sega.
for the Sega Saturn
. The second game in the series, Nights: Journey of Dreams
, is for the Wii
. Nights also appeared in the sampler game Christmas Nights for the Sega Saturn
. Nights has a role in Sega Superstars Tennis
as well. Takashi Iizuka reported that he is very interested in making Nights 3, but that will be up to the management at Sega to decide. http://www.gamestm.co.uk/discuss/sonic-teams-takashi-iizuka-wants-to-make-nights-3-knuckles-chaotix-2/
Nights has many fans to this day.
(in the Casinopolis level), Sonic Adventure 2
(in the City Escape and Radical Highway levels), Shadow the Hedgehog
(in Lethal highway, the title screen appears in a billboard without any text), and also in Sonic Adventure
and Sonic Adventure 2
, the player can raise a Chao
that resembles Nights. Nights also appears in Sonic Pinball Party
, Sonic Shuffle
, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
, Sega Superstars
, both Sonic Riders
and Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
(as a secret character) and Sega Superstars Tennis
. Nights also makes a cameo appearance in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
as the flagman.
Nights has also made a guest appearance in Phantasy Star Online I & II Plus
, in an Episode 2 quest.
was the character designer for the video game Nights into Dreams...
. The game got a sequel, Nights: Journey of Dreams
. Naoto Oshima had left Sega by that point, so Kazuyuki Hoshino was placed in charge of character design for Nights: Journey of Dreams. Takashi Iizuka, the lead game designer, felt that with Hoshino, they captured the style used for the character in the original game.
Nights' personality is described by Iizuka as "a mirror of the child's personality." They wanted Nights to speak in Journey of Dreams, so they gave Nights a voice. Nights was also given a British accent to meet the style of the games.
Nights has the ability to transform into just about anything (like a bobsled, boat, roller coaster, dragon, rocket and dolphin), an ability that was expanded upon in the sequel with the introduction of each persona mask. Even without the persona masks, she is still able to change forms and abilities accordingly.
Nights can also create small portals called paraloops with his Twinkle Dust if it flies in a circle.
of Nightopia (also referred to in-game as the Night Dimension) and takes shape according to the thoughts, ideas, personalities, and will of the Visitors (humans from the real world). Nights lives alongside Owl, a brown owl who acts as elder and guide in the sequel, and the Nightopians. Nights, however, is a Nightmaren and henceforth its origin is in the dark realm of Nightmare. Nights attempts to stop Wizeman from taking over Nightopia.
Owl: Nights shows disrespect for Owl on a regular basis, but also shows a sort of friendship with the bird. Owl often seems frustrated with her rambunctious behavior, and occasionally lectures her but to no avail.
Wizeman: Nights was once loyal to Wizeman, but Nights began to view that what Wizeman is doing is wrong and must be stopped. Nights also wished to have free will, which Wizeman didn't allow. Therefore Nights decided to rebel. Their hatred for each other is strong, and they both show no mercy in battle.
Reala: Nights' relationship with Reala appears complicated. S/he seems to still hold Reala as a friend, or at least a former one. Reala often plays on Nights' mercy, using it as an opportunity to imprison Nights. Reala sometimes refers to Nights as a "sibling".
, Kevin Vanord of GameSpot
described the character as an "androgynous jester." Vanord said, "Nights is smoothly animated", but said its "vocal personification [won't really be] everyone's cup of tea." Vanord wrote, "The jester is genderless...and the accompanying voice is, well, correspondingly confused. But whether you think Nights sounds like a young woman or a young boy, it's a good fit for the character."
Referring to Nights: Journey of Dreams
, IGN
said "Nights was essentially Sonic
in the air..." The IGN
review of the game called Nights a "mysterious creature." The IGN reviewer noted, "strangely Nights and all other characters in Nightopia are from England?" but said the voice acting was "decent, if not a bit over-the-top." In the English version of the game, Nights is voiced by American voice actress Julissa Aguirre.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the games Nights into Dreams...
NiGHTS into Dreams...
Nights into Dreams... , is a video game released by Sega in 1996 for the Sega Saturn video game system. The game's story follows two children entering a dream world, where they are aided by the main character, Nights...
and Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams......
, developed and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. Nights is gender-less, known as a "Nightmaren" who resides in Nightopia, a dream world
Dream world (plot device)
Dream world is a commonly used plot device in fictional works, most notably in science fiction and fantasy fiction. The use of a dream world creates a situation whereby a character is placed in a marvellous and unpredictable environment and must overcome several personal problems to leave it...
where the dreams of all human beings are acted out every night. The character wears a purple jester-style hat and outfit, with a diamond-shaped red jewel on the chest. (In the Archie comics, this was said to be a piece of a red ideya that broke off and latched onto his/her chest). All nightmarens, including Nights, as stated by Sega.
Game appearances
Nights' first appearance was in the video game Nights into Dreams...NiGHTS into Dreams...
Nights into Dreams... , is a video game released by Sega in 1996 for the Sega Saturn video game system. The game's story follows two children entering a dream world, where they are aided by the main character, Nights...
for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
. The second game in the series, Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams......
, is for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
. Nights also appeared in the sampler game Christmas Nights for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
. Nights has a role in Sega Superstars Tennis
Sega Superstars Tennis
Sega Superstars Tennis is a tennis video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. The game was released on March 17, 2008 in Europe, on March 18, 2008 in North America, and on March 27, 2008 in Australia. The game includes 16 playable characters and 10 courts from Sega franchises...
as well. Takashi Iizuka reported that he is very interested in making Nights 3, but that will be up to the management at Sega to decide. http://www.gamestm.co.uk/discuss/sonic-teams-takashi-iizuka-wants-to-make-nights-3-knuckles-chaotix-2/
Nights has many fans to this day.
Outside appearances
Nights has appeared in numerous other games besides the series, including Sonic AdventureSonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
(in the Casinopolis level), Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2 is a platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Dreamcast video game console. It was released in North America on June 19, 2001 and in Japan on June 23, 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. It is the sequel...
(in the City Escape and Radical Highway levels), Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog (video game)
Shadow the Hedgehog is a 2005 video game developed by Sega Studio USA, the former United States division of Sega's Sonic Team. Featuring the titular fictional character Shadow the Hedgehog from Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog series, the game was revealed at the March 2005 Walk of Game inauguration of...
(in Lethal highway, the title screen appears in a billboard without any text), and also in Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
is a 1999 platform video game developed by Sonic Team and released on December 23, 1998, in Japan by Sega for the Dreamcast. One of its development titles was Sonic RPG...
and Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2 is a platform game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Dreamcast video game console. It was released in North America on June 19, 2001 and in Japan on June 23, 2001 to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. It is the sequel...
, the player can raise a Chao
Chao (Sonic the Hedgehog)
A is a fictional life form in the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series published by Sega. Chao made their first appearance in the 1998 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure as digital pets. They have since appeared in several video games in the Sonic the Hedgehog series as digital pets, minor characters,...
that resembles Nights. Nights also appears in Sonic Pinball Party
Sonic Pinball Party
Sonic Pinball Party is a video game released for Game Boy Advance in 2003. It is a celebration of sorts for Sonic Team featuring many references to its previous games, mostly Sonic.-Story:...
, Sonic Shuffle
Sonic Shuffle
is a video game for the Dreamcast and was Sega's answer to the Nintendo party game, Mario Party. The game was developed by Hudson Soft, who also developed Mario Party, and co-developed by Sonic Team.-Overview:...
, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
is a video game developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Nintendo GameCube. It was ported to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X in 2006, exclusively for Europe.-Plot:...
, Sega Superstars
Sega SuperStars
Sega Superstars is a game developed by Sonic Team in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 EyeToy. It features a series of games based on previous Sega titles. It also contains Chao, the virtual pets from the Sonic series....
, both Sonic Riders
Sonic Riders
is a video game spin-off produced by Sega and developed by Sonic Team in cooperation with NowPro, for the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC. It is the fourth racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, preceded by Sonic Drift, Sonic Drift 2 and Sonic R.The game was released to start...
and Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity released in Japan as , is a hoverboard racing video game published by Sega and developed by Sonic Team in cooperation with NowPro. It is the fifth racing game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, following Sonic Drift, Sonic Drift 2, Sonic R and its predecessor, Sonic Riders...
(as a secret character) and Sega Superstars Tennis
Sega Superstars Tennis
Sega Superstars Tennis is a tennis video game developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega. The game was released on March 17, 2008 in Europe, on March 18, 2008 in North America, and on March 27, 2008 in Australia. The game includes 16 playable characters and 10 courts from Sega franchises...
. Nights also makes a cameo appearance in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a racing game in the Sega Superstars series produced for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and Microsoft Windows, featuring characters from many Sega franchises. It is being published by Sega and developed by Sumo Digital...
as the flagman.
Nights has also made a guest appearance in Phantasy Star Online I & II Plus
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online is an online multiplayer action RPG title, originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000, bundled with a demo of Sonic Adventure 2. Another edition, entitled Phantasy Star Online ver.2, was released for Dreamcast the following year...
, in an Episode 2 quest.
Creation and conception
Naoto Oshima was the original Nights designer and Kazuyuki HoshinoKazuyuki Hoshino
Kazuyuki Hoshino is a notable Sonic Team artist. His first role involved working with Sega of Japan on Sonic CD as a character/sprite, special-stage, and visual designer. He is notable for creating Metal Sonic and Amy Rose....
was the character designer for the video game Nights into Dreams...
NiGHTS into Dreams...
Nights into Dreams... , is a video game released by Sega in 1996 for the Sega Saturn video game system. The game's story follows two children entering a dream world, where they are aided by the main character, Nights...
. The game got a sequel, Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams......
. Naoto Oshima had left Sega by that point, so Kazuyuki Hoshino was placed in charge of character design for Nights: Journey of Dreams. Takashi Iizuka, the lead game designer, felt that with Hoshino, they captured the style used for the character in the original game.
Nights' personality is described by Iizuka as "a mirror of the child's personality." They wanted Nights to speak in Journey of Dreams, so they gave Nights a voice. Nights was also given a British accent to meet the style of the games.
Character
Nights acts childish, never for a moment thinking of the consequences for its actions. Sometimes Nights scares people for fun, but most of the time, it is very chivalrous. Nights is also very merciful, as shown with Reala in Journey of Dreams It likes new and unusual things, but hates being bound and told what to do. Nights is not inherently "good", however. S/he simply dislikes Wizeman for not allowing him/her freedom and confining him/her. Sometimes, when very relaxed, Nights will pull out an invisible flute and start playing DREAMS DREAMS, the game's theme song.Gender
There is much debate over Nights gender. Sega has said numerous times that Nights is genderless, and Takashi Iizuka has said himself "Nights is neutral, and therefore has no gender. The impressions of the character with regards to gender are totally up to the player. The game Nights: Journey of Dreams has caused even more confusion, as Nights is referred to as a male, but has a female voice actor, which was meant to make Nights sound like a child.Abilities
Nights' flying ability is related to swimming the breast-stroke. During flight, a bright substance called "Twinkle Dust" emits from Nights' hands.Nights has the ability to transform into just about anything (like a bobsled, boat, roller coaster, dragon, rocket and dolphin), an ability that was expanded upon in the sequel with the introduction of each persona mask. Even without the persona masks, she is still able to change forms and abilities accordingly.
Nights can also create small portals called paraloops with his Twinkle Dust if it flies in a circle.
Home
Nights comes from the dream worldDream world (plot device)
Dream world is a commonly used plot device in fictional works, most notably in science fiction and fantasy fiction. The use of a dream world creates a situation whereby a character is placed in a marvellous and unpredictable environment and must overcome several personal problems to leave it...
of Nightopia (also referred to in-game as the Night Dimension) and takes shape according to the thoughts, ideas, personalities, and will of the Visitors (humans from the real world). Nights lives alongside Owl, a brown owl who acts as elder and guide in the sequel, and the Nightopians. Nights, however, is a Nightmaren and henceforth its origin is in the dark realm of Nightmare. Nights attempts to stop Wizeman from taking over Nightopia.
Interaction with other characters
The Children: (Claris, Elliot, Will, and Helen) Nights is kind towards the children in both games, helping all four of them to defeat Wizeman on two separate occasions.Owl: Nights shows disrespect for Owl on a regular basis, but also shows a sort of friendship with the bird. Owl often seems frustrated with her rambunctious behavior, and occasionally lectures her but to no avail.
Wizeman: Nights was once loyal to Wizeman, but Nights began to view that what Wizeman is doing is wrong and must be stopped. Nights also wished to have free will, which Wizeman didn't allow. Therefore Nights decided to rebel. Their hatred for each other is strong, and they both show no mercy in battle.
Reala: Nights' relationship with Reala appears complicated. S/he seems to still hold Reala as a friend, or at least a former one. Reala often plays on Nights' mercy, using it as an opportunity to imprison Nights. Reala sometimes refers to Nights as a "sibling".
Reception
In his review of Nights into DreamsNiGHTS into Dreams...
Nights into Dreams... , is a video game released by Sega in 1996 for the Sega Saturn video game system. The game's story follows two children entering a dream world, where they are aided by the main character, Nights...
, Kevin Vanord of GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
described the character as an "androgynous jester." Vanord said, "Nights is smoothly animated", but said its "vocal personification [won't really be] everyone's cup of tea." Vanord wrote, "The jester is genderless...and the accompanying voice is, well, correspondingly confused. But whether you think Nights sounds like a young woman or a young boy, it's a good fit for the character."
Referring to Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Nights: Journey of Dreams is a video game for the Wii console developed by Sonic Team and Sega. It is the sequel to the 1996 Sega Saturn title Nights into Dreams......
, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said "Nights was essentially Sonic
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
in the air..." The IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
review of the game called Nights a "mysterious creature." The IGN reviewer noted, "strangely Nights and all other characters in Nightopia are from England?" but said the voice acting was "decent, if not a bit over-the-top." In the English version of the game, Nights is voiced by American voice actress Julissa Aguirre.