NiGHTS into HD
Nights into Dreams is highly regarded and under-played. A
standout for a console that was shunned by its own manufacturer, Nights was
doomed to be ignored by a generation of gamers who opted for Sony or were
content sticking with Mario. Two generations later and this sorry
situation may yet be remedied. Nights is due a much sought after
HD update this autumn as SEGA continue to milk the teat of nostalgia. Nights will join the likes of House of the Dead 3 and Daytona as a digital re-release, with Jet Set Radio to follow shortly. Rumours persist that Ryo Hazuki may soon
be searching for sailors in high definition - it's not yet clear whether this
will make them easier to find.
Developed exclusively for the Sega Saturn by Yuji Naka's
Sonic Team, Nights into Dreams took the speed and shiny collectibles from Sonic
and added a visual flair and charm that has always escaped the blue blur. Set
in a dream world of floating alarm clocks and crescent moons, you soar through
3D levels switching from dreaming children to the titular, androgynous jester.
The fluid gameplay is accompanied by a musical score that may stay with you
even longer than the impressive and colourful 3D visuals, which were a
remarkable achievement given the Saturn's 3D architectural shortcomings.
Nights is an ideal candidate for a HD touch-up. It'll
look great running smooth on your big screen and is ready-made for the analogue
sticks that became standard in the years following the Nights pad. If Sega want
to go all out and not simply cash in with a quick rehash, Nights into Dreams
would be extra special in 3D and would benefit from optional motion controls.
They could even patch it with the Christmas Nights pack come December, served
with a festive mark up. 'Tis the season.
While they are raiding the retro pantry, Sega would do
well to consider a handful of other Saturn classics for digital release. When I
bought a PS Move earlier this year, part of my reasoning was that one day Sega
would port Virtua Cop 1+2 to PSN and that I'd best be prepared for the games
that the creator of The Wire, David Simon, once described as "the most
realistic depiction of crime fighting in any medium”. With the comparatively
shitty House of the Dead 3 and 4 already available on PSN, it's not
unreasonable to think that the trigger happy bobbies from Virtua City will one
day be dispensing crotch-shot justice on my PS3.
Later this year, the Panzer Dragoon series will make a
return of sorts with Crimson Dragon for Kinect. Motion controls make sense for
this rail shooting series and Panzer Dragoon and Zwei, two of the most
celebrated Saturn exclusives, would perfectly lend themselves to Move and
Kinect support, as well as offering context for the latest entry. Following PD
and Zwei, Team Andromeda made the smart move of stuffing PD’s rich universe and
distinct art style into an RPG, Panzer Dragoon Saga (Azel:RPG in Japan), which
would look great in HD. It was released in limited quantities during the last
days of the Saturn, which meant that very few people experienced this
celebrated role player, myself included. I own a Japanese copy but the language
barrier is too great; the characters speak in a dialect of gibberish peculiar
to the series and the kanji subtitles come too thick, fast and pixelated for me
to follow. Unfortunately, the original source code was lost some years ago, so
unless series creator Yukio Futatsugi finds a copy behind his sofa, we are
unlikely to get a re-release.
While we are on the topic of games I can't understand, my
unfounded love affair with Hideo Kojima's graphic adventures Snatcher and
Policenauts, both of which were ported to the Japanese Saturn, continues. I
realise that these are Konami games but I struggle to discuss sought after
re-releases without referencing this pair at least once. A HD overhaul would be
a waste of time, as much of the story is told through pixel art stills that
remain eye catching to this day, but Kojima's star shines as bright as ever and
a port to iOS devices would certainly be a worthwhile endeavour.
Looking to add a splash of colour, Treasure’s
side-scroller Silhouette Mirage would be a great addition to PSN and Live in HD
and wouldn't look out of place sitting alongside label mates Guardian Heroes
and Radiant Silvergun. I bought a copy during my last trip back to Japan and was really impressed by its colourful
visuals. Bringing it back in-house, Sega really should consider polishing up Sonic
Team gem, Burning Rangers. Released during the tail end of the Saturn’s short
life, it is a third person shooter with a twist, casting you as a futuristic
fire fighter, battling flames and rescuing the same kind of angular fuck-wits
who are forever being kidnapped in the Virtua Cop games.
Are there any older games you'd like to see get the HD
treatment, Saturn or otherwise?
Personally, I'd love to see a HD collection of the two Clockwork Knight titles. The previous Virtua Fighter titles would also be welcome as would other Sega racers such as Sega Rally and Hang On GP. There's other titles I could think of but they aren't by Sega so I'll leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post!
Cheers for stopping by.
DeleteSo many great Saturn titles that could do a HD'ing. I'm surprised that VF has never made an appearance but then I suppose the dated 3D visuals don't quite have the same lasting appeal as Street Fighter's 2D sprites.
I'd like to see that Xbox Toe Jam and Earl dragged forward into the new world. It kind of got lost in the cracks in the shift to the 360. Mechwarrior and Crimson Skies are the other two that they might actually be able to resurrect without destroying.
ReplyDeleteBecause, of course, my first answer would be Space Hulk from the 3DO, but we've already tried that, twice, and every time they port it, they dial the difficulty down and it's just a pathetic shadow of the wonderfully brutal and insane 3D0 masterpiece.
I'd also like an HD copy of NES Joust, with the DEAR-GOD-WHY-WOULD-YOU-MAKE-JOUST-HARDER ricochet physics.
I had no idea that ToeJam and Earl lived on after the Mega Drive.
DeleteI remember seeing an ad for the Space Hulk sequel, Vengeance of the Blood Angels, on the Saturn and thinking what an amazing front cover it had. Never got around to playing it but still remember that cover art! Cheers