Press release: 1996-05-16: 'NiGHTS' ON SEGA SATURN MEANS LIGHTS OUT FOR COMPETITION

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: Sega.com (archived)

'NiGHTS' ON SEGA SATURN MEANS LIGHTS OUT FOR COMPETITION

-- Yuji Naka, Creator of 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' Creates The Next Level of Gameplay --

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 1996 -- It's nightmare on Sony Street and bedtime for Mario's N64. Sega of America, Inc. today unveiled the 3D flight-action title "NiGHTS," a ground-breaking new Sega Saturn game featuring panoramic graphics and 360 degree flight and ground gameplay. "NiGHTS" is powered by Sega Saturn's three 32-bit processors to deliver 3D worlds and characters rendered in realtime, producing a game experience never before possible at home.

"NiGHTS" will be available in the U.S. exclusively for Sega Saturn this Fall. A new analog Sega Saturn 3D control pad which features a mini joystick for advanced gameplay has also been designed for this game. The control pad will be bundled with "NiGHTS."

Developed by "Sonic the Hedgehog " creator Yuji Naka and the Japan-based Sonic Team, "NiGHTS" will revolutionize videogaming just as Sonic the Hedgehog did in 1991. Combining the dynamics of flight with the speed of racing, the Sonic Team has developed a "flight-action" title which provides unprecedented replay value and gaming excitement.

"'NiGHTS" is like nothing anyone has ever seen before on the Sega Saturn or any other next generation platform," Tom Kalinske, president and CEO, Sega of America, said. "We are completely convinced that this title will do for the Sega Saturn what Sonic the Hedgehog did for the Genesis ."

Currently, over 20 million copies of Sonic the Hedgehog-based videogames are played worldwide.

"NiGHTS" is a classic good versus evil story which takes part in a surreal "world of dreams." Players can choose to be either a boy, Elliot or a girl, Claris two inquisitive suburban teenagers with brilliant imaginations. NiGHTS, the main character of the game, emerges to help guide Elliot and Claris to save Nightopia from the evil leader of Nightmare and to ensure that good dreams triumph over nightmares. The characters jump into NiGHTS' body and acrobatically fly through the exciting dream worlds, collecting points and defeating enemies for a fun game experience players will want over and over again.

"This title is not just 'eye-candy.' Beyond its stunning graphics, the gameplay and speed are absolutely untouchable," Kalinske added.

Sega 's new graphic development tools helped the creative team take advantage of Sega Saturn's full processing power to give "NiGHTS" life. These advancements enabled the team to create previously impossible game features such as smooth detailed 3D spaces in realtime, character movement at sonic speed, free movement within the environments, and fluid rotating camera angles to follow the fast-paced action which gives the player a sensation of being totally immersed in the game.

The musical score featured in "NiGHTS" is as diverse as the dreams themselves. Utilizing a wide variety of musical genres including jazz, rock, ethnic music, and a 32-piece orchestra, the eclectic nature of the music comes together in the many fantastic voyages through the dream worlds.

"Naka's success with character-based action games, the new graphic development tools, and the parallel processing power of the Sega Saturn will make the world of "NiGHTS" a gameplay benchmark for Sega," Diane Fornasier, vice president of marketing, Sega of America, said.

"NiGHTS" packaged with the Sega Saturn 3D control pad will be available for a suggested retail price of $69.99. Purchased separately, the Sega Saturn 3D control pad will have a suggested retail price of $39.99.