NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams / YMMV

The YMMV page for the first game can be found here.

Accidental Innuendo:
- Here's the first thing Reala says to a lost and confused little boy at an abandoned theme park in Journey Into Dreams:
  Reala: Oh how I've waited for this moment! The opportunity to get you all alone, dear visitor! Now, how exactly should I go about getting what I want? Hmm?
- From the beginning of the game as Helen:
  Owl: Go over and touch NiGHTS. You'll see what I mean. That is, of course if you're into that sort of thing.
Alternative Character Interpretation: That horrifying Jump Scare Helen has when trying to enjoy her childhood, showing her mother furious with her. Is the player supposed to interpret Helen feeling guilt? Or that her mom isn't a very nice person in real life?
Angst? What Angst?: NiGHTS certainly takes his entire species basically being out to get him, including his 'father' Wizeman, in stride, although he does display signs of being bothered by Helen's reaction to learning that NiGHTS is a Nightmaren.
Anti-Climax Boss: Wizeman is not particularly difficult to take down and goes down much easier than he did in the first game.
Awesome Music: Generally speaking the music in this game is just as good as the first.
Contested Sequel: General consensus is that Journey of Dreams doesn't live up to the original. While some believe the original blows the game straight out of the water, the game does have its share of defenders who believe it's still a decent game in its own right. Some would even argue that it's better than the original game for expanding the formula, adding more story and character development, and increasing its length and replay value.
Critical Backlash: On the flip side of Hype Backlash, those who weren't particularly attached to the first game going in don't really see why the game is as contentious as it is.
Magnificent Bastard: Reala is the second-hand Nightmaren to Wizeman the Wicked who combines intense loyalty with forward-thinking action. Tasked with apprehending the rogue, free-spirited NiGHTS, Reala confides in his master the "perfect plan" where he places Second-Level minions in the best spots to maximize the chance of success. Possessed of a faux-gentlemanly charm and cutting tongue, Reala demonstrates his manipulative acumen by shaking Helen's faith in NIGHTS with a Half-Truth strengthened by a carefully laid lie, providing a window of opportunity to dispose of her and recapture his target. Also one to play hardball, Reala corners Will when he is alone and uses him as leverage to cage NiGHTS. Cruel, underhanded, but impressively pragmatic, Reala would stop at nothing to bring their "heads to Master Wizeman himself."
Memetic Mutation: Du~a~lize!
Narm:
- Cerberus is described and seen as a terrifying hellhound who even NiGHTS and Reala are wary of...which makes it unintentionally hilarious when the cutscene before his second battle has him apparently reside in a completely ordinary dog kennel that looks more like Snoopy's doghouse.
- The voice acting in Journey of Dreams doesn't always hit like it should, making scenes that should be sad or touching comical instead.
Nightmare Fuel:
- Awakers are silver ghost-like enemies with freakish hyper realistic blue eyes that they only appear when the clock is running out, which it's kinda similar to Alarm Egg from the first game. But unlike Alarm Egg, they will teleport out of nowhere and aggressively grabs the players' character(s) at least 3 or more then resulting a Night Over. Also, the more you defeat one of these enemies, they'll keep coming for you and they will spawn even faster. They also sport child-like voices that keep telling you to wake up.
- The scene where Wizeman states his intention to erase NiGHTS' personality, thus turning him into an obedient servant. It's also possibly an example of And I Must Scream; at the least, it's a Fate Worse than Death.
- Reala's scene implying that he's just plain going to kill NiGHTS, Will, and Helen (during the final level).

Padding: Several world missions involve flying through Octopaw's rings or rescuing Nightopians who are constantly getting themselves in trouble, with no other purpose except to pad out the gameplay.
Replacement Scrappy:
- Chamelan is one of the more disliked characters, due to being seen as a replacement towards Fan-Favorite Jackle, as both characters use a playing card motif.
- Will and Helen from Journey of Dreams are not as beloved as Elliot and Claris. Fans generally think they have uninteresting designs, their actors are poor, and the stories are too long.
The Scrappy: Helen from Journey of Dreams. The general consensus is that her story is wasted, her actress didn't do a good job voicing her, and that she comes off as incredibly selfish at times. The biggest problem is, however, her cowardice. Fans got quickly annoyed with how Helen was terrified with everything and wondered why she possessed the Ideya of Courage, especially after she loses it near the end of the game.
Tear Jerker: In the "Yellow Ideya" ending when NiGHTS reveals that he knows that he'll die if Wizeman is destroyed, saying that he's "known it all along", and then fights him anyway. After Wizeman is defeated, he takes one final bow and dissolves into light. Also counts as the character's Moment of Awesome. Helen and Will's reactions don't really help either. The shots of them waking up and crying, with their tears falling onto whatever he's holding, only adds to the sorrow of the moment.
That One Boss:
- For a first boss, Donbalon can be a real pain. He’s pretty annoying, creepy, and laughs at you constantly. The premise is simple, just throw him to the top of the obstacle-filled stage. But the controls and quirky physics will cause a misbounce, and just one will ruin your A grade run. If you grab Donbalon near a block, the game can easily glitch, causing the nightmaren to rocket off at speed in a random direction (usually downwards).
- Bomamba, a witch whom you have to beat by tilting malevolent cat heads into holes. Odd physics mean it's mostly luck if any fall through. It's timed, too, just to add insult to injury.
- Chamelan is a Guide Dang It! sort of boss. Once you know what to do, executing it isn't too hard... so long as you don't dawdle at all and have reasonable luck.
That One Level: The Sky Concert. It's a rhythm-based level with flight controls, and you'll have to be adjusting your speed often to hit the higher and lower notes on time.
They Changed It, Now It Sucks!: Trying to expand the length of the game by introducing gimmick levels, some of which are repeated throughout the game, and having a larger story with voice acting did not sit well with the fanbase.
Tough Act to Follow: More than likely the cause for its contentious status. Being a sequel to one of the most beloved games on the Saturn, not to mention the fact that people had been wanting a sequel for years at that point, this one simply had some incredibly large shoes to fill. Regardless of actual end quality, there would always be people comparing it to the original.

Visual Effects of Awesome: Journey of Dreams is no slouch in the graphics department, and when it was discovered that an emulation hack allows the game to run at 60fps, the game looks absolutely phenomenal.
Waggle: Playing Journey of Dreams using the Wiimote soured many impressions of the game, which required players to aim a pointer at the screen that would guide NiGHTS. Using the Wii Gamepad or a Gamecube Controller is much more preferable.

YMMV / NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams

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