23 replies to this topic

[Kentilan]

On these forums, I've seen a lot of time people saying that one of the reasons why NiGHTS into Dreams is so great, is because there are so many things left to interpretation, because you can make your own story, and so on.

This is something I've never really understood.
Sure, you can imagine the characters' personalities and relationships, but there's the same thing in about any other game which has no dialogues.
Aside from that and a few unexplained things in the ending, I don't see what makes this game so interpretable.
Which is why I'd like to know what you think about that.

So, what is there to interpret exactly?
And, how do you interpret it then?

[Penelopi]

Hm... Well, I guess most of the interpretation would involve NiGHTS's past. Since there's almost nothing official on the reason why Wizeman locked him up, how well he got along with the other Nightmarens, what he acted like before NiD (if he acted any differently at all), etc., your imagination is the only thing that's going to answer that. Also, you can imagine the details of NiGHTS's and the kids' adventure. Were the kids ever uneasy about NiGHTS being a Nightmaren? Why did they trust him in the first place? Was NiGHTS upset about having to kill his "siblings," or was he indifferent about it? Those are the kinds of things open to "interpretation."

[Nemoide]

What is Nightopia? What is NiGHTS? What is the relationship between NiGHTS and Reala? What is Wizeman? What are maren or pians? Why do they exist? What are their motivations? How/why is the bridge crossed between dreamworld/Twin Seeds?
When I was a kid I wondered these sorts of things.

I like to think that the dream world is a somewhat collective manifestation of people's dreams more than it is a pre-existing place people go to. Wizeman is a sort of manifestation of many people who are subconsciously desiring their own destruction. The reason perfect dreamers are necessary is because they know they must fight this unbalance or things will go wrong in both Nightopia and the real world. However this really needs to be fought at the source (normal humans) which is why the last level is Twin Seeds instead of a crazy-dreamland place. The maren and pians function as elements of id and superego - violence and peace.

Maybe I just have an overactive imagination...

[Noctourne Wonderland]

JoD hads plenty to interpret- NiGHTS' past is never explained. Sure, Reala says something to the effect of "Ha! Your friend is EEEEEEEVIL! TEE HEE HEE!" See, no relationships revealed. Nothing abou traveling between Nightopia and Twinseeds/Bellbridge.

But as for NiD, the game guide explains the general ides, put the really nitpicky things are left to the player, or rather the obsesssive fans. Like Reala's favourite flavour of soda.

And Nemoide- overactive imaginations are fun. I have one too!

[YamiLover13]

I think the best part of interpreting NiGHTS is interpreting what all the dreams mean or represent to the dreamers. This also goes for what the Nightmarens represent to the dreamers. Dreams are full of interpretation so a game about dreams will result in the same thing.

Then you go into how the Nightmarens act themselves and what exactly what Nightopia and Nightmare is.

Sorry I can't go into detail on these. Each would require their own topics due to how long it is and I am sure it has been said.

(God my writing stinks now.)

[NNR07]

I think the best part of interpreting NiGHTS is interpreting what all the dreams mean or represent to the dreamers. This also goes for what the Nightmarens represent to the dreamers. Dreams are full of interpretation so a game about dreams will result in the same thing.

Then you go into how the Nightmarens act themselves and what exactly what Nightopia and Nightmare is.

Sorry I can't go into detail on these. Each would require their own topics due to how long it is and I am sure it has been said.

(God my writing stinks now.)

This

There's so much left up to just explore and make for yourself. It's like a song that the artist refuses to say what it's about, and when asked says "It's not about anything. I had nothing in mind."

It's all up to you. The more you develop, the deeper it goes. First the nightmarens; their past and future. Then you go further and realize there's more to it; you realize the psychological meanings and the feelings and the ideals. It's all so very strange, but very fun.

[Musashi_HUmar]

I think the biggest question we could ask about Nightopia and all its residents is WHY? Why does this exist? Why is that where it is? So really, it's all a matter of asking why.

[phosphorus]

If you're asking this, it means that you've probably created your own interpretation of the game.

[Saifer Dracondrali]

I've never played this game but I still like it... why?
perhaps it's because of my interpretations exactly...

true in other games with no dialog you can imagine character personalities and relationships... but NiGHTS does it in an atmosphere that brings mystery in itself, and from you... you know very little about these characters and therefor you might interpret their personality... normally this is quite simple... but as you continue through the game you find NiGHTS's character start to develop as you progress through the game according to your interpretations... growing in character and becoming more "human" than character (or nightmare) in these developments NiGHTS also takes on a part of you and starts to become somewhat relatable to the person who starts to weave this little personal tale... and therefor you learn something about yourself at the same time.

That's my thought on the matter anyways... others may find me weird for saying so but I could care less... as this is MY interpretation of this game and THIS is how I like it.

Peace!

[Kentilan]

Well, thanks for your answers everyone, but I'm still a bit confused. So there are character's personalities and relationships, NiGHTS's past, what the dreams represent to the dreamers, and other things such as what is Wizeman.

But for some questions like "what is Nightopia" or "what is NiGHTS", don't we already have an answer?

And asking why Nightopia exists seems to me like asking why people dream. I think you're not supposed to have an answer.

If you're asking this, it means that you've probably created your own interpretation of the game.

I don't know. I tend to stand by the facts.

It's all up to you. The more you develop, the deeper it goes. First the nightmarens; their past and future. Then you go further and realize there's more to it; you realize the psychological meanings and the feelings and the ideals. It's all so very strange, but very fun.

This is typically the kind of post I don't understand. What do you mean by psychological meanings, feelings and ideals?

you know very little about these characters and therefor you might interpret their personality... normally this is quite simple... but as you continue through the game you find NiGHTS's character start to develop as you progress through the game according to your interpretations... growing in character and becoming more "human" than character (or nightmare) in these developments NiGHTS also takes on a part of you and starts to become somewhat relatable to the person who starts to weave this little personal tale... and therefor you learn something about yourself at the same time.

This has never happened to me when I played the game

[NNR07]

First off,

This has never happened to me when I played the game

Same. I mean, yeah, I know Elliot and Claris are changing as they collect their Ideya, but it never comes out to me like that.

This is typically the kind of post I don't understand. What do you mean by psychological meanings, feelings and ideals?

The game's base involves a lot of dream work and studying of the brain, and dreams is basically a field day for anyone who likes to study the brain and psychology.

There's a few theories about the brain that NiGHTS uses; some of them actually being 'defunct' now. Some of it is superficial; some of it not so much. I'm a little rusty on a lot of the interpretation, but basically each dream represents a change in the characters. Everything about the game goes back to either Jung or Freud and their psychological meanings and interpretations. Each boss battle is a representation of defeating their personal problems. Understand that, and do a bit of interpretation, and you can understand right away that, behind the scenes, Claris and Elliot are fighting their personal problems in the waking as well as in the sleeping.

If I recall TRiPPY wrote a real nice essay/section about it on the website; it explains most of what everyone who studies the psychological meaning of the game agrees on

[Musashi_HUmar]

That's because you don't just PLAY NiGHTS. You have to fully embrace it. Fully experience it. Pay attention to all the small details. One of the best ways is to just go around on foot through the dreams. Plus, it doesn't all come to you right away. You have to have been playing for years to really get it.

[NNR07]

That's because you don't just PLAY NiGHTS. You have to fully embrace it. Fully experience it. Pay attention to all the small details. One of the best ways is to just go around on foot through the dreams. Plus, it doesn't all come to you right away. You have to have been playing for years to really get it.

Well, there are some people who just play NiGHTS. Some fans don't really like to go into the psychological meaning; just treat it as backstory and continue for the gameplay sake.

But of course there's some of us who like to enjoy more than just a quick romp through Spring Valley ;3

[Saifer Dracondrali]

Well, there are some people who just play NiGHTS. Some fans don't really like to go into the psychological meaning; just treat it as backstory and continue for the gameplay sake.
I think all in all there will be people who love the game for it's gameplay, ppl who play it JUST to beat it (typically don't like the game much), and ppl who like a good story and take it to a new level themselves...
I don't think interpreting the game is for everyone... perhaps your trying too hard? or (more likely) adding abit of "fan-fic" into the game isn't your thing... if you like the game that should be enough... right?
But of course there's some of us who like to enjoy more than just a quick romp through Spring Valley ;3

Same. I mean, yeah, I know Elliot and Claris are changing as they collect their Ideya, but it never comes out to me like that.

I was referring to NiGHTS but... ya... ok why not?

[Kentilan]

If I recall TRiPPY wrote a real nice essay/section about it on the website; it explains most of what everyone who studies the psychological meaning of the game agrees on

Do you have a link please?

[animejosse]

This section. There's a bit to read, but very interesting.

[NNR07]

This section. There's a bit to read, but very interesting.

Yep; that's the one i was referring to 8D. Thanks!

Yes, it is very interesting. It was one of the first things that really woke me up into how deep NiGHTS can get (albeit, not the first. it WAS the deepest though). There's really a lot to NiGHTS; it all sorta pops out to you the more open one becomes to seeing what the game means and can mean.

[Kentilan]

Well, thanks for the link.
But I read the whole section and I still don't get it
I give up.

[NNR07]

Well, thanks for the link.
But I read the whole section and I still don't get it
I give up.

Well, we're always here to help :3. What's baffling you the most :3?

[Saifer Dracondrali]

Well, thanks for the link.
But I read the whole section and I still don't get it sad.gif
I give up.

Do you like the game?

[Kentilan]

Well, we're always here to help :3. What's baffling you the most :3?

You know, in that section linked above, I don't even know which parts were supposed to help me understand.
It's very nice that you're trying to help me, but don't bother, I gave up. This is beyond my comprehension.

Do you like the game?

Yeah, I like the game (though I like JoD even more).

[NNR07]

You know, in that section linked above, I don't even know which parts were supposed to help me understand.
It's very nice that you're trying to help me, but don't bother, I gave up. This is beyond my comprehension.

Okay. Hey, it's fine :3. The whole interpretation thing is kinda like fan-fiction and fanart: Some love it, some just don't prefer it.

[Lenneth]

There's really a whole lot to interpret... Like the personalitys of NiGHTS and the kids, the relationship between the different nightmarens, why NiGHTS ended up trapped in the Ideya Palace, what the kids' lifes are like outside Nightopia, what Nightopia actually is, what Nightmare looks like, and so on... I think the whole interpretation thing is a really motivating factor in playing the game over and over again, and gives it a lot of unique charme^^

[-bret-]

NiD isn't bogged down with irrelevant details. It's all about feeling. Dreams are inexplicable anyway, and should stay that way.

Journey of Dreams fails because the dreamworld wasn't ethereal in any way, and characters had coherent conversations with one another as if they weren't within a realm of random thought and limitless possibilities.

Here's a scene depicting a bunch of unnecessary crap about betrayal and Reala being a Disney villain.

That's what we call leaving nothing to the imagination. I cannot relate to any of these characters. Story wasn't what NiGHTS was about, it was the theme. Not cliche plot devices. Not stock characters.