Unapologetic - Christmas NiGHTS

[@shonenbois]

That nights into dreams sequence in The casino level from Sonic Adventure always felt magical to me even tho I didn’t get to play the game. It was such a fun experience

[@GameApologist]

Hope you get a chance to play the actual game! Might stick with you just as hard!

[@shonenbois]

@@GameApologist thanks man! I’ll see if I can emulate it one of these days

[@maux7767]

Same, I was always like, "what the hell is this?" because that pinball bit felt pretty magical to me as a kid, and when we got the internet I looked up what it was and stuff. When I played the Dreamcast I didn't know Saturn had ever existed. I mean, no internet to tell me, and my local KB Toys obviously didn't carry it. So I literally just thought Sega didn't put out a new console until the Dreamcast came out and I got one of those lol I did finally acquire a Sega Saturn from a local retro game store and NiGHTS and the game is definitely a must play. But that was well after the fact of course.

[@Keepcalmandcupcakes]

Now THAT'S an area you should have been able to run around in. Sadly, however, even if you cheat your way in with a position editor, there's no collision. Not that I would expect there to be but it would have been amazing.

[@JamesChessman]

Do you guys know that in the Sonic Adventure Nights sequence, when you fly around NiGHTS' pavilion, you can button mash to mess up the camera, even though it's mostly an automated scene. :)

[@goldenlightning8842]

I still don't get how u can hate the Sonic R soundtrack they're amazing love songs. yeah they don't sound like racing songs but outside of the game they are certified 90's love songs Nothing hits harder than hearing Number One after goofing around in that amazingly janky racer its SOOO GOOD

[@GameApologist]

I will never understand this fanbase. At least you aren't hating on something. Love your ost. Love it loud. Love it proud.

[@Soufriere84]

When I first got Sonic R back in the day (yes I have a Saturn), I found the vocals grating after awhile, at least while playing. I was glad the game gave you the option of having it be BGM only. It's only been in the last few years I've come to appreciate those corny songs.

[@Langtree]

it's absolute cheese and i am here for it

[@alexanderadams9058]

@Sonic Diamond in the sky is just....so good. It hits way too hard and I love it to death.

[@fictionalspirit4194]

I didn't even play Sonic R but I hear the Super Sonic Racing theme in Generations and my interest was piqued, 15 minutes later and thanks to the Internet I've listened to the whole soundtracks and highly enjoy it... It most certainly doesn't fit Sonic R in the least though

[@spaceburrito646]

it's great to see Nick getting sponsors after so long. You deserve it, man

[@TheSwordsman100]

Fellow Sonic fan here, I can confirm (at least for myself) that not only do I love Sonic R's soundtrack, I love Dreams Dreams as well. Unfortunately I never got to play Sonic Into Dreams even though finding out about that cool feature is what got me into NiGHTS.

[@ABR]

Already know I’m gonna like the video, but this the first cereal sponsorship I ever done seen and that’s the REAL CONTENT SON

[@MagillanicaLouM]

Play it every year on steam. I mean I've only had the game since 2020 but the 2 years so far have been a great tradition

[@JohnnyThousand605]

Back in December of '96 a not-so-young Me was tossed a Christmas Nights disc. We were a Nintendo/Playstation store so when Sega delivered them, the manager passed one to me with all the ceremony of a used tissue. I was old enough to be well and truly over the Christmas 'thing' (working retail in December will do that) but that disc carried me through the rest of December. It was clear there wasn't much content and I didn't even have the original Nights game, but it was a genuine surprise and a pleasant one at that. And one that kept surprising with new tidbits each day =)

[@mistersp3753]

Sega doesn't seem to do as much cross promotion as they used to. I know Yakuza has a playable Sonic the Fighters, but there doesn't seem to be as much of that. Maybe I'm just not noticing it.

[@lance2580]

Ahem, that wasn't specifically a _Yakuza_ game that did that, it was its spin-off, _Lost Judgement_ that featured _Sonic the Fighters._

[@themangoman9315]

This game is such a vibe and I'm here for it

[@Soufriere84]

Over the past 25 years, this has apparently become one of the rarest and/or most sought-after demos out there… and I own two copies. I played it before I played the full _Nights Into Dreams,_ which I still utterly fail at but adore. I wish the folks at Sonic Team and Yuji Naka could patch up whatever beef they have so this franchise could continue.

[@VulturineValkyrie]

I remember this on the video on the history of the chao this is the coolest to see you talk about it

[@soya_kitchens]

The Phantasy Star Online team loves Christmas NiGHTS, and will play its music during the games' Winter events every year! Also important to note that members of the original Phantasy Star team also went on to create and be key developmental figures for Sonic the Hedgehog!

[@HedgehogY2K]

16:22 the Sonic 30th anniversary symphony took footage from that and performed a song for that as well as part of the Saturn Sonic track in their stream. Except it wasn't Christmas themed.

[@mistersp3753]

Sonic Team put more effort into Christmas Nights than Sonic Forces. Why can't we have that kind of Sonic Team anymore?

[@Soufriere84]

Because NiGHTS was Yuji Naka's baby (y'know, the guy who programmed the original Sonic games). He cared more about this game than he had cared about Sonic in a long time. With all of Sonic's original creators -- Naka, Ohshima, Iizuka -- long departed from Sonic Team, the creative juice and heart simply isn't there most of the time and for whatever reason Sega Japan isn't willing to find it.

[@inendlesspain4724]

Sega let many of their best Sonic Team developers go over the years and replaced them with some few newbies who had never worked on any Sonic game before, while treating their flagship franchise like a low-budget series. The result? Modern Sonic Team being short on hands, time, budget and talent while working on Forces. I still don't get the people who defend what Sega did to the series during the meta era.

[@JamesChessman]

I think NiGHTS was his most perfect evolution of the Sonic series and it went over everyone's head. So that evolution stopped and now we just get cartoon Sonic running around cities for the rest of our lives. :D

[@CyanicCore]

To be fair, any asset in Forces would be much harder to make, and that's before layout.

[@tracyndiyob162]

digi valentine summed it up best: "god,i miss the old sonic team."

[@brandonlaferney937]

I never knew about this demo; however I loved nights into dreams and replayed it many many times as both kids. I also happened to like the sonic R sound track, there were several nights I'd turn the game on just to fall asleep listening to the main theme. Did it again when I unlocked its track in sonic generations.

[@techstuff9198]

NiGHTS How we miss it. I'm tempted to create a parody of Summer Nights.

[@JamesChessman]

NiGHTS + Christmas NiGHTS I consider one complete game. And when I play it seems my very favorite game of my life. :)

[@Rabbitearsblog]

YAY!!! Someone's actually talking about Nights! I feel like Nights is such an underrated franchise and needs more attention! Thanks for talking about this series!

[@Grencye2]

Normally I don't comment until I've seen the whole video, but dude: this cereal. I had given up on cereal ever being healthy lol. You're a hero, Nick!

[@clapdaddy681]

THE GAME APOLOGIST HEARTED MY COMMENT LETS GOOOO

[@GameApologist]

BRO HAVE ANOTHER

[@clapdaddy681]

THANK YOU MY BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY AND EVEN THOUGH IT ALREADY PASSED THIS IS BASICALLY A BIRTHDAY GIFT THANK YOU

[@vyperii]

Christmas Nights is superb. I've definitely always played it more than the original game. Every Christmas at least- since it came out! One of the best things on Saturn!

[@JAIQMUSIC]

Did you just imply the Sonic R soundtrack doesn't slap unironically????

[@TheSnazzyMaddie69420]

this video got me to replay Nights, and not just the HD version... I emulated the saturn version of nights for the first time and I was amazed by the amazing lighting that was absent in the re-release.

[@That_Pyra_Main]

I've always considered giving NiGHTS a shot, and i think this might convince me to do so, thanks Saint Nick-Apologist

[@Soufriere84]

_Christmas NiGHTS_ is a good way to try it and see if you like it before jumping into the full game. Weird Fact: In the full game, Elliot's route does not feature this first level, and in CN he runs it backwards.

[@Megaman12Protoman14]

I try play Christmas NiGHTS on Christmas every year. Love NiGHTS with all my heart. One of my favorite neglected Sega IPs. One day, I hope they go back and make another magical game (with a soundtrack that bops).

[@ToastComix]

15:36 Perfect, we have a new name for the blue guy- “Fast Rat” Mmm, perfect just, *chef’s kiss*

[@teenkitsune]

There is a reason why, despite having already downloaded the HD remake/remaster on PS3, I bought a copy of this when I bought a used Saturn from my local flea market.

[@Mentleif]

I’m surprised about the amount of effort and depth to this demo that most people probably wouldn’t even know about

[@marsh9888]

commenting for the algorithm, great to see xmas nights get some love

[@davidsondoliver]

LETS GOOOOOO, THE KING IS BACK BAYBEEEEE

[@davidsondoliver]

fr tho, been waiting for this video, big hype. Sega Saturn is so cool

[@GameApologist]

Thanks for checking out the video! Thanks again to Magic Spoon for sponsoring, and remember to get 5 bucks off here : magicspoon.thld.co/apologist_1221 and use code APOLOGIST

[@jamalsimmons619]

Congratulations on the 101k subscribers nick!😉👍

[@constancies]

1:20 big mood

[@satelliteprime]

Actually been looking for this sort of thing for awhile, Nick. Great job. And congrats on the sponsorship! But your link is broken, might wanna fix that asap!

[@GameApologist]

@@satelliteprime thanks for the heads up!!

[@satelliteprime]

@@GameApologist No prob. Also forgot to mention it but congrats on 100K!

[@Furluge]

20:44 - On taking down Christmas decorations when I was growing up my mom always told me the Christmas season ended on the feast for the Baptism of the Lord. The Catholic calendar has that as tomorrow the 9th this year. I believe that's part of where the whole 12 days of Christmas thing comes from. (The 9th is the first Sunday 12 days after Christmas this year. ) So anyway, not to worry, your tree isn't up too long. :D Unless you really do keep it up until July.

[@matthewwonks2534]

Well, this is fascinating. I never knew there was so much in this demo. I had Journey of Dreams on Wii, and wasn't terribly impressed. Early last year though, I finally tried NiGHTS on Steam and wow--it just March 14th'ed me away. Such an incredible game, I'm sorry I missed out on it during the 32/64-bit days.

[@some_cartoonist]

Toot toot to all, and toot all a tootnight

[@iggyminious]

Huh. I always knew March 14th as Pi Day.

[@blackdot105]

NiGHTS into Dreams, as a whole, is such a wonderful game. I've said it many a time, but I'd be overjoyed for some sort of *quality* remake.

[@J_Double_D]

One of your best videos!! I learned so much and its got me hooked on Christmas nights and the regular nights game. I've been watching since the sonic 1 video and have never skipped an upload. Amazing work as always!

[@JonThysell]

The original Dreams Dreams song is rough, but I love the acapella cover in Xmas Nights. I remember recording that onto a cassette so I could listen to it whenever I wanted. I still think of it as a Xmas song, even though lyrically that makes no sense.

[@elecspark]

Channel Pup needs to read this exact script on April 1st

[@robosid8063]

Can when just say that Nights looks a lot great in Christmas clothes

[@8-bitsarda747]

I know that it didn't go anywhere near as hard as this, but I will never forget the Trails of Cold Steel III demo on the Switch. My first exposure to what rapidly became my new favorite series. It's literally just the prologue, but the opening flash forward to Juno Naval Fortress absolutely blew my mind, followed by rewinding to three months prior for the actual start of the story, reintroducing series protagonist Rean Schwarzer, and introducing of his students in the new Class VII. The whole thing had me completely hooked on this strange science-fantasy world (by the way, science-fantasy, best genre ever). I literally spent over 20 hours on this demo that only takes 2-3 hours, and that's if you watch all the cutscenes. Didn't buy the game until a few months after it cam out, but that's because I didn't have money. I loved the game so much, that Trails of Cold Steel IV ended up being the first game I ever pre-ordered

[@guyrainey3758]

Any hope of a Game Apologist for Nights Journey of Dreams? I was too young for a Saturn, and loved the mystery Nights references in my Sega games. (GameCube kid here) Despite everything I see now, I still love the Wii game

[@joshtato5456]

thank you for releasing this on my birthday! this was a lovely little dive into an experience that I'd otherwise imagine to be bare bones on the surface if you weren't covering it, also congrats on hitting 100k!

[@KodyTauros]

OH MY GOD FASTRAT

[@Gigerfan]

Ooooh I hope we unlock Channel Pup for April fools!

[@kevinfowler8119]

Love your cartoons my friend. God bless you.

[@Onepieceenjoyer-v1q]

You don’t sound your age.It’s a compliment

[@M_Alexander]

Seeing NiGHTS again gave me terrible Balan Wonderworld flashbacks. I think i had blocked that from my memory

[@smugshrug]

I miss this Sonic Team. So much attention to detail.

[@Game_Hero]

5:04 Look at NiGHTS : Journey of Dreams, it's pronounced like your second attempt. You got it.

[@thatboiluigi4465]

As a ex-pure nintendo guy, I loved everything about this thing and this video!, Thank You Nick!

[@Gilbot9000]

Me: I finally got a full lunchbreak, I can catch up on my KZbin backlog! Nick: Oh, no you don't. I didn't know *any* of this extra stuff existed. Thank you for the education, Nick!

[@DaftBrian1]

Did you put the Christmas NiGHTS CD into a CD player yet? There’s a another Easter egg for ya!

[@CyanicCore]

Really, when Christmas Nights offered a game slowdown, it didn't matter what Nights proper offered, even if more accurate. Wait, we're not talking about Sonic Runners? More seriously, I've got a lot of respect for the makers of this demo. Something with this much depth when it could be deemed unnecessary is a rarity nowadays, and that makes this all the more special. Excellent job covering the game as well; you've somehow become a prominent source of cheer this holiday season!

[@ddarko15]

I always knew about the Christmas Nights demo but never knew it was that feature packed, stinks that those other characters didn’t make it into the full game

[@nintendash9943]

Oooh, I love Christmas nights’s soundtrack

[@muke001]

You may not have released this on Christmas, but you did pick the first major snow storm of the season in Salem to release this video, so I say your timing is spot-on! IF ONLY SOMEONE DID A VIDEO ABOUT SALEM IN VIDEO GAMES

[@DefinitelyReagan]

Dude, I love your work. Just wanted to say that. You're so genuine and insightful and easy to listen to. Thank you for all you do for the good community of SEGA fans who remember the golden days.

[@TheBlueGhoul]

Boost your boi in the algorithm (Also love the video)

[@johndewberryiii9925]

Nick killin it wit the beard 🧔‍♂️

[@fishflop_]

I heard that if you spill milk on your Sega Saturn on January 7th, it will unlock a demo of NiLK: Into Dreams.

[@mrdollyman5675]

I think you should do a video about Ristar! You might be surprised by some of it’s qualities.

[@Soufriere84]

Ristar is one of my absolute favorite games on the Genesis. The music is beyond amazing, and I'm impressed they were able to get such beautiful levels out of a by-then weak console. Even the Sonic games don't look as good.

[@mrdollyman5675]

@@Soufriere84 I have the mobile version, and I can’t beat that 3rd flame level, but the game is great!

[@dogearflopper7011]

3D Nick is still a trip

[@GameApologist]

He creeps me out, personally.

[@midwestfest426]

Thank you for making this video! I bought a used Saturn off ebay back in the early 00's for 40 bucks and Christmas nights and sonic 3d blast came with it. I sunk WAYYYY more time into Nights. I still play it every December.

[@Pikmin442]

Christmas NiGHTS into dreams is special to me, its a tradition for me to play it on christmas eve night. I turn out the lights and turn on the christmas tree and then enjoy it.

[@Takato]

Happy new year, Nick!

[@pockett-power4669]

Imagine a *better* definitive version of the original Nights, that includes *all* the Christmas stuff as extras

[@bonne-nuit]

Someone here already mentioned it, but March 14th is definitely Pi day!

[@GBlastMan]

Funny thing about the Sonic in Nights that it its ironic that at one part of the development of Sonic X-Treme the game used the Nighs into Dreams engine until Yuji Naka threatend Sega to leave the company and was scrapped altogether. Still think this is a way of Yuji and the team to remember Sonic X-Treme in some way and at the same time feels really weird that they ended up scrapping using the engine for X-Treme but Sonic ended up inside it anyway.

[@mark04anthony]

Christmas NiGHTS was my jam back in the day! Spent a lot more time playing that demo disk than I did a lot of other games, lol. Went ahead and snagged a copy when started building back up my retro collection again. Still love the a cappella version of Dreams Dreams that first showed up here!

[@AstonishingRed]

Does Magic Spoon ads require a KZbinr to actually eat some of the cereal during their ads? I’m noticing a pattern.

[@FittedWhisper96]

15:38 STOPPPPP🤣🤣🤣

[@stefcannon2580]

Magic Spoon sounds pretty good! I haven’t had cereal for months and months now, but this sounds mighty appealing. And now, a Magic Spoon theme song, to the tune of Sonic CD’s ‘Sonic Boom’: Verse 1: Through the day, through the night, It’s a tasty yum delight In your cupboard Go ahead, take a bite, ‘Cause there is no wrong or right When you’re this hungry (Did you eat last night?) CHORUS: Magic Spoon, Magic Spoon, Magic Spoon (Hunger keeps your tummy empty) Magic Spoon, Magic Spoon, Magic Spoon (Grab yourself a bowl a-plenty) And I’ll end it there! Oh and great video!! I’ve just recently picked up a copy of the normal NiGHTS for myself - it looks pretty cool although I can’t quite understand how to play it haha 😁😁 But you did explain it well here! Boy, the effort put into a DEMO DISC is insane here…!! Amazing. And, looking on eBay for this version, I found it available for $69 Australian dollars haha Loved the reindeer joke at the end! Happy 2022, everyone!! ✨✨

[@funnyguy19993]

Congrats on 100k Game Apologist! Been watching since your first vid on this channel. Congrats!

[@Furluge]

21:20 - It took me a sec to note this the first time you mentioned it but Advent calendars end on the 24th, not the 25th. So like you were saying if that's what they're going for than 24 presents is fine. I'm not exactly sure what that is but I think it has to do with those regions doing the main Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve which then ends in the Midnight Mass and then the entirely of Christmas day is a rest day continuing celebrating. Please don't take this as authoritative though. I just know my family always celebrated it that was and they come from a French Catholic background and another KZbinr I watch from Austria also celebrates mainly on Christmas even and Austria is s historically Catholic country and that's were I think those chocolate Advent calendars originated. Culture is always so fascinating. (25:15 Lol, you mean extra 25th present. :D )

[@GameApologist]

No offense taken at all, I always love learning something new. So thank you for the insight!

[@nexusetmiaouss]

This is impressive! The pictures you showed in nights museum, it is the very first time I see some of them. Despite the fact that I searched a lot of Nights artwork in my life

[@smoothie7362]

“Oh my gosh it’s fast rat!!!”

[@greensoda123]

Heck ya Nights content

[@AkiDave]

Post Christmas fun

[@MTheoOA]

man... nights is incredible, i discovery the game last year, but it's have so much personality i don't even care if the gameplay itself is a bit limited. I just love this

[@Simon_Electric]

March 14th is now my favorite holiday!

[@MrDariox555]

Will be watching this video on april fools just to see of evil Nick narrates it

[@frost8077]

I still remember playing Nights into Dreams at a JCPenney when I was a kid but I never owned a Sega Saturn. Christmas time and video games reminds me of Yoshi's Island advertisements at Walmart, with that wonderful official art style. I always felt like video games back then had a better art direction but I haven't kept up with modern games, so I'm not sure how accurate this is.

[@seankkg]

When I was a kid I didn't want Nights, I wanted Christmas Nights specifically. I never got it because I never had a Saturn.

[@MsSamchalk]

Awesome pick for a video. I try to play this every Christmas!

[@swirlingabyss]

Cybershell has a pretty good vid on Chao gardens that has a nice A-Life section.

[@PoisonousPen]

I got Xmas nights in the UK on a magazine when I was sick off school in November. It was the best thing I’d ever seen and holds such a special place in my heart ever since. The main game when I finally got it was fine, but a little bit of a let down and I never really understood why 🤷‍♂️ You just put it into words very well 😄👍

[@yamsicallymagnificent]

THATS HIM? dang hes old

[@SussyPoster69]

I might actually consider getting a box of that magic spoon stuff

[@ubercomrade]

Beard through me off

[@MattDustyParker]

NiGHTS is rad! I only ever knew the character from sonic riders, but much like super monkey ball, i'd be ecstatic for a new game or remaster on switch.

[@maux7767]

I kind of wonder if Sonic's inclusion and the Robotnik Bossfight in this is related to Sonic X-Treme famously requesting to use the NiGHTS engine for the game? Like it was a tech demo or something for it.

[@Soufriere84]

I'm still trying to figure out why Yuji Naka refused to let STI use the NiGHTS engine and killed X-Treme. There's a lot of speculation, mostly Naka disliking Americans coupled with massive corporate infighting between Sega America and Sega Japan -- in the end, Japan won out, and the Sonic franchise never really recovered.

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

Sometimes I wonder how the video game industry got so ruined. Then I watch videos like this and I stop wondering.

[@sungalaxia]

This makes me so sad that I never played the Christmas NiGHTS demo. I played the OG game on the Saturn, but never the Christmas NiGHTS demo. But NiGHTS IS the most played game on my PS3 lmao. I didn't know it had been ported to PS2, and once I learned it had, I bought a PS3 and got it from the PS store. That and Valkyria Chronicles are the literal reason I even own a PS3, so thanks NiGHTS.

[@Hedgi]

Dude how could you forget 3.14 is Pi day π!!!

[@Fungiarts]

I am afraid that this demo disc might be expensive nowadays? I maybe have to check in on this one but I really want to play the sonic portion of it and it's so sad that we didn't got it in the remaster.

[@celesticnova]

Watching this in July and was not prepared for the joke at 20:44

[@tailsprower8118]

I played the demo discs I had like they were actual games.

[@_V.Va_]

This is the first time I've seen your face and all I have to say is that this may be the first time a KZbinr's real face is more handsome than his avatar.

[@KaiTheLegend]

NiiiiiiGHTS!!!!