PixlBit

Saturn, 1996

Composers: Naofumi Hataya, Tomoko Sasaki, Fumie Kumatani 

Possibly the best soundtrack on the Sega Saturn, NiGHTS into Dreams was a brand-new game made by Sonic Team. The OST is very upbeat with a hip-hop/dance style that was very common for games in the mid ‘90s. Many of the songs are so infectious, being infused with vibrant rhythms and fun styles. You might not be familiar with these composers, but Naofumi Hataya had previously worked on the Japanese OST for Sonic CD. Tomoko Sasaki had done the OST for Ristar, and Fumie Kumatani was the rookie of the group as this was her first OST to work on (she would go on to do music for the Sonic Adventure games). Overall the NiGHTS OST is something special. 

Dreams Dreams-In Silent Memory-

This is the main theme for the game, and it became an instant favorite the first time I heard it. The tinkling bells at the beginning make it sound dreamlike, backed up only by light percussion and guitar. Then the song becomes more exciting at the 38 second mark. The song becomes hopeful and adventurous. The overly positive vibes of this song will make you feel great. It’s a fantastic main theme, despite how short it is. It often will get stuck in my head. 

Paternal Horn

Once again the very beginning of this one sounds dreamlike (or magical) with the simple use of a bell-like instrument doing an arpeggio. It only lasts for a short time before everything else comes in to create an upbeat and enjoyable theme. Eventually the piano comes in to carry the melody, backed up by percussion, violins, and horns that accent the melody. As the song progresses, it just keeps getting more exciting until eventually the piano is completely jazzing it up. It’s such a fun song to listen to, and once again will make you feel good. 

Deep It Lies

This is a boss theme that plays when you face off against a big fish boss named Gulpo. It’s a cool theme as it has a strange exotic feel to it. The melody is designed in such a way to make you feel like you’re facing off against a strange otherworldly foe. At about 40 seconds, the song becomes a strange cacophony of sounds, which is weird but also so interesting. It’s a cool boss theme because it’s not intense or hardcore, but it works because it’s a slower fight since you’re swimming in water.  

Take the Snow Train

One of my favorite themes in the game, this plays during the winter level. The rhythm that’s established at the very beginning is perfect. After the melody comes in, you’ll hear the trumpets doing accents in the background, and they’re actually playing a nuanced version of the Dreams Dreams theme, which is a neat touch. The dance beat is constant throughout the song, as well as the jingle bells. And of course, the vibe of the entire song is upbeat and happy, which I really love. 

Suburban Museum 

This one starts out with some kind of woodwind (not sure exactly what it is, but it certainly grabs your attention). Then the percussion comes in followed by the melody. The use of the different instruments is what makes this song sound so interesting. At 1’14’’ the song becomes a mesh of sounds as the different instruments start doing their own things and yet blend together in a strange way. And perhaps that’s the secret to why this OST is so interesting: it doesn’t just do fun themes, it mixes them up in interesting ways using unique instrumentation. 

Also check out: NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams OST (Wii)

Download this great OST here