This is a sub-page of NiGHTS into Dreams... (PlayStation 2).
Brand New Dreams Prototype Models#
Many of the files with names ending in SS, which contain models from Saturn Dreams, also have what appears to be unused early versions of the Brand New Dreams models and textures. In fact, out of all the bosses and playable characters, Gulpo, Wizeman, and the playable characters' seasonal costumes are the only ones without a corresponding prototype model.
Playable Characters#
Claris#
Claris' final model includes a separate mask-like model to show her with closed eyes. The unused model lacks this, but has an additional eyelash model instead.
|
Final |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
Elliot#
Similarly to Claris' models, Elliot's unused model lacks a mask-like model that is used to show him with closed eyes.
|
Final |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
NiGHTS#
NiGHTS' final model was copied directly (albeit with a lower poly count) from the model used in Sega Superstars' NiGHTS minigame. In contrast, NiGHTS' unused model seems to be original and has a radically different design. This model seems somewhat unfinished, lacking a mouth. It should be noted that the unused model's default pose is similar to that of the Saturn Dreams model.
|
Used |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
Bosses#
Gillwing#
Gillwing's unused model appears to be very early and simplistic. Unlike the other characters, Gillwing actually has two slightly different versions of this model. The first, found in his Saturn Dreams data, is split down the middle and lacks a tail. The second is located in Gillwing's Brand New Dreams data and is now solid with an added tail. The textures used for both are identical, however.
Used |
Unused 1 |
Unused 2 |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Puffy#
Like Gillwing, Puffy's unused model is very simple and is found in both her Saturn Dreams and Brand New Dreams data. However, both versions of the unused model are identical.
|
Final |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
Clawz#
Clawz' unused model is similar to the final, but has a couple holes around Clawz' nose. The unused texture also has some inaccuracies when compared with Clawz' original Saturn design, having blue rather than yellow eyes. It is similar, however, to some concept art of the character.
|
Final |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
Jackle#
Like Clawz, Jackle's unused model is similar to the final but has a cape that seems to be taken from another concept art. When Jackle is separated from his cape, the cape actually switches to a different model which is identical to the prototype's cape. This causes its texture to map incorrectly in-game, giving it blue spots. The unused cape's texture can technically be seen in a game hint on how to defeat Jackle.
Used |
Unused |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Incorrect cape in-game |
Jackle's hint showing unused cape |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Reala#
Reala's Saturn Dreams file contains a duplicate of his final model. However, it also includes an early version of his texture which, amusingly, seems to have been designed for NiGHTS' prototype model.
|
Final |
Unused |
|---|---|
|
|
Halloween Stage Leftovers#
There exists an unused Nightopian model called DATNIGHTOPIANHALLOWEEN.BIN, likely for the scrapped Halloween stage. It has devil horns and a tail in place of the ordinary Nightopian's halo. The Halloween Nightopian's data is somewhat unfinished, as it lacks the alternate faces and expressions that the normal and Christmas Nightopians have. The wing texture also has some leftover pixels from the normal Nightopian's wing.
|
Normal Nightopian |
Halloween Nightopian |
|---|---|
|
|
Saturn Dreams Oddities#
NiGHTS Unused Transformations#
NiGHTS' Saturn Dreams model data is separated into 12 different transformations. These include transformations which are clearly used in-game, such as the sled and mermaid transformations as well as other morphs used for drill dashing, recovering from damage, and bouncing in Soft Museum. However, a few of these transformations are not used anywhere.
"Big Head" Models#
Going by the order that NiGHTS' models are stored in DATNIGHTS_SS.BIN, these are NiGHTS' 5th, 6th, and 7th transformations. The left one has similarities to NiGHTS' appearance in one of the game's hints. Also, the center model's head is offset by a significant amount in the negative Z direction when in its default pose.
5th Transformation |
6th Transformation |
7th Transformation |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Alternate Sled Model#
Transformation #9 is a larger and flatter version of NiGHTS' sled transformation that does not seem to be used anywhere in the game.
 |
Alternate Drill Dash Model#
Transformation #10 seems to be an alternate version of the drill dash morph, with a similar head and torso design to the used version but with different arms and full legs instead of a tail. This could be a transition between NiGHTS' normal and drill dash transformations, but in-game NiGHTS seems to go straight to being legless, or (in the case of having an empty dash meter) remains in normal form.
Reala Unused Tranformation#
Saturn Dreams Reala has only two transformations in his model data. The first is his normal form, which is obviously used. The second, on the other hand, is clearly a drill dash morph. Although Reala's boss pattern is characterized by drill dashing, his model never changes shape while doing so in either the original Saturn game or the PS2 remake's two game modes, leaving this transformation completely unused.
Alternate Ideya Palace#
Among the objects in DITEM_COM_SS.BIN, which contains common objects such as the Ideya Palace, Ideya Captures, the Alarm Egg, and others, is a second Ideya Palace-like model with 3 pillars instead of 5. It is similar in shape and size to the real Ideya Palace, and is stored directly after the latter's model data. A look at the texture data reveals that this object uses an early texture design for the Ideya palace, similar to the final but lacking the colored circles for each Ideya.
