while i have a lot of negative things to say about the gameplay, the story is very enjoyable and touching! sora, riku and kairi are very sweet characters, that i quickly cared about a lot. the music is very good, especially the more somber pieces. and the story is fun and doesn't drag out too long.

however, some of those bosses, especially towards the end, really made my blood boil. i don't get angry easily while gaming but this game just really hit a nerve with me, with it's annoying boss fights and the equally annoying plattforming in certain levels (i'm looking at you, deep jungle!)

i'm sure if this game ever got a full on remake, with improved gameplay, i'd enjoy it a whole lot more! but for now, 8/10 is being generous, considering the gameplay...

STARING AT DEATH, I TAKE A BREATH, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT
NOW CLOSE MY EYES, FOR ONE LAST TIME, AND SAY GOODBYE
LYING NAKED WHILE THE SNOW FALLS ALL AROUND ME
DRIFTING CLOSER TO THE EDGE BUT SHE WON'T HAVE ME
WAKE UP IN SWEAT, FULL OF REGRET, TRY TO FORGET
THESE MEMORIES, LURKING BENEATH, LOST IN A DREAM
UNCHOSEN PATHS, A BROKEN PAST, FORESPOKEN WRATH
THE PAIN WON'T CEASE, I'LL FIND NO PEACE, NO SWEET RELEASE
FRAGILE CREATURES, WE ARE TAUGHT TO FEAR THE REAPER
EVER RUNNING, WE ARE DEAD BEFORE WE MEET HER
THESE VOICES TELLING ME LET IT GO (LET IT ALL GO)
I TRY AND TRY BUT I CAN'T SAY NO (TRY AND SAY NO)
THIS ENDLESS NIGHTMARE HAS JUST BEGUN (NOWHERE TO RUN)
MY HEART IS DRAGGING ME DOWN INTO OBLIVION
THE ENDLESS LIES, I'VE CAST ASIDE, LOCKED THEM IN ICE
STEELED IS MY SOUL, MY BLOOD GROWN COLD, I'VE GAINED CONTROL
FEARLESS CREATURES, WE ALL LEARN TO FIGHT THE REAPER
CAN'T DEFEAT HER, SO INSTEAD I'LL HAVE TO BE HER
THESE VOICES SCREAMING TO LET IT GO (NEVER LET GO)
THIS TIME I'M SCREAMING BACK NO NO NO (GO ON SAY NO)
MY MIND'S MADE UP, YEAH MY FEAR IS GONE (WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?)
OPEN MY EYES NOW HERE I COME, OBLIVION
FOR THE LAST TIME (I WON'T SAY GOODBYE)
FOR THE LAST TIME (I WON'T SAY GOODBYE)
FOR THE LAST TIME (I WON'T SAY GOODBYE)
FOR THE LAST TIME

It's insanely easy in today's context to write off vanilla Sonic 3 and to only play the lock-on version, but there's a very important thing you're missing out on, and that's getting to hear the mini-boss music that's exclusive to this version.

It's such a funny ass song to use as a boss fight theme especially in the context of a forest getting napalmed, it'd be like if you fought Maruyama/Trouble Bruin in Dynamite Headdy to his appearance theme instead. That second-and-a-half-long introduction that's essentially a baseball organ doing a board game jingle that leads straight into a bit crushed "C'MON" voice sample with tapdancing noises and a funk beat behind it is somehow simultaneously the funniest and hardest shit I ever heard in my life. The only way you could escalate this, would be if you had a dopey-ass three second long french horn that went straight into extreme sludge metal. If I had to use entrance music that wasn't Maruyama's theme it'd be this. This is like top three music to interrupt someone cutting a promo with. Imagine if people got to reel in terror at the sound of the goofy baseball organ during Smackdown as if The Undertaker's gong went off.

God, so fuckin' good. The comedian who designed Carnival Night Zone Act 2 will be hearing this music very soon, I assure you.

This is Sonic Team at its best. The only word to describe Nights into dreams is "gorgeous". The concept, the aesthetics, the music, the design, everything is gorgeous. It´s just one of the most charming games I have ever come across. Still, I don't think it's a game for everyone... at least not immediately. The gameplay is probably the hardest thing to digest but once you embrace it, the game reveals all its wonders. Despite being quite short and having bosses of dubious quality, this is one of SEGA's creative peaks. Too bad it's another abandoned and mistreated franchise .