That IGN review makes it sound just like the usual SEGA polish issues.

I'm going to blame Sammy for this. The polish issues started RIGHT when they took over and that was when SH got only a tiny delay.

I got to play the game today!
As you have read it is really fun to play. Well the first level for Will is kind of boring, but after that it starts picking up fast. And the part were you walk on foot is a lot funner than I thought it would be, and I'm glad that there is more of an in depth story than the first.
The only complaints from me are: they could have polished some of the characters more, and they should somehow make the old 3D Saturn controller compatible with the wii (the nunchuck isn't too comfortable after a while)

I got it yesterday. Liking the classic gameplay, and the fact that it's online as well. NiGHTS is still as androgenous as ever. They call him a boy, but he has giant girl eyes, and speaks with a British womans voice. The bosses are very funky, but can be confusing to beat at times. Don't care for the owl, or playing as the kids.
The music is excellent.

Bought the game last night, along with Umbrella Chronicles.

It's awesome. It feels like 1997 all over again (I know it came out in '96, but I didn't get the game until Christmas of '97). =D

I've finished NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. I didn't have a Saturn growing up so I never got to play the original although I had wanted to due to the fact Archie had a short-lived comic series based on it. (Marketing works!) So anyway, I present the following:

My forum sized review
Overall, I'd say that the game was kinda short. I'm glad that I got the game as a Christmas Present because I would've been kind of ticked if it were my money on the line. Kind of shallow, I suppose, but seriously. I was shocked when I got to Helen's final level -- I was just starting to really get into it! And then I had to play through Will's quest which started back over at an easier difficulty, not to mention I already had the experience of learning the controls.

That aside, I really liked the game. The gameplay itself was quite fun once I wrapped my head around what was going on. The bosses were all pretty original, although occasional frustrating because it wasn't immediately obvious on how to beat them. (The Chameleon Boss.)I even liked the levels where you played as the kids; it was kind of a timed maze run. The graphics were about what I'd expect from a basic Wii game but the music was fantastic. Regardless of rushed deadlines and whatever else ails modern Sonic Team games they always manage to turn out awesome soundtracks. The main theme and the song that played in the last level blew my mind. Maybe the main theme was the same as the original; but even if it was, it was one worth using over, as I doubt it could have been surpassed/equaled.

So basically, I could boil it down to:
Positives: Fun, Unique Experience, Awesome soundtrack, interesting bosses.
Negatives: Occasionally doesn't explain itself enough; Game is too short

I'd give it a 7. Not the ugly seven, but the good kind of seven. I wouldn't recommend buying it at full price, but would recommend spending a gift card on it or picking up after price drops or as a used game.

So I guess if you compare this game to what Sonic Next offered. Journey of Dreams is superior in most ways. Especially since this franchise has been dormant for YEARS.