#we're supposedly two sides of the same coin or whatever

[carnage-cathedral]

hrngh,,

[magmaticmachine]

Nightmaren being made of Ideya is a popular fan theory which I do like but I have some thoughts on that and honestly the funny dream energy concept overall. time to ponder some orbs

iirc it's stated Wizeman can use "his own dream energy" to create his world(s) and new life (which he shall then use as stress toys. brutal!)

also iirc JoD also has a line suggesting Nightopians and Nightmaren are both "made out of light," interesting to note that Nightopians also supposedly are born when Ideya collide, according to...the official site iirc? this sounded conflicting at first to me especially factoring in the whole hatching from eggs bit but maybe it can all be true. don't ask me how, I don't have an answer for you. it's a dream. it just works

Apparently Ideya also forms the landscape of Nightopia and your Nightopia reflects your soul so like. yeah that's just straight up a metaphysical manifestation of your life and experiences I guess. these orbs are POTENT

so here's my personal takes; if Ideya is the foundation that makes up the soul of a person, that might make it pretty valuable if you're trying to Make A Lot Of Guys quick and easy without exhausting yourself. grind that orb into a fine pulver and you've probably got a nice base to work with...grind a few hundred...that might even be a very strong guy :] and nightmares are dreams. if there is some kinda metaphysical distinction in this game's universe or whatever it is probably very, very slight.

Third-levels can crossbreed with Nightopians, and they're both "made of light," which kinda implies that they're at least similar enough to do so "species"-wise, if not straight-up two sides of the same coin. I think these guys just kind of Exist, they're not made by anybody, or rather, they spawn from Ideya collisions like the Nightopians do; these guys are normal :]

The second- and first-levels are Definitely Constructs, probably made from "processed" (stolen) Ideya and whatever we're calling nightmare stuff. I can see the overall makeup and quantities not being entirely consistent, since the actual strengths (and wit...) of the higher levels is pretty varied i.e. Clawz is clever and dexterous but extraordinarily fragile, and then Gillwing is...large and loud. no thoughts. head empty. unreasonably durable.

Ideya as a source of power could honestly probably apply to other kinds of dream guys, except no one else does it because stealing souls is fucking unethical, Wizeman, what the hell, dude.

and not to get silly and crossover-y but like...some Sonic Shuffle/Dream Team concepts can fit into the "nightmares and dreams are kinda the same guy" thing. Illumina splits into positive and negative fragments, magination is the "essence of dreams" and is easily converted into "nightmare fuel" for Eggman's own constructs, the Guardian Hunter in particular looks a little Nightmaren-esque in design...the Night Dimension is described as having "countries" in the storybook...

anyways to me sega's dream energies are like the many forms of ice; the same guy, just expressed differently. for instance, did you know there is a super hot, super dense form of ice? you do now! it's called superionic ice. in fact, there's been at least 21 different phases of ice discovered. there's a cool (haha) fact for you! I've gotten so off-topic