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...but is that really saying much? Fortunately, yes.
Again, SEGA is innovating with its mascot character. Now, our brave young hedgehog has been summoned back to the realm of King Arthur, charged with saving the lands from the King's recent evil transformation and tyranny. At once we are presented with an opening cinematic that is rather well executed (the ravens are particularly good), though not quite as polished as the stunning first movie of Sonic Unleashed. Here is where Sonic is summoned by the granddaughter of Merlin----Merlina. After a brief confrontation with King Arthur, Merlina whisks Sonic and herself away to a safe location.
Here is where the player comes in. The first two levels are simple tutorials, where one learns how to control Sonic and wield the sword, traversing across a field filled with wooden targets. Right away, the player discovers the nature of the gameplay. The way Sonic travels is the same as in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Sonic can travel on only a narrow path through a three-dimensional world, generally only forward. There is no manual camera control, and if one wishes to retrace their steps, the camera does not follow Sonic's movements, forcing the player to walk into places they cannot see. This takes some getting used to, and is admittedly not my personal favorite method of gameplay. I much prefer the free-roaming three-dimensional environments of games like Sonic Unleashed and Super Mario 64. However, it is unique, and certainly acceptable once the player becomes familiar with the layout. Concerning the game's controls, they are very fluid and responsive. The swordplay is controlled by the movement of the Wii Remote, and adds a fun, interactive element to the game. Do not expect the sword to follow the Remote's movements exactly, as it only follows the direction the Remote is swung in, but this method is fun nonetheless. It is a lot funner than slamming down button combinations. Also, there are plenty of little goodies one can collect along the way. Some of these can be used to give Sonic better abilities, or forge new weapons for the other playable characters (Shadow the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, and Blaze the Cat, which are unlocked during the course of the game).
The story is quite well written, I believe. Some have said it is `too juvenile', but I wonder what they were expecting. It is a game for kids, is it not? And it is no sillier than most games, even ones that are constantly lavished with praise from the critics (Ratchet and Clank, anyone? Not that I dislike that series...). Really, the basic tale was not silly at all. I found it to have a timeless message concerning where our loyalties should lie. We are not to make idols out of mortals, obeying them even if it contradicts morality. Men are not infallible, no matter how they might have lived before. In addition, the humorous parts are actually funny, and there is not an unwanted character in the storyline. Also, as the game moves on, the story keeps getting better, with surprise twists and good messages, as well as touching moments.
How do the game environments stack up? They are masterfully done, from the graphic quality and lighting, to the incredibly minute detail (watch the thousands of individual grass blades blow in the wind). The sky is especially well done, and everything captures the feeling of a medieval world very well. When Sonic encounters the enemy knights (wispy creatures from the underworld that take the form of the armor they wear), his sword becomes very useful. It is fun to cut down these cloudy foes, but herein lies one of the game's less desirable traits. Here, the violence definitely warrants this title's E-10 rating. Though there is no blood, the way the smoke dissipates following an enemy's destruction imitates it rather well. Though it disappears quickly, this can get a little much over time.
Now we come to the music. The game's theme is good, mixing classical music with electric guitars rather well. The music in the menu screens is also well done----a good modern take on medieval music. Many of the levels themselves have very good music, with a minimum of electric guitar. But there are other levels (especially the boss battles) where the music suddenly becomes harder, and less connected with the feel of the game. This is the one major fault, in my opinion, of this game. Thankfully, hellish vocals are not constantly screaming in the background, like they are in Sonic and the Secret Rings. Even with this said, the score as a whole is excellent.
Overall, this is a very fun, enjoyable game. It is not perhaps as good as Sonic Unleashed, but it is still great. This is yet another title that shows Sonic is still running strong.
Ryan Robledo
Author of the Aelnathan:
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I don't care what the critics say, this is a great game. The graphics are good, the level design is unique, and it has great replay value. The worst you could say about the game is that Sonic having a sword is kind of a gimmick, but it's a gimmick that works and is fun. I rate this game 87/100.Best Deals for Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
My kids at a young age can play this game and they really enjoy it. Keep them busy for hours so if they like it I like it. It's not as complicated and yet it's entertaining.Honest reviews on Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
This game rocks. The story is good, the controls are good, and the graphics and soundtrack rock. Also when doing the missions the game doesnt have high expectations to get top ranking in a level like most sonic games do. If you like sonic, pic this game up for a treat.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sonic and the Black Knight - Nintendo Wii
I have not had this game for very long, but so far I am enjoying it very much. They have made vast improvements over the Sonic and the Secret Rings game, and the sword is a pretty neat addition. You can actually from side to side in this game, somewhat, unlike the last storybook sonic game.If I had to complain about anything, I would have to say mainly it seems simple. Sonic does not move as fast as he does in Sonic Unleashed, but I guess that's because this game was more focused on being able to use a sword. If you could blast past and through everything, then the sword would be just about useless. Maybe it just seems simple because I have played just about every sonic game made.
Also some may like to know that it seems Blaze, Shadow, and Knuckles are somehow involved in the story line, or maybe just characters that resemble them. I have not gotten far enough through the game to see what happens with them though. There also is multiplayer battle modes, but I have not tried them yet either.
Anyway I give this a thumbs up over Sonic and the Secret Rings and recommend giving it a shot.
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